An erratic, average year for B-Town
Even though Aamir Khan’s new film is set to close the year on a high, trade experts say Hindi films performed below expectations this year
It’s that time of the year again when Bollywood filmmakers look at their ledger accounts. Of course, Aamir Khan’s Dangal is on a recordbreaking spree as the film makes over ` 132 crore within four days of its release. But trade experts feel that 2016 has been “average” and “erratic” as far as the business is concerned.
Of course, films such as Salman Khan-starrer Sultan (`301 crore) and Dangal (still in theatres) have been blockbusters, other films such as Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (`113 crore), MS Dhoni: The Untold Story (`133 crore), Rustom (`128 crore), Housefull 3 (`108 crore) and Airlift (`129 crore) have also been huge hits, in terms of box-office collections.
HITTING THE BULLSEYE
“This year, a few films surely hit the bullseye perfectly, including a couple of blockbusters. But a number of big-ticket ventures also failed at the box office. And towards the end of the year, demonetisation also affected the business badly. So, all in all, 2016 has been quite an erratic year,” says trade analyst Taran Adarsh.
That’s not all. Dear Zindagi (`67 crore), Dishoom (`70 crore), Udta Punjab (`60 crore), Baaghi (`76 crore), Ki & Ka (`52 crore), Kapoor & Sons (`73 crore) and Neerja (`76 crore) have also been money-spinners at the ticket windows.
“Overall, it has been an average year for the film industry. The firepower and impetus that was muchneeded to help us get over the gloom that had set over the past few years didn’t come through. Plus, demonetisation and studios shutting down came as big speed breakers,” says film exhibitor-distributor Akshaye Rathi.
DISCERNING AUDIENCES
But experts feel that the “hiccups that the industry faced” in 2016 can be “good as they will set the base for the much-needed course correction”. “With limited funds and discerning audiences, the industry needs to put its head together and decide what kind of content should or shouldn’t be made,” says Rathi, adding that ultimately, the content is indeed the king.
Rathi has a point, considering gripping content in films such as Neerja, Airlift, Rustom, the Dhoni biopic, Dangal and Airlift struck a chord with audiences. “What stands out tall in 2016 is solid content. For instance, while Shah Rukh (Khan)’s Fan didn’t do well, but a Sushant (Singh Rajput)’s film, MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, was a big hit. The message is loud and clear: your films better be engaging, entertaining and interesting,” says Rathi.
Another highlight of 2016 has been the popularity of Hollywood movies in India. The run started off with Furious 7 last year and continued in 2016 with films such as The Jungle Book (garnered about ` 180 crore in India), Captain America: Civil War, The Angry Birds Movie, The Conjuring 2, Kung Fu Panda 3, X-Men: Apocalypse, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Deadpool. “Over the past couple of years, Hollywood has become a major force. Of course, we need to be worried, since they have bigger budgets, better technology and more experimental content,” says Adarsh.
In fact, Irrfan Khan says that “we should be alarmed by Hollywood”. “We have to pull up our socks, as Hollywood has shut down a lot of film industries across the globe. We don’t even know the speed with which they (films from the West) enter India’s market and take hold of our audiences,” he says.
As 2017 starts with two big releases — Kaabil and Raees — in January, experts are hopeful that next year will kick off with a bang. “Now, we can only hope that 2017 starts on a successful note. It looks very promising,” says Adarsh.
We have to pull up our socks, as Hollywood has shut down a lot of film industries across the globe. IRRFAN KHAN, ACTOR