Is the box office failure of ‘Samrat Prithviraj’ a rejection of Bollywood’s nationalism formula?
If commerce reviews and information tales within the media are to be believed, Akshay Kumar’s Samrat Prithviraj isn’t doing nicely on the field workplace. Kumar is among the largest moneymakers in Hindi filmdom who makes movies primarily for the field workplace with none claims of creative ingenuity. He’s a profitable mainstream Hindi movie star, a standing he has achieved with out the patronage of main Hindi movie manufacturing homes. There are all the time quite a few memes and jokes afloat on social media attempting to guess the subsequent Indian luminary Kumar has set his eyes on for a attainable biopic. Is that this plain deshbhakti? The reply is probably identified to all.
Kumar, like a number of others in Hindi cinema, has discovered a brand new system – excavate a well known/moderately-known/comparatively unknown determine from Indian historical past/mythology, reconstruct his story making it appropriate for a Hindi masala movie, a style unto itself, evoke nationwide pleasure and it’s a positive shot system for bringing audiences to the theatres. This section of movies has additionally given us new insights into the life and work of Akshay Kumar — a star whose movies more and more align with the dominant political ideology.
It could be too early to conclude that Samrat Prithviraj’s destiny on the field workplace signifies the viewers’s disenchantment with biopics masquerading as historical past. This isn’t a rejection of nationalism per se however a sure sort of film, whose narrative arc is now predictable. The plot normally follows the journey of an underdog or a determine from the Indian previous. The movies got down to show their greatness thereby enshrining them in public reminiscence and sometimes claiming to right an oversight — these characters being ignored in mainstream historic narratives. These claims, nonetheless, are sometimes unfaithful. Lest we neglect these statements are additionally motivated by the business pursuits of the movie. These are a part of a well-designed promotional marketing campaign to evoke viewers curiosity within the topic.
The latest spate of flops on the field workplace, nonetheless, signifies a way of fatigue in audiences with such sorts of movies. Audiences would possibly wish to see extra modern topics and tales nearer to their time and lives portrayed on display versus relics from a distant previous. Maybe there may be additionally a way of dismay with the identical star appearing in a sequence of comparable movies that seem in fast succession.
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PremiumIs that this an expression of disinterest within the style per se? Will the system work with one other star? Or are viewers too uninterested in seeing the identical/related content material repeated movie after movie?
Then again, the Kartik Aaryan starrer Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 is already a giant hit on the field workplace. My intention is to not try a qualitative evaluation or comparability of those two movies. I’m not even suggesting that Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 is a superior movie for some causes. The truth is, in some ways, the success of this movie, whose first half featured Akshay Kumar, is a reaffirmation that Hindi movie audiences are immune to vary. They nonetheless go to the theatres looking for a selected type of Hindi movie which has a recognisable template by now however perhaps they need this leisure in a brand new avatar, with a brand new face and a brand new storyline. Whereas the important thing elements stay unchanged, there are only some minor changes they’re maybe on the lookout for.
It would make no sense, nonetheless, if this argument is utilized to Salman Khan movies, as an illustration, however then such is the peculiar nature of hero worship in Indian cinema. That stated, the recognition of Salman Khan shouldn’t be owing or restricted to a selected type of films or characters that he has portrayed on display in latest occasions. In his movies, he’s the most important draw. The audiences come to the theatre to see their favorite star. All the things else, together with the story, script and performances, issues little or no to the viewers. A Salman Khan movie launch is an event of unapologetic and unabashed expression of Hindi cinema fan behaviour.
Some commentators and lecturers have additionally linked the rising recognition of latest Telugu and Kannada blockbuster movies within the Hindi heartland to the dialogue introduced on this article. These movies are equally regressive. Hindi movie audiences are veering in direction of these movies seeking newer tales and leisure, a transparent various to business Hindi cinema. However how lengthy will this final? Solely time will inform. Nevertheless, the early indicators can’t be ignored.
(The author teaches literary & cultural research at FLAME College, Pune)
