Is the Society Being Forced to Watch Sanju Over Parmanu?

It's a common misconception that society is being forced to watch any specific movie. In a democratic country like ours, every individual has the freedom to choose which film to watch or avoid. The narrative that society forces people to see movies is often overblown and lacks the complexity and diversity of film consumption.

In the case of the movie The 83, a film focusing on India's incredible victory in the 1983 cricket World Cup, it faced a tremendous backlash at the box office. Despite being a high-budget venture with a budget of 275 crores (approximately $35 million), neither the film nor the story resonated with audiences. The movie opened to tepid reviews and ended up being a critical and commercial failure in India. It grossed around 150 crores (approximately $20 million) worldwide, far from the anticipated success. This failure necessitates a deeper look into factors that might be influencing the box office trends in Bollywood.

Why Are Bollywood Films Failing at the Box Office?

The question arises: why is the Hindi film industry struggling to produce high-quality movies that resonate with audiences and generate a significant return on investment? One popular reason given is that people prefer watching Hollywood movies like Batman.

Take, for instance, the release of Jhund, a film starring Amitabh Bachchan and directed by Anurag Kashyap, which aims to be an inspirational and game-changing movie. Jhund opened with an underwhelming collection of just 1.5 crores (approximately $200,000), despite its star power and critical acclaim. While the film received positive reviews from critics, it failed to effectively convert those positive reviews into box office success. This box office performance is not an isolated incident but rather a reflection of a broader trend in the Indian film industry.

The underperformance of Jhund and similar films prompts questions about the industry's current trajectory and the ways in which it can regain the public's interest. The industry needs to address the disconnect between critical acclaim and financial success, ensuring that films that are well-reviewed also resonate financially with audiences.

The Question of Choice and Growth

There is a prevalent belief that Bollywood is not making quality films due to an aversion towards producing meaningful content. However, this assumption oversimplifies a complex issue. The film industry is a business driven by consumer choice. If audiences continue to favor Hollywood blockbusters over Bollywood films, it's not because Bollywood films are inherently poor but because these audiences choose to watch different types of content.

Is the saying "Bollywood doesn’t dare to make good films" a true reflection of the industry, or is it a misinterpretation of the current market trends? The answer lies in the industry's willingness to adapt and innovate. Movies like Sanju may have been a misstep, but it is not the only film released in recent times. The success of movies like Parmanu (which received critical acclaim and commercial success) shows that the industry can and does produce quality content that resonates with audiences.

The key takeaway is that the film industry, like any other, is driven by consumer preferences. While Sanju did not meet expectations, this is not a reflection of the entire industry or its capabilities. Instead, it is a call for the industry to continuously innovate and produce content that speaks to the tastes and interests of the audience.

Conclusion

The reluctance to watch films like Sanju is a natural result of market dynamics, not a reflection of an industry incapable of making high-quality content. The film industry, like any other, needs to understand and adapt to its audience's preferences. While Parmanu is a case of success, it demonstrates that high-quality content can indeed be made and appreciated by audiences.

So, is the society being forced to watch Sanju? Absolutely not. It is the choice of the audience, and the film industry needs to continue to evolve and produce content that will capture their attention and deliver both critical and commercial success.