The last one year has been pretty eventful for India, with several crucial developments and landmark changes taking place in the country. Bollywood has not remained untouched from this phenomenon. In what can be described as a completely new phenomenon, the Indian film industry has produced several patriotic movies celebrating India’s achievements and glory. This has been heartily welcomed by the audience with these movies turning out to be really successful at the box office. There has been an unprecedented shift in Bollywood with the film industry no longer being about producing “Masala” entertainers which were seen as the only tested formula for success at the box office. The recent trend of patriotic movies turning successful has led to a major transformation in Bollywood.
This trend started last year, after the release of John Abraham-starrer, Parmanu. The movie which was based on the 1998 nuclear tests in Parmanu which transformed India into a nuclear power. The movie garnered Rs. 93 crore as the audience was clearly impressed by the well-directed movie.
The trend of patriotic movies in Bollywood, the tone for which was set by Parmanu, was further affirmed by Akshay Kumar-starrer, ‘Gold’. This movie captured the Indian Hockey’s triumph in the 1948 Olympics. The Indian Hockey team had won the first Olympic Gold for independent India in the year 1948. This movie instilled a sense of patriotism and was also thoroughly entertaining. This had set up the movie perfectly for immense success at the box office. The movie earned Rs. 151 crore at the box office making it a major success.
This trend which emerged in 2018, gained momentum with time and came into full swing in the present year. It all started with a bumper success, ‘Uri- The Surgical Strike‘. This movie was directed by Aditya Dhar, starring Vicky Kaushal in the lead role, along with Mohit Raina, Paresh Rawal and Yami Gautam. It was based on the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army’s Para SF behind enemy lines in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The movie was based on the daring operation and generated massive enthusiasm in the run up to its release. Its performance at the box office met the enthusiasm that it had generated before its release. The movie earned Rs. 343 crore and turned out to be a bumper success at the box office. In the 66th National Film Awards, the movie won several awards including the Best Actor, Best Director awards.
Vivek Agnihotri directed Tashkent Files was also added in this illustrious list.
Continuing on this trend, Akshay Kumar-starrer, Kesari was released this year. The movie which is based on the historic Saragarhi battle earned Rs. 204 crore. This once again proved how patriotic movies have emerged as a favourite theme for the Bollywood audience. John Abraham starrer Batla House and Akshay Kumar starrer Mangalyan released yesterday on the occasion of India’s Independence Day. These two patriotic movies have also taken off really well on their opening day. The success of Bollywood movies based on patriotic theme has therefore proven that this new trend is here to stay on account of its growing popularity.