The Hindi Cinema industry, Bollywood, is paying a heavy price for its karma. It is virtually on the verge of an existential crisis. People have completely shattered the myth of “Star Power”. The Khans, Kapoors and even Kumars are not a guarantee of box-office success anymore. This changed reality is pretty evident from the stark fate of recently released films on the 70 mm screen. Even after the stranglehold of YRF and Dharma production, one man has taken it on himself to demonstrate what these Bollywood lackeys failed to emulate and how it should have been done.
Three new releases yet the underdog Kartikeya-2 roars big
There is a saying that no ‘army’ can stop an idea/individual/reform whose time has come. It is an open secret that the Bollywood cabal hunts in packs. They share the whole pie among themselves. They virtually have the monopoly over marketing, production, star cast and media narrative. They don’t give breathing space to talented actors, producers and directors for their content-oriented cinema. The Raksha Bandhan-Independence day long weekend saw three new releases at the box office.
As per media reports, the Aamir Khan-starrer Laal Singh Chaddha hijacked around 3,500 screens across the nation. Akshay Kumar-starrer Raksha Bandhan gobbled up the rest of the theatre screens. It was released on 2,500 screens. This completely choked the path of Karthikeya 2. After toiling hard, Abhishek Agarwal, producer of Karthikeya 2 and his team got lucky to release the movie on a meagre 50+ screens that too at odd hours of the day. Earlier as well,the film, Karthikeya 2 faced hurdles and the production team were forced to push its release dates.
Laal Singh Chaddha was the Indian adaptation of Oscar winning movie Forrest Gump. It proved to be a monumental disaster. Within the first 5 days, LSC has failed to cross the first-day collection of disastrous movie ‘Thugs of Hindostan’. If the current trend persists, it may even fail to recover its 50% investment.
#LaalSinghChaddha is rejected… #LSC *5-day* total is lower than *Day 1* total of #ThugsOfHindostan [₹ 50.75 cr; #Hindi version], do the math… Thu 11.70 cr [#RakshaBandhan], Fri 7.26 cr, Sat 9 cr, Sun 10 cr, Mon 7.87 cr [#IndependenceDay]. Total: ₹ 45.83 cr. #India biz. pic.twitter.com/b8myhVtaAF
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) August 16, 2022
Also Read: Aamir Khan resorts to begging people to watch Laal Singh Chaddha
Several shows of LSC are being cancelled while other cinema halls are running at 10-15% occupancy. Many critics are blaming boycott trends for its pathetic performance . However, the fact is Laal Singh Chaddha is so pathetic that it did not need a boycott at all. The film falls flat on several parameters. It drew flak for demeaning the Indian Armed forces, encouraging the stereotype around Sardars and the ludicrous acting of a dimwit caricature.
Another movie to tank this week is Raksha Bandhan. Round the clock actor Akshay Kumar failed to attract the audience, courtesy to controversies it created before and after the release. It has failed to register a double digit collection and its collection is also stagnating. Just like LSC, Raksha Bandhan shows are being cancelled or theatres are running at very low occupancy.
#RakshaBandhan is a non-performer… Fails to hit double digits despite multiple holidays… 5-day total is a complete shocker… Thu 8.20 cr [#RakshaBandhan], Fri 6.40 cr, Sat 6.51 cr, Sun 7.05 cr, Mon 6.31 cr [#IndependenceDay]. Total: ₹ 34.47 cr. #India biz. pic.twitter.com/ZOFAJ7e58f
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) August 16, 2022
Also Read: Why boycotting Akshay Kumar’s ‘Raksha Bandhan’ makes no sense
Amid reports of doom for the Hindi entertainment industry, one man is proving to be a knight in shining armour. Abhishek Agarwal, the producer of Karthikeya 2, is getting the due reward for his trust on a content-oriented movie. Made with an investment of ₹ 30 crores, Karthikeya 2 is heading to be a blockbuster hit.
Within the first week itself, it has crossed the break even point. Bhagwan Krishna-centric Karthikeya 2 is witnessing a positive word of mouth publicity. Audiences are forcing theatre owners to increase the shows for the movie. From 50+ cinema screens it is seeing an exponential growth in the number of screens as well as coverage area and getting screens in tier-2 and tier-3 cities as well.
53 hindi shows to 1575 shows in 4days,from small start to leading India BO#Karthikeya2 is gaining massive traction.Power of compelling story telling 💪🏼💫
Hearty Congrats team#Karthikeya2 💞💐@actor_Nikhil @anupamahere @AnupamPKher @AdityaMenon22 @chandoomondeti @AbhishekOfficl pic.twitter.com/KIyRG4SBUB— Girish Johar (@girishjohar) August 17, 2022
Unlike its rival, Karthikeya-2 is striking all the right chords with the audience. It has smartly used animation to show magnanimity of several scenes. It has an engaging screenplay and the star cast has also done justice with the core demand of the movie. Abhishek Agarwal put his investment where the audience needed the most. Among controversies of Bollywood hurting sentiments of Hindus, Karthikeya 2 focuses to bring back the glory of Indian civilisation and history.
Excellent work done by team #Kartikeya2 ❤
This movie is class apart from its rival and what an actor @actor_Nikhil @AnupamPKher sir's cameo was truely awesome. #FullHouse
@LaffajPanditIND @iampratyush18 @subhankar_pal_ pic.twitter.com/bc7rWeWRVS— Paurush Gupta (Modi ka Parivar) (@Paurushgupta_) August 15, 2022
Also Read: India Today faces Shri Krishna’s wrath
Additionally, there are many striking similarities between Karthikeya 2 and ‘The Kashmir Files’. This movie too has vindicated the fact that Content is the King. Just like, The Kashmir Files, the movie has sent chills down the spine of naysayers of Indian civilisation and history. Both these blockbuster movies are produced by Abhishek Agarwal Arts. The Kashmir Files registered a lifetime collection of around Rs 340 crore, making it the only Hindi movie to cross Rs 300 crore during pandemic. Karthikeya 2 too is gaining steam and it will also make a fortune for Abhishek Agarwal.
Also Read: Content is King : The Kashmir Files proves it
The facts are clear, the so-called Royal elite production houses of Bollywood are reaping what they sowed. Their mega budget propaganda movies are tanking big time. It is high time for producers like YRF and Dharma productions to learn something from Abhishek Agarwal Arts and should back content-oriented movies that add some value to the society in addition to its core purpose of entertainment. If they keep on pushing their agenda, many more Abhishek Agarwals will come and democratise the entertainment industry for the larger good of cinephiles.
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