The Hindi film industry is looking forward to the month of December with understandable optimism. The coming days will witness the release of two potential blockbusters: Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s action drama Animal (a December 1 release), followed by Rajkumar Hirani’s comedy-drama Dunki (December 21). Animal’s trailer has been widely appreciated on social media, which is an indication of a great start for the Ranbir Kapoor film. Dunki, because of the Shah Rukh Khan and Hirani factors, will also have a fantastic first weekend. Another film, which is perfectly capable of becoming a major surprise story, is Meghna Gulzar’s biographical drama Sam Bahadur (also, December 1) based on the life of India’s first field marshal, Sam Maneckshaw. Can December, then, generate the kind of excellent business the industry is hoping for? It certainly can.
The present year has proved that viewers in large numbers are ready to watch a film – if the initial feedback suggests a good theatrical experience. There have been as many as three all-time blockbusters this year: Siddharth Anand’s action thriller Pathaan, Atlee’s action thriller Jawan and Anil Sharma’s period drama Gadar 2. Maneesh Sharma’s action thriller Tiger 3, the third film of the Tiger series and the fifth installment of the YRF Spy Universe, has emerged as the fourth highest-grossing film of the year. The masala entertainer has already grossed more than Rs. 400 crore globally. Tiger 3’s business suffered because many cricket lovers chose to watch their favourite Indian players in action in the ICC Cricket World Cup, largely because the Men in Blue seemed unbeatable before losing in the finals against Australia. Although the film has slowed down significantly, its box-office collections indicates that Salman Khan’s star power remains more or less intact.
While 2023 has had several other successes, the recent commercial performance of Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s biographical drama 12th Fail starring Vikrant Massey as the protagonist shows how a well-directed mid-size film with a relatable subject can find a place under the sun. At the same time, several films released since the beginning of October have flopped, too.
Tiger Shroff’s chiseled physique, enviable martial arts – and dancing skills have contributed to his popularity, especially among youngsters. After the failure of Ahmed Khan’s action drama Heropanti 2 (2022), Vikas Bahl’s dystopian action film Ganapath: A Hero is Born, which hit the marquee on October 20, was seen as Shroff’s comeback vehicle of sorts. Produced with an estimated budget of Rs 200 crore, Ganapath made viewers expect an exciting theatrical experience. Yet, the film is not what it could have been. A mishmash set in a dystopian universe, it has been let down by weak direction, pathetic screenplay, uninspired performances and shoddy production values. The film has collapsed at the box office, yet another setback for Shroff.
Akshay Kumar had appeared in a special appearance in Amit Rai’s comedy-drama OMG 2, a critically acclaimed commercial success. However, the fact is, the once-reliable Kumar needs solo hits to prove that has not lost his ability to attract audiences. Viewers are sufficiently familiar with the actor’s liking for biographical dramas, and Tinu Suresh Desai’s Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue is one such film. The film is a tribute to Jaswant Singh Gill, a mining engineer and a real-life hero of our times, who had been instrumental in rescuing 65 miners trapped in a flooded coal mine during the Raniganj Coalfields collapse in 1989. Mission Raniganj wants to be a well-intentioned film, the choice of subject is brilliant, but the portrayal of Gill as a larger-than-life protagonist is an experiment gone wrong. Besides, the dramatized version of events sacrifices depth in an attempt to please the viewer. What happened after Mission Raniganj’s release was not a surprise. Most critics did not like the film. And, it was a commercial failure.
A few other releases have also tanked since the start of October. Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru’s romantic drama Yaariyan 2, a standalone sequel to Divya Khosla Kumar’s Yaariyan (2014), failed to attract audiences. Sarvesh Mewara’s action thriller Tejas sank, and Karan Boolani’s sex comedy Thank You for Coming did not fare well either. Will December deliver on its promise to give 2023 that much-desired perfect ending? It should — if too much does not go wrong.
The writer, a journalist for three decades, writes on literature and pop culture. Among his books are ‘MSD: The Man, The Leader’, the bestselling biography of former Indian captain MS Dhoni, and the ‘Hall of Fame’ series of film star biographies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.
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