AGNEEPATH, HOUSEFULL 2, ROWDY RATHORE. Now BOL BACHCHAN. The first three films, released in the first half of 2012, have crossed the coveted 100 cr mark, while BOL BACHCHAN should, hopefully, join this elite club in its Week 2, looking at the way this film is trending.
The commonality between these four films, besides the fact that they rocked at the BO, is that these films reinforced Bollywood's faith in masala films. The ever-popular masala films, which dominated the Hindi film scenario in the 1970s and 1980s, are back and how. The whole-hearted acceptance of these films also signals the truth that masala films never went out of vogue. It was our misconception, our wrong thinking that the moviegoer is not in a mood to watch escapist fares. Time and again I've heard reputed film-makers say that we ought to make films that target the multiplex audience. If one were to go by this logic, how would one explain the humungous business generated by films like DABANGG, BODYGUARD, READY, the GOLMAAL series, SINGHAM and the recent AGNEEPATH, HOUSEFULL 2 and ROWDY RATHORE at multiplexes? The monstrous success of these films and the terrific start of BOL BACHCHAN reiterate the fact that a really big chunk of movie-going audience loves zany entertainers. Call them stress-free entertainers or illogical movies or low brow stuff, or rate them 1 star or below, these films are contributing to the well-being of the film industry. That's one fact you cannot ignore.
The super-success of these films also proves yet again that there is a big divide between the ratings accorded by some critics and what the movie-going audience likes to watch.
Back to BOL BACHCHAN. This Rohit Shetty film has been galloping with rock-steady figures on weekdays. The film is a success for sure. How big, only time will tell!
