How does one explain something like this?
Years ago, Yash Chopra's LAMHE [starring the reigning stars of that time] and PHOOL AUR KAANTE [starring rank newcomers, directed and also produced by newcomers] were released in the same week. While LAMHE was a non-starter at a majority of places, PHOOL AUR KAANTE was off to a fantastic start everywhere.
There are times when you search for reasons when a not-too-hot film takes a surprise start, while when a keenly anticipated mega-project fails to manage even a face-saving opening.
The last week of June witnessed the release of the third Big B starrer in a row, DEEWAAR. While the much-hyped film was expected to take a fantabulous start everywhere, the opening ranged from exciting to mediocre to lukewarm in several parts of the country.
DEEWAAR had everything going in its favour - a robust star cast, a producer who makes films with passion and promotes it with equal zeal, aggressive promotion prior to its release, a theme that hadn't been attempted on Hindi screen before…
But man proposes, God disposes!
After much thought, I have come to the conclusion that there are four vital reasons that led to the film not opening to a cent per cent response -
- There has been an overdose of Big B starrers in the recent times. Actually, it seems like a Bachchan film fest, what with DEV, LAKSHYA and DEEWAAR releasing back to back. Perhaps, that was one of the key reasons why cinegoers stayed away from DEEWAAR.
- Makers of Hindi films have tackled the Indo-Pak theme repeatedly. Post-GADAR, there has been a barrage of films that have highlighted the atrocities committed by the men in uniform from across the border. In the current scenario, when Indo-Pak relations are going through a rosy phase, DEEWAAR looked completely out of place.
- Another theory is that the viewers could sense from the various promos of DEEWAAR that it was a grim film. The feel-good factor, which is uppermost on the viewer's minds while watching a film, seemed missing from this multi-hero film. The absence of the feel-good factor definitely kept a sizeable chunk of audiences at bay.
- The music of DEEWAAR was never on top of the charts. Despite extensive promotion on satellite channels, the music sales didn't show an upswing. In today's times, when popular music helps a film fetch a good opening, the lack of popular music did affect the prospects of DEEWAAR.
With the month of June ending on a depressing note, here's hoping that the forthcoming six months change the tide for the better!
