83 Box Office Debacle: 11 reasons why Ranveer Singh starrer 83 had a dismal run and has a minimal hope to cover the lost ground – Part 2

By Fenil Seta -

December 31, 2021 - 11:30 AM IST

The much awaited film, 83, has failed to put up impressive numbers over the weekend. Even the first Monday number of around Rs. 7 crore has proved that the film is on a weak wicket. Bollywood Hungama spoke to trade experts to understand the reasons why the Ranveer Singh-Deepika Padukone starrer and Kabir Khan-directed film did not work at the box office. In the second part of the article, we analyse the same.

83 Box Office Debacle: 11 reasons why Ranveer Singh starrer 83 had a dismal run and has a minimal hope to cover the lost ground – Part 2

6. Unfamiliar side cast
The industry insider also said, “We all knew that Deepika Padukone had a side role. Pankaj Tripathi is loved but not a huge draw. So, Ranveer was the only face of the film. The makers should have cast some exciting faces in the role of the cricketers; it would have given a boost.”

7. High ticket prices
The astronomical ticket prices became a talking point over the weekend. Amod Mehra said, “Already two films are running successfully in cinemas and on top of that, for 83, you are asking for Diwali rates. Who’ll spend Rs. 500 or Rs. 600 on a ticket?”

Taran Adarsh stated, “The ticket rates have to be affordable for the common man. I won’t say cheaper but affordable. The multiplexes argue that similar prices were charged for Spider-Man: No Way Home. But that film is a huge brand. The audiences do want to get entertained. But when they realize the ticket cost is so high, they feel they should wait for the digital premiere after 4 weeks.”

8. Didn’t connect with youngsters
According to Amod Mehra, “83 is a cricket based film. Ladies and youngsters were not that attracted. For the families, the first choice was Spider-Man: No Way Home. In single screens and mass centres, the first preference was Pushpa.”

The industry insider said, “The film is made in a docu-drama style and it doesn’t have the commercial elements and the emotional graphs to be able to engage and entertain those who don’t care too much about the cricket aspect. The recreation of the matches that happened in 1983 has been done very well. However, is that enough for millennials to care about the story? Chak De India (2007) was fictional but it was engaging and had an emotional graph. You rooted for the characters. In 83, the only reason you root for the characters is that you are a fan of Indian Cricket. A huge chunk of audiences today are the ones under the age of 30 who were not even born to relate to that emotion.”

To explain his point, he further said, “Kapil Dev is a legend without doubt but the sad part is that the youngsters today are just not interested to see his life story or that of the other players who played the 1983 World Cup. They connect more with cricketers like Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, or even Sachin Tendulkar for that matter. And these youngsters comprise a major chunk of the moviegoing audience. Kapil Dev is a favourite of the 40+ crowd and their number is miniscule, unfortunately.”

9. No romance and music
The poor soundtrack is one of the biggest issues with 83. A film like this ought to have a song that should have become an anthem of sorts.

Taran Adarsh said, “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag had the song ‘Havan Karenge’. It became so popular that it connected with all sections of the audience.”

Meanwhile, the industry insider sighed, “It’s sad that Pritam couldn’t come up with a memorable soundtrack. None of the songs has a shelf life. Songs play a huge role in enhancing the hype.”

10. Early digital release
Post pandemic, the multiplexes have agreed to the request of the producers to release a film on digital in 4 weeks. The industry insider revealed, “This rule is affecting films. People prefer to wait for not-so-exciting films. 83 sadly came under this category.”

Amod Mehra thundered, “The industry is killing the golden goose by releasing a film on digital so soon. People now know that the film will be released in 4 films on digital.”

11. 3D release
Although this is not a major factor, many wondered the rationale behind releasing a film like 83 in the 3D format. The industry insider stated, “I know many people who saw in 3D and found it made no difference. Viewers are already supposed to wear masks. On top of that, wearing 3D glasses can be a pain. They would not mind watching a film like Spider-Man: No Way Home or even No Time To Die in 3D. But if 83 is running in 3D in cinemas near them, they might prefer to avoid it.”

Amod Mehra agreed to this point and added, “Such films should not be considered for 3D.”

Also Read: Ranveer Singh tears up as he talks about the response for 83; says, “It’s a miracle that I became an actor”