It's raining films at the box office, with three films crossing the RS 100 crore mark this year. To vote to keep optimistic, there are several high-profile movies at the theater waiting to hit. It is Hollywood's best year in a decade? The year 2010 was terrible for music. Big ticket movies out and producers are hard-pressed to find other ways (such as TV, music, satellite and abroad) the extent of the losses to bring. It is unclear whether the industry will have the will and common sense to reorganize and re-strategise in the big downturn in the fortunes of survival. The first quarter of 2011 saw not much difference, but once Salman Khan's ready hit the theater it was a completely different story.
The film has a formidable marketing budget. Salman, otherwise a reluctant actor, the star campaigner. Song and dance numbers from the film is splashed across the channels, creating an alarm and hype before only to Amitabh Bachchan's movies seen in its heyday or films Rajnikanth even today.
The surgeThe showers of the films we witness today began withReady that, despite being substandard and like all businesses Salman completely kitschy in the content was 3 Idiots beat the second-highest Grosser in the opening weekend for Dabangg. It allocated Rs 41 crore in the first three days of his release. It also recorded the largest non-holiday weekend, surpassingRaajneeti. But such films not longevity and, as expected, has prepared a downward turn after the initial hype and hoopla about. Yet, as the marketing of the film that is about RS 100 crore mark to cross, despite the witness of a big slump after the first week.
Then Devgn Ajay's turn to roar at the box office. Singham, in its first weekend in about R 31 crore on an all India basis - the highest ever first weekend gathering for an Ajay Devgn-starrer raked. In fact, were Devgn try his action-hero persona after a spate of successful comedies to stir and he has the bull's eye hit, the intersection of the RS 100 crore mark in no time .
Singham was ably supported by Heike Akhtar's Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara that despite a fantastic star cast, was a surprise blockbuster. The film is good but not as good as it eventually did.
It was, however, Salman again that Hollywood's gain graph to a beautiful height. His second film of the year, guard, on August 31 released, has the third highest all-time Grosser after 3 idiots and Dabangg.
Meanwhile a witness mega hits like killing two, on a cheap publicity for some sizzling hot 'scenes between Emraan Hashmi and Jacqueline Fernandez, Delhi Belly and drive. Sunny Deol Yamla Pagla Deewana and Sanjay Dutt's Dhamaal double, also did well at the box office.
The mechanismAccording to veteran trade analyst Vinod Mirani, "Eid festival seems to be - and Salman the perfect poster boy - for music. Last year it was Dabangg that broke all records at the box office. And this year it was Salman's bodyguard that set cash registers ringing. "
So, why the box office shed a whopping yield of a sudden? Trade analyst Taran Adarsh gives credit to the "triumph of craft." He says, "Innovative marketing strategies, compelling promotions and outdoor advertising of audiences drawn to the theater." Aamir Khan, based on his experience with films like Peepli Live, Dhobi Ghat and Delhi Belly, says that "creative and cerebral themes" and not necessarily the "formulaic films peppered with song and dance" - is most likely to work at the box office.
Mirani disagree. "The recent spate of success at the box office because the filmmakers understand that the age-old formula of songs, dance and action needs to be tweaked for the new generation of Cine-goers to adapt. So wesame basic formula in a new set of songs and fiery surface-stylized action. The villain also has enough threat to the hero look good, "he said.
There is a method in this madness. Today's movies are similar to a trade analyst called "wolkbreuke" - exploiting the potential of a film in the first week by providing the widest possible release. Guard, for example, was released on 2600 screens in the country. Digital technology has helped cut down on printing costs, so a wide release affordable. No wonder that by the time people realize Bodyguard was an ordinary film, it has about RS 100 crore mark!
The box office trends of recent years suggests that films between January and the release of May usually fare badly. Mirani says, "It is because of Cricket (IPL, etc.). Precedence over everything else. Traditionally, the rain brings people to the theater. Most of the big-budget films are released during this season and at the end of the year - Eid, Dussehra, Diwali, Christmas. This explains why year-end usually brings big returns for movies at the box office. "
The industry is now looking for RA.One Don Agnipath 2 and the success story of 2011 to consolidate.
The phenomenonAfter his success with Yash Chopra, Karan Johar and Farah Khan, Shah Rukh Khan was seen as the star with the Midas touch at the box office. But today the picture is different. Shah Rukh did not constitute a waiver of this year. Will be to him his pre-eminent status, his films retain - and Don RA.One 2 - phenomenally well done.
Salman, on the other hand, is sitting pretty with an abundance of films to his credit. Wanted Dabangg, nowBodyguard ready and took his stand in the film industry to a new height. In fact, if music is now in a good shape, the credit goes largely to him, along with Ajay Devgn.
"Salman is an all-rounder - he's a comedian, action hero and romantic lover boy in a single power-packed package. After all, mainstream Hindi films do not require much acting, it's all about the promote an image suitable for that of the star. It is well predicted for Salman at the box office, provided the films that he gave him much room to swing these elements, "says Mirani.
Salman has not shown any tragic talent. He is a non-actor, who even can not have a leg to save his face shaking. Yet when he comes on screen, his presence is magnetic. Why is this so?
Salman represents a certain kind of macho masculinity that Indian men strive to achieve. But what is most in his favor is the fact that he combine rural appeal with urban aesthetics, something his predecessors like Mithun Chakraborty and Govinda not. It is this ability to the rural-urban divide that allowed him to both the masses and the classes to evade, and his charm for 23 long years reserves. In fact, Salman today compared with Rajesh Khanna at his peak, but the people are ready for their shirts in the sight of him tearing. It seems, as one of the commentators have observed, the other two Khans Aamir has greater acting skills, but not the aura, Shah Rukh has the style, but not the range.
What is also Salman's favor is the fact that people find him true. Everything he does on screen basically shows his innate character with good success.From its romantic movies (Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun) comedy (Partner No subscription, Judwaa) to the insane (Tere Naam), Salman never embody the character he always plays himself with a Panache what endears the masses.
Salman is a success story that cuts across all classes, defying logic, traditional wisdom and even aesthetics. But one should not bother to analyze it. If it's raining blockbusters in Bollywood, one needs only to remember him - and give him the credit for the past 23 years.
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