Hiren Kotwani (DNA; April 4, 2018)

Cinema caters to multiple tastes just like specialised cuisine does. And the churn is constant — romance follows comedy, which, in turn, is followed by action. However, the latter remains one of the most-favoured genres because the adrenaline rush that it provides is unmatched. At the end of the day, who doesn’t enjoy watching a good dose of maar-dhaad on the big screen? Perhaps, that’s the reason Baaghi 2, which was given a thumbs down by critics, found favour with the nation.

Tiger Shroff’s stuntbaazi is a voyeur’s delight and filmmaker Sajid Nadiadwala, who backed this project, is laughing all the way to the bank. Incidentally, Aditya Chopra’s Tiger Zinda Hai (TZH), which had Salman Khan in the lead, also raked in mammoth numbers last December. Veteran trade expert and film distributor Amod Mehra observes, “This genre can never die as it has a set audience that doesn’t need logic and reasoning in such movies. Throughout the world, the biggest grossers have always been flicks that give you an adrenaline rush.” Even though the industry’s biggest action heroes, Akshay Kumar (the original Khiladi) and Ajay Devgn, have changed tracks to explore realistic subjects, the genre itself is a hero and finds its faithfuls. Such is its draw that actors like Salman, who have understood this, ensure that they enthrall viewers.

Currently, the superstar’s closest relationship is with Hollywood action choreographer, Tom Struthers, who gave him the best stunts in Tiger Zinda Hai (TZH) and is likely to repeat the magic in Race 3. Even a filmmaker like Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who is known for helming opulent but softer films, never compromises on combat scenes. Be it Bajirao Mastani or Padmaavat, the war sequences were designed with finesse and had a certain fiery quality.

Distributor Sanjay Ghai adds, “People enjoy the larger-than-life action. When they see the hero beating up the bad guys on screen, they applaud and whistle for him and even say in their minds, ‘Isko aur maar.’ That’s because every man has pent up anger within him. In real life, we can unleash our rage by just giving the other person a few slaps. So, when we see the hero bash up the baddies in various ways on celluloid, naturally, we root for him.” However, he is quick to add that the genre by itself doesn’t guarantee success. “Along with action, the film has to have a strong emotion for audiences to connect with. Unless the subject resonates with viewers, it won’t work.”

Reiterating that this category is here to stay, Amod says that the film industry depends largely on it. “When filmmakers get action directors from abroad, they know they have to deliver; with something that is new and larger than life. In India, action enhances a film’s commercial prospects,” he says.

While credit also goes to the presence of super-hero power wielded by the likes of Salman Khan (Ek Tha Tiger, Sultan and TZH), and Aamir Khan (Dhoom 3 and Dangal), who delivered box-office numbers in the genre, one can’t discount the action in movies either.

Tiger, who has proved his skills in thrills and dancing, doesn’t shy away from stating his priorities. In a recent interview, he told After Hrs, “If a director has an action and dance movie in mind, I want to be the first choice. I work with that mentality. I’m playing to my strengths and looking for a strong storyline that allows me to decorate the film with my talent.”

BIGGEST ACTION HITS

Tiger Zinda Hai - 2017

Sultan - 2016

Dangal - 2016

Kick - 2014

Singham Returns - 2014

Dhoom 3 - 2013

Chennai Express - 2013

Krissh 3 - 2013

Ek Tha Tiger - 2012

Rowdy Rathore - 2012

Dabangg - 2010