Showing posts with label Adipurush. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Adipurush. Show all posts
My phone didn’t ring for eight months after Animal-Siddhant Karnick
4:35 PM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; July 22, 2026)
A blockbuster is often expected to change the fortunes of everyone associated with it. After playing Ranbir Kapoor’s brother-in-law in Animal (2023), Siddhant Karnick believed the film would finally mark the breakthrough he had spent two decades working towards. Instead, what followed was eight months of complete silence.
Looking back at the period after Animal, he says, “I’d had a strong year with appreciation for my performances in Adipurush, Made In Heaven and then Animal to close the year. After Animal, I expected the floodgates to open. I thought, ‘Two decades of grinding, it’s finally paying off.’ I waited eight months. Let alone offers, there weren’t even any enquiries. My phone didn’t ring at all. That’s when I realized nobody was coming to give me opportunities. That slap to my fantasy was the best thing that could have happened because it forced me to shift my approach. I stopped thinking like an actor and started thinking like a producer. The difference now is that I’m not waiting for the phone to ring. I’m the one making the calls.”
The setback also prompted Siddhant to take charge of his own career. Since then, he has acted in two French films, an English film as the lead, and has a commercial release slated for December. One of those projects, the French short film The Diggers, earned him two Best Actor awards.
He says, “After two decades in this industry, I realized the best way to have control over your career is to create your own opportunities. Jean Louis Carrasco was the first filmmaker I reached out to. We’ve been creative collaborators for 18 years, ever since a passion project short film that won at the Bodega Film Festival and was selected for the Cannes Short Film Corner. Together we developed The Diggers, a 24-minute suspense thriller about an Indian immigrant in Paris who gets pulled into the Parisian underworld. What we’ve shot is essentially Act Two of a feature film, with Acts One and Three currently in development.”
While the recognition has been gratifying, Siddhant believes its true value lies in what it signals to the industry.
“The awards are gratifying, but more importantly, they’re validation. They tell financiers and distributors that this team, this story and this execution have both commercial and critical viability. That’s what matters to me at this stage of my career,” he concludes.
Om Raut likely to direct Tiger Shroff-Vidyut Jammwal movie
4:32 PM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; March 6, 2026)
Om Raut, best known for Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, is likely to come on board to helm an upcoming actioner featuring Tiger Shroff and Vidyut Jammwal. The project, backed by Bhushan Kumar, is in the early stages of development. A source close to the production reveals that Raut has already pitched a script to the actors. “He has pitched a script and they are currently jamming over it. It is at a nascent stage,” the source states.
Interestingly, Milap Zaveri was earlier rumoured to be directing the venture. However, he has since been announced as the director of another film with the same production house, starring Harshvardhan Rane.
“The story by Om is completely different. He has not stepped into Milap’s shoes. If everything goes well, the film will go on floors this year,” the source adds. This will mark Bhushan and Om's reunion post the debacle of Adipurush.
Earlier while talking about Adipurush's performance at the box office, Om in an interview said, “Our first day was Rs. 70 crore, and that’s just in India. Our total box office was over Rs. 400 crore. So, the numbers were very large… With Adipurush, there was a loss of perception, not a loss of revenue. If the perception was positive, if the perception was under control, we would’ve seen an exorbitant number, which we did not see. That was disappointing.”
Actor Tiger Shroff’s recent work includes big-budget action films such as Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (2024) and appearances in projects like Singham Again (2024), continuing his image as one of Bollywood’s most prominent action stars, though some of his recent films have struggled critically and commercially.
Meanwhile, martial-arts specialist Vidyut Jammwal was last seen headlining the sports-action film Crakk: Jeetegaa… Toh Jiyegaa (2024) and also appeared as an antagonist in the Tamil film Madharaasi (2025), maintaining his reputation for physically demanding action roles. Filmmaker Om Raut, on the other hand, last directed the mythological epic Adipurush (2023), starring Prabhas and Saif Ali Khan, a high-budget adaptation inspired by the Ramayana that generated massive buzz but received mixed to negative responses.
Prabhas’ food obession left Om Raut shocked
10:03 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (February 22, 2026)
If there’s one thing Prabhas is known for beyond his roles, it’s his love for food, a passion that even left director Om Raut stunned during the shoot of Adipurush (2023).
During an interaction for the film Couple Friendly with actors Santosh Shobhan and Manasa Varanasi, Prabhas recalled, “When I was shooting in Mumbai for Adipurush, it was my cheat meal day. I was with Raut, and told him, not Mumbai, I would get him special food from somewhere else (Chennai). He kept waiting, and it was taking hours. I wasn’t letting him eat anything else.”
As the wait stretched on, Raut grew curious about the delay. That’s when Prabhas revealed the surprising truth. “He was shocked. I told him that someone was bringing a hot meal on a flight from Chennai for us. Raut was like, ‘I’ve never seen someone like you in my life’,” the 46-year-old actor added.
Explaining why he goes to such lengths, Prabhas said, “We get the food in Hyderabad, but that authenticity is missing. People joke whenever I have cheat days about which state my meal will be brought in from.”
Since Animal, biggest change has been that I no longer have to queue up for auditions-Sidhaant Karnick
2:19 PM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; October 11, 2024)
Looking from the outside, one of the most dazzling aspects of showbiz is the fame that comes with it. However, for Sidhaant Karnick, fame is more of a job hassle. It can elevate you one day and drop you the next without warning. He quickly learnt to keep his distance from it, even though a 14-year-long robust television career makes him more than deserving of it.
He says, “I have seen what fame does. It’s a crazy intoxication, and I knew it was something to be wary of.”
‘Despite the tempting offers on TV, I needed to transition into cinema’
He has come a long way from doing catalogue shoots for Rs. 100 per shirt to featuring alongside stars like Ranbir Kapoor and Anil Kapoor in ‘Animal’ and Prabhas and Saif Ali Khan in ‘Adipurush’. He reflects, “After stepping back from television, I had to find ways to sustain myself between projects. I would do these shoots where I would model 50 shirts and earn Rs. 5000, which would keep me afloat for a week.”
Discussing the challenges of switching from television to films, Sidhaant recounts, “After the TV show ‘Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani’ (2016), I had many offers, but they all seemed similar. That’s when the switch happened in my mind. I realized that I needed to move into cinema. It wasn’t easy – two years passed, and I kept busy with workshops, web auditions and rejections. One evening, I received a call for a TV show. The money was tempting, but there was nothing innovative, and I instinctively rejected it. I spent the next two months in regret, but then I received a call for a Swiss film. It was exactly the kind of work that I wanted to do.”
‘Favouritism isn’t unique to our film industry’
When it comes to favouritism or nepotism within the industry, Sidhaant has a rather balanced view. He says, “If I were an industrialist, I would naturally want my children to take over my business, regardless of the competence of other employees. This is the nature of the world and not unique to our industry. Success involves both luck and preparation. Even industry insiders, after three flops behind them, have to work harder to stay afloat. It’s an open and inclusive industry. Becoming an actor is probably the easiest thing in the world – it doesn’t mandate any specialized education or degree.”
‘I stopped seeing my co-actors as stars and started regarding them as professionals’
The conversation shifts to one of the most talked-about films in recent times, ‘Animal’. So, how has it been sharing the screen with top Bollywood stars?
“I was intimidated at first. However, as I began working closely with them, I stopped seeing them as stars and started regarding them as professionals. I saw Ranbir being such a professional, and I respect that man so much for it. During a scene in the scorching summer of Haryana in May, I saw him behind the camera, waiting patiently and giving me cues. That’s the respect I received as a co-actor,” Sidhaant recounts. He adds, “Since ‘Animal’, the biggest change has been that I no longer have to queue up for auditions. I used to wait alongside 50 other people, but now it’s much better. Maybe after winning a few awards, they’ll just cast me without an audition (laughs!)”
‘I am happy with the opportunities I am receiving’
However, does it bother him to play roles that are so different from the hero persona he carefully crafted on TV? “I don’t question it because I am happy with the opportunities I am receiving. Even in ‘Thappad’, I played the male lead’s brother. My idea was to work with filmmaker Anubhav Sinha. If I am hired as a wife-beater (‘Made In Heaven’), then I have to be the best wife-beater on camera. If I start worrying about how people will perceive me based on my characters, I am diluting the craft,” he signs off.
Om Raut defends Adipurush, calls Prabhas ‘flop-proof’ despite criticism
8:28 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (August 31, 2024)
Filmmaker Om Raut’s Adipurush, starring Prabhas and Kriti Sanon, faced widespread criticism and underperformed at the box office. Nevertheless, in a recent interview on Amol Parchure’s YouTube channel, Raut defended the film and claimed that it had suffered from misleading perceptions.
The filmmaker also asserted that the film had “actually performed well” financially. Emphasizing that stars like Prabhas and Salman Khan are “flop-proof,” thanks to their star power, he said, “Ups and downs can’t affect them because the audiences’ love for them is beyond comprehension.”
Regarding the film’s performance, Raut revealed that Adipurush earned Rs. 70 crore on its first day in India alone, with a total box office gross exceeding Rs. 400 crore. He noted, “The numbers were substantial… With Adipurush, it was a loss of perception, not revenue. If the perception had been positive and under control, we would have seen much higher numbers, which was disappointing.”
How postponing a film's release date can affect finances and a lot more
8:43 AM
Along with finances and dealing with disappointment from fans, pushing a film’s release date at the last minute can create issues for all involved
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 9, 2024)
Just three days before its release, actor Ajay Devgn’s Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha was pushed to a later date. As rumours go, the makers decided to move it due to the release of Kalki 2898 AD. This isn’t the first time that such a decision was taken and experts weigh in on the repercussions.
Marketing a film can make or break a film and Varun Gupta, head of Max Marketing, who also handled Kalki 2898 AD, which had a date change, says, “I remember with Jersey (2022), the makers realized they will clash with KGF - Chapter 2 (2022), which had a lot of advance booking. I think the same happened with Auron Mein... They didn’t think Kalki 2898 AD would have such a craze in the North. For Adipurush (2023), there was overestimation and no films were released two weeks hence.”
Further, Gupta adds, “With Pushpa 2 - The Rule, two songs are out, but they are lyrical, and the teaser doesn’t tell the story, either. The problem occurs when the makers’ don’t have new assets to create a buzz during the new date.”
Best to AVOID a CLASH
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh is all praise for Auron Mein... makers for opting out of the clash and says, “Postponing a film impacts the finance as interest mounts. It would’ve been immature to be stuck on, ‘Hum toh issi date pe aayenge’, knowing Kalki 2898 AD was a storm.”
When a big-budget film is postponed, it messes with the entire year’s release calendar. Amit Sharma, Managing Director of Miraj Cinemas, tells us, “Pushpa 2 - The Rule was slated for August 15, but the date change turned the entire calendar upside down. Release of small and mid-budget films are majorly affected as they look for the right time to come out to grab more eyeballs.”
Factors are A-plenty
There are several factors that play a part in creating buzz around a film — media interviews, social media collaborations and on-ground promotions, where actors visit colleges, shopping malls, restaurants, etc, around the country — that are slated in advance. Danny Singh handles film promotions in North India and calls this a “big issue”.
“If a film gets pushed by 15 days to two months, it’s tough to reorganize interviews. It’s not producers, but people like me who are affected when events are cancelled. They don’t spend on actors’ trips to different cities; Hotels, colleges, malls, etc, pump in money in return for the actors’ visit.”
In the past, Singh has faced legal entanglements when actors have postponed or cancelled an event. He rues, “Colleges and event sponsors have sued us for the same. Stars also cancel at the last minute and the production house simply says, ‘Artist ka mood nahi hai’.”
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In India, as a programmer, there are atleast 40 movie titles that we handle a week. It made sense to push Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha, with Kalki 2898AD already doing well. It is a logistical issue.
- Devang Sampat, Managing Director, Cinepolis India
Sunny Singh admits that Adipurush's debacle was "disappointing": "But you can’t keep dwelling on it. You need to move on"
8:32 AM
With Luv Ki Arrange Marriage marking his first release since Adipurush, Sunny Singh recalls how he took the mythological drama’s debacle in his stride
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; June 10, 2024)
It was Sunny Singh’s long-time wish to collaborate with filmmaker-friend Raaj Shaandilyaa. The two had discussed a few projects, but things didn’t work out. Finally, when Shaandilyaa came to him with his co-production Luv Ki Arrange Marriage, Singh knew he would take it up even before he heard the script.
“I have always wanted to work with Raaj Shaandilyaa. One or two potential collaborations were getting delayed because of our other commitments. When he asked me if I was up for Luv Ki Arrange Marriage, I said, ‘Whatever you are going to do with me will be quirky. So, let’s do it,’” smiles Singh.
The upcoming Zee5 family comedy is Singh’s first film since the debacle of Adipurush (2023), which saw him play Laxman to Prabhas’ Lord Ram. The actor admits the first few days after the movie’s release weren’t easy.
“It was very disappointing. But you can’t keep dwelling on it. You need to move on. Every film has a destiny, and you cannot do anything about it. Sometimes, even a good script fails at the box office, and at times, an average film makes money. All you can do is be honest to your craft.”
Be it Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 (2015) or Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2018), the actor has largely featured in comedies. While he doesn’t worry about being typecast, he now wants to try his hand at action. “People won’t typecast you if you’re seen in three to four films of the same genre. I get offered serious roles too. I choose a film if the story excites me. If I’m offered a small-budget comedy and I believe people will like it, I’ll do it. On the other hand, if I get an action comedy budgeted at Rs. 50 crore, I’ll attempt that too. I’m already doing an action comedy.”
Now, I only do songs that are worthy of my name and time-Sonu Nigam
10:29 AM
Soumya Vajpayee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 28, 2023)
Sonu Nigam is beaming when we meet him at his farmhouse in Karjat (Maharashtra). Reason: this year has been exceptionally fruitful for the singer. As we stroll down the garden, he looks back at the year: “Turning 50 was the highlight of 2023 for me. I really enjoyed entering my 50th year. I was 18 when I entered the industry, so technically, I’ve grown up here. To be around the people of my fraternity as I entered such an important phase of my life felt gratifying.”
Looking back at the kind of work he did in the “incredible” 2023, Nigam says, “I always perform at a lot of concerts. But I am particularly thrilled about the kind of film and non-film songs I did in 2023. From Papa Meri Jaan from Animal, Itni Si Baat from Sam Bahadur, Nikle The Kabhi Hum Ghar Se from Dunki, Ro Lain De from Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani and Tu Hai Sheetal Dhaara from Adipurush to Bandeya from the OTT release Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai — I got to sing some amazing songs. Also, my single Afra Tafri for Bhoomi 2023 with (composer duo) Salim-Sulaiman did well. I was seen dancing in the music video after years, celebrating my hometown, Delhi.”
In the industry, lack of visibility is often equated with scarcity of work. Though he had back-to-back releases this year, Nigam says he isn’t running after movie songs. “I have sung a lot in my career. I voluntarily decided to record less for films since 2006. Today, everyone knows who’s busy and who’s not, thanks to social media. I turn down offers every now and then,” says the Padma Shri recipient.
He adds, “I wish to go a little exclusive now in terms of the kind of work I do. Now, I only do songs that are worthy of my name and time. I’m glad that quality work has been released this year. Today, the game has changed due to platforms like Spotify. As an artiste, you need to make sure that your work is of a certain level. You cannot settle for mediocrity, as all the streaming platforms are artiste-driven.”
BETTER WITH AGE!
Though the singer is 50, his voice continues to be on point: “People are also appreciating how I sound now, because usually logon ki awaaz age ke saath depreciate hoti hai. Mujhe lagta hai meri awaz better hui hai. Recently, I had a really bad throat before a concert in Mumbai. But pata nahin show se theek 30 minute pehle maine kya riyaaz kiya that I rocked the show. I’ve realised that I’ve become a much better singer than what I used to be.”
Pan-India films usher the era of cross-regional collaborations
8:23 AM
With Southern horizons embraced and stars shining beyond borders, it’s the new era of pan-India appeal and cross-regional collaborations
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 26, 2023)
Yes, 2023 has turned out to be a great year for Hindi films, with multiple hits coming in. But a crucial aspect related to films also underwent a sea change — we saw biggies turning to the south states for mega events, some deciding not to promote their film at all (we are looking at you, Shah Rukh, for Pathaan), and some (again, SRK) heavily promoting the film abroad. But the most significant evolution observed was the industry’s pivot towards engaging with the lucrative Southern markets.
IT SHOULD ALL GO SOUTH
Considering the tough competition regional language films give to Hindi films, it was only a natural step for us to explore the South markets. Makers of Shah Rukh’s Jawan realized that for a film to be called pan-Indian, it definitely needs to be accepted in those states. And hence, they organized a live show at Sai Ram Engineering College in Chennai, with the entire cast in attendance.
Varun Gupta, the founder of Max Marketing and the brain behind the promotions of almost all big films in the northern belt, including Animal and Adipurush, explains, “Actors like SRK and Ranbir (Kapoor) need no introduction, but they need to grow an audience base in the South. The idea with Animal was that the Hindi-speaking audience loves Ranbir; they would love to watch him in a never-before-seen avatar. But audiences in different languages might not have seen all their films.”
THE SUPPORT
A monumental shift was witnessed with the film Animal introducing an unprecedented pre-teaser marketing strategy previously unseen in Hindi cinema. The film gained support from renowned personalities like (filmmaker) S S Rajamouli and (actor) Mahesh Babu, indicating a collective industry effort towards extending its influence beyond conventional boundaries.
But Gupta feels not every film needs to practice this: “For me, as a marketing person, my job is limited till the opening weekend; I need to market the film in a way that people come in the first three days; after that, the content has to work. I am very proud that despite Adipurush not doing well ultimately, it still opened at around Rs. 37 crore.”
G Srinivas Rao, Managing Director of Shreyas Media (which is responsible for almost all promotions done in the Southern states), echoes Gupta’s sentiments, emphasizing the immense untapped potential of the Southern markets for Hindi filmmakers. He highlights the impact of localized promotions, citing instances like Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva (2022), which ventured into Vizag, Andhra Pradesh with large-scale events, targeting diverse audience segments.
MORE IN THE PIPELINE
Producer Ramesh Taurani, whose film Merry Christmas is set for release, also has plans for an event in Chennai. “We have made two films: one in Hindi, and the same in Tamil. In the both versions, only (actors) Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi are the same; the rest of the cast is from the respective film industries. We have a big event planned for the first week of January,” he tells us.
OMG 2 had to pay the price because of Adipurush-Pavan Malhotra
8:51 AM
Syeda Eba Fatima (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 8, 2023)
After actors Govind Namdev, Akshay Kumar and Pankaj Tripathi expressing their disappointment about their film OMG 2 getting an A certificate, another cast member, actor Pavan Malhotra, has voiced his dissatisfaction with the Central Board of Film Certification not giving it a U/A certificate.
The actor says the film may have suffered because of Adipurush, which faced intense criticism for hurting religious sentiments. “I’ve not watched it, but from what I have heard and understood, it’s because of what happened with Adipurush, that OMG 2 did not get the U/A certificate. Mera andaaza hai yeh,” says Malhotra, adding, “There was a lot of criticism around that film and people were hurt. So, somewhere, our film had to pay the price. Otherwise, at maximum, the censor board might have given it a 12+ or 14+ certificate.”
Many are also disappointment with the makers for not fighting enough for a U/A certificate for the film. But Malhotra says releasing a film is not as easy as it may seem. “It’s very tricky and there’s a lot of hassle involved. For instance, the dates are decided much in advance. Maybe the makers did not have enough time to fight for a U/A certificate. I’m happy audiences will be able to see the uncut version of the film when it drops on OTT soon,” he wraps up.
Supreme Court declines PIL seeking to revoke certificate of Adipurush
8:54 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (July 23, 2023)
Actors Prabhas and Kriti Sanon-starrer Adipurush faced a lot of flak upon its release for tampering with Hindu epic Ramayana and hurting religious sentiments. Owing to that, a PIL was filed, seeking to revoke the CBFC certificate of the film for public exhibition. However, on Friday, the Supreme Court refused to entertain the plea and said that these aren’t matters for the court to hear.
Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul remarked, “Why should we interfere under Article 32? Everybody is now touchy on everything. Should we scrutinize all of that? Tolerance for films, books these days is going down.”
Dismissing the plea, the bench headed by Kaul said the apex court should not become some kind of appellant authority for such matters. “We may hold here that cinematographic depictions play with the original material, to what extent it is permissible a body is there. It is not possible for this court to interfere for each person’s sensibilities under Article 32. If anyone is aggrieved by the decision of appellate authority they can pursue remedies under law,” added the bench.
The plea sought direction “to protect and preserve all the religious manuscripts and texts in their original form at all platforms and prohibit distortion of the above-said texts/manuscripts by anyone”.
To generate more content, OTT must not compromise on quality-Sharad Kelkar
8:38 AM
Shruti Jambhekar (BOMBAY TIMES; July 19, 2023)
Sharad Kelkar, who moved from TV to Bollywood and OTT, says he didn’t mind the “struggle” and “enjoyed every bit of that process” because it made him a better actor. Currently juggling OTT and films, Sharad has a tight schedule and says he feels “guilty about not being able to strike a work-life balance. I have been giving work too much priority, so now I am trying to break this pattern and spend quality time with my family at home and by frequently taking vacays together”.
We caught up with the actor who’s in Ahmedabad to shoot an OTT project. Excerpts:
‘Ahmedabad has been special to me’
While doing my MBA in 2001, I lived in Ahmedabad for a few months and did my summer internship programme in the city. As a marketing student, I explored Ahmedabad to the fullest. I stayed opposite Darpana Academy and would have most of my meals at Natrani. I hope I can go there this time too. I have watched many movies here - Lagaan, Dil Chahta Hai, Aks - the multiplexes were awesome. A small town boy like me (he is from Gwalior) had only gone to cinemas that had chairs without proper leather cover, multiplexes were a novelty for me! Ahmedabad is a beautiful, vibrant city.
‘I never feel overworked even while juggling mediums’
I have been juggling OTT, Bollywood and dubbing assignments for a while; I didn’t find it challenging. Acting has always been my passion, so anything associated with it makes me happy. I never feel overworked and even my struggle period had its own charm. When you love something, everything associated with it feels good.
‘OTT has redefined the entertainment industry’
OTT has redefined the entertainment industry and there are both positives and negatives. I can see some wonderful storytelling, more opportunities for actors and technical professionals, actors doing some fabulous work. My only word of caution–to generate more content, OTT must not compromise on quality. The magic of watching movies in a theatre is getting impacted with content readily available on OTT platforms.
‘I need something really interesting and finite to take up a TV show’
TV (Aakrosh, CID, Saat Phere, Uttaran and Koi Laut Ke Aaya Hai) gave me a lot of popularity but with my current schedule, I don’t think I will be able to give that kind of time to a TV show. Currently, TV shows are too run-of-the-mill and don’t excite me. I need something really interesting and finite if I do TV. Hollywood actors do movies and even TV, in India TV content does not offer enough creative challenges and even TRPs of the shows are dipping every year.
‘I am glad I have been appreciated for my dubbing’
I don’t treat voice acting (he dubbed for Prabhas in Baahubali and Adipurush) as a challenge. I find it a lot similar to acting. If someone observed me during a dubbing session, they would have seen me emoting scenes with hand gestures and facial expressions as per the requirement of the scene. I am glad I have been appreciated for my dubbing.
‘Hopefully, I will do a Gujarati film soon’
Regional cinema is emerging as a force to reckon with. South filmmakers handle their work with conviction and know how to turn a story into a visual treat. Even Marathi movies have good stories, but they lack the star power and strong marketing which south films have. I have been hearing good things about Gujarati movies, especially in the NRI circle. I was even offered a Gujarati film a few years back, but the schedules didn’t match. Hopefully, I will do one soon.
In six months, Bollywood delivers 2 blockbusters, 1 surprise super-hit
3:32 PM
Box Office India Trade Network
The first half of the year continued from where we left in 2022 with most films biting the dust. PATHAAN hit it out of the park with record numbers edging past BAAHUBALI 2: THE CONCLUSION though in GROSS terms the Prabhas-starrer remains ahead. PATHAAN saw Shah Rukh Khan in the action genre which should have happened 10-15 years ago as a lot of his non performers were down to genre not being correct at the time of release for such a big star.
THE KERALA STORY was the surprise of the first six months as it racked up huge numbers for what the actual film as worth and the collections were more organic than last year's THE KASHMIR FILES which was on similar lines. Both these films are very low cost films with huge returns and are compared to biggest low cost film ever JAI SANTOSHI MAA (1975). But the box office success of these films is a notch lower as the reach is less than that film.
ZARA HATKE ZARA BACHKE was another big HIT and it is actually the most important film of the year as it is basically the bread and butter type film for the industry and it can still work. The film shows the audience profile has changed from upper middle/middle class to lower middle/middle class as nothing else in this zone has worked. But generally those films were more like pre pandemic aiming at the upper middle/middle classes. This film scored strongly in A centres of the Hindi belts pushing the box office over 80 crore nett with the help of super hit music.
The other moderate successes were TU JHOOTHI MAIN MAKKAAR and SATYAPREM KI KATHA but today even moderate is good. Actually today even a FLOP tag is pretty respectable as its one disaster after another. TU JHOOTHI MAIN MAKKAAR had a lot going for it with a strong cast and good music. As the film had a story and milieu which was very urban, the reach got limited and that reflects in collections. SATYAPREM KI KATHA is another film which has done well for what its worth. The film did not have much going for it and its managed a decent run till date and should end up around that 70 crore nett mark or near. The AVERAGE mark is disappointing for TU JHOOTHI MAIN MAKKAAR but you take it for SATYAPREM KI KATHA.
Last year there was support from the South with KGF: CHAPTER 2 and RRR but so far there has been nothing this year. Hollywood had some successful films with JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 being the surprise with collections of 50 crore nett. FAST X did a bigger number but expectations were also much higher.
There are flop theatrical films put in the list but as mentioned above, a flop is not bad as most films are disasters at the ticket counters today. The classifications of the first half of 2023 is as follows.
All Time Blockbuster
Pathaan
Super Blockbuster
The Kerala Story
Blockbuster
-
Super Hit
Zara Hatke Zara Bachke
Hit
John Wick: Chapter 4 (Hollywood)
Semi Hit
Fast X (Hollywood)
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (Hollywood)
Average
Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar
Satyaprem Ki Katha
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 (Hollywood)
Below Average
Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway
Ponniyin Selvan - Part 2 (South)
Flop
Adipurush
Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan
Bholaa
Trade experts discuss the ‘pan-India film’ obsession
8:25 AM
Ultimately, the success of a pan-India film lies in its content and ability to resonate with audiences, say experts
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 11, 2023)
In 2015, a cinematic storm named Baahubali swept India, forever changing the landscape of Indian cinema. The film’s success showcased the immense potential held by movies from the Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam industries, collectively known as the South belt. This awakening gave birth to the ‘pan-India film’ obsession, as the industry recognized the vast opportunities that lay within these multi-lingual projects.
However, amid the excitement, questions arise about what truly constitutes a ‘pan-India’ film and whether the term has been exhausted.
DUBBED FILM DEBATE
Atul Mohan, trade expert, clarifies that “a pan-India film is one released in multiple languages simultaneously, including Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi”. He also emphasizes that labelling a film as pan-India should be reserved for projects that “genuinely resonate with audiences upon their release, rather than pre-emptively declaring them as such”.
He adds, “Makers just think now ‘bada budget, ek North, ek South ka actor aur action film, isko pan-India bol ke bechte hain’. But aise nahin hota, content bhi toh ho!”
LOW SUCCESS RATES
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh notes that the “allure of the larger audience and potential higher returns drives many producers to take the risk” and feels that “the term has indeed been overused”. He cites the undeniable successes of films like Baahubali, Pushpa: The Rise - Part 01 (2021) and RRR (2022), which “genuinely qualify as pan-India due to their wide-reaching appeal”. But, he acknowledges numerous instances of films failing to make an impact also exist, such as Liger, Vikrant Rona (both 2022), Kabzaa and Adipurush.
CONVERGENCE OF ALL INDUSTRIES INTO ONE
In recent times, several Hindi film actors have appeared in Telugu, Tamil and Kannada films. The inclusion of Ajay Devgn and Alia Bhatt in RRR is seen by some as a strategy to cater to the northern audience. Similarly, Nagarjuna starred in Brahmastra and Prabhas portrayed Lord Ram in Adipurush.
Raveena Tandon, who acted in KGF - Chapter 2, says, “All our industries are converging into one big force. When I was done with KGF 2 and shooting for another film in Rajasthan, people came up to me and said ‘KGF KGF’, I was surprised people in that state enjoyed a Kannada film.”
Actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra, who stars in KD - The Devil, notes, “People enjoy the sensibilities of south films and coming together of a Hindi cast with that of films from Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.”
As Satyaprem Ki Katha collects Rs. 38 cr, trade cheers the rise of mid-budget films
8:29 AM
Satyaprem Ki Katha busts myth that only actioners work at the BO as it earns Rs 38 crores over the opening weekend; trade cheers the rise of mid-budget films
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 4, 2023)
What’s the secret to box-office success in Bollywood? Only a tentpole action film, industry insiders would say until a few weeks ago. But the performance of Satyaprem Ki Katha tells us otherwise. In only four days, Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani’s romantic drama has made over Rs 38 crores. This comes close on the heels of Vicky Kaushal and Sara Ali Khan’s Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, which released on June 2 and has made over Rs 84 crores. It’s safe to say that the myth about only action films drawing audiences to theatres has been busted.
Manoj Desai, executive director of G7 Cinemas and Maratha Mandir, says that romance has been the box-office flavour in June. “The genre of romance is working at the movies. Satyaprem Ki Katha’s occupancy is between 70 and 80 per cent,” he says, adding that the underwhelming run of Adipurush in mid-June left the audiences wanting more.
“People expected Adipurush to do well, but it didn’t. There is a desire to watch a movie on the big screen. In some ways, this film is making up for the deficit.”
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh says it is folly to believe that a certain genre has an advantage over others. “If a movie is good, it will work. Zara Hatke... and Satyaprem... have been well-received, and are enjoying footfall despite the downpour in Mumbai.”
He, however, credits the makers of Zara Hatke Zara Bachke for taking the leap of faith. “The consensus was that the film should have premièred on OTT, but the makers took a risk, and look how well it did! There is action-movie fatigue. In digital entertainment, [we have] crime, suspense and murder mysteries in surplus. People now want song-and-dance, joy and mostly romance.”
This bodes well for Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, which promises to be a classic Karan Johar affair, complete with songs, drama and extravagance. While exhibitor Akshaye Rathi admits that an epic romance musical like Rocky Aur Rani... is missing from the market, he is enthusiastic about the mid-budget films.
“There can only be two to three blockbusters a year. For instance, Shah Rukh Khan can give us Pathaan and Dunki once in a few years because these films are time-consuming and expensive to make. For the industry’s ecosystem, it’s not healthy if mid-level films don’t make money. This problem has been rectified by [the success of] Zara Hatke Zara Bachke and Satyaprem Ki Katha.”
Films like Adipurush put to test the tolerance of Hindu, says Court
8:21 AM
THE TIMES OF INDIA (June 28, 2023)
Lucknow: The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday slammed the makers of the film 'Adipurush' and asked how the Central Board of Film Certification cleared the film for public viewing. The court observed that such films were putting to test the tolerance of Hindus and added that thankfully the community did not create any law and order situation. The court's observations, however, were not part of the order.
The court also directed for notice to be issued to Manoj Muntashir, the dialogue writer of the film, and make him a party in the case. The court's observations came while hearing two PILs filed by Kuldeep Tiwari and Naveen Dhawan seeking restriction on screening of the film.
The vacation bench of Justices Rajesh Singh Chauhan and Shree Prakash Singh asked deputy solicitor general SB Pandey to seek instructions as to whether the central government was contemplating to review the certificate granted by the Censor Board.
The bench has posted the matter for the next hearing on Wednesday
The bench declined to accept the plea that the disclaimer of the movie said that the movie was not based on the Ramayana. "When the filmmaker has shown Lord Rama, Devi Sita, Laxman, Lord Hanuman, Ravana, Lanka etc., how the disclaimer of the film would convince the people at large that the story is not from Ramayana," the bench reacted strongly.
The bench was irked when it was apprised by the petitioner’s lawyer, Ranjana Agnihotri, that the movie may not only affect adversely the sentiments of the people at large, who worship Lord Rama, Sita, Hanuman etc., but the manner in which the characters of Ramayana have been depicted would create serious disharmony in the society also. It was further stated that the petitioner failed to understand from where the content of the film had been borrowed as nothing in that manner has been narrated in Valmiki’s Ramayana or Tulsi Das’ Ramcharitmanas.
TIMES VIEW:
The CBFC is an official body entrusted with the job of looking into issues such as public morality and collective sensitivity before issuing a certificate permitting any film’s exhibition. Any issue with the film being allowed to screen should be addressed to CBFC, not the film’s makers.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 783
2:59 PM
ADIPURUSH CRASHES AND HOW; A DULL WEEK ON THE CARDS AHEAD
Adipurush was finally released last week with a lot of expectations. The advance booking was quite strong and there was a lot of positivity around the film. But things changed as soon as the first shows were played on Friday morning. It didn’t take long for the word to spread that it was a poorly made film. Viewers were not just unhappy with the direction or VFX but also with sub-standard and cheap dialogues.
Yet, Adipurush embarked on a strong start, collecting Rs. 35 crores on the first day, which is better than expectations. The negativity increased with each passing hour. Director Om Raut and writer Manoj Muntashir tried to douse the fire by defending the film. Sadly, it added to the criticism.
Meanwhile, Adipurush collected Rs. 35 crores on Saturday as well as Sunday. On the one hand, it was good to see that despite the bad word of mouth, the film didn’t crash on Saturday. At the same time, there was no growth and it indicated that the film will fall on Monday.
Yet, the expectation was that Adipurush would collect around Rs. 15 crores or Rs. 11-12 crores, in a worst-case scenario, on Monday. Sadly, the film earned just Rs. 7.75 crores on its fourth day. The collections further dipped to Rs. 4.75 crores on Tuesday and Rs. 3.25 crores on Wednesday. The collections might be around Rs. 2 crores on Thursday or it could be lesser. This means that the first week's collections are expected to be around Rs. 122-123 crores. The collections might stabilize over the weekend and then there’ll be another fall from Monday, June 26. At this rate, Adipurush’s lifetime will be less than Rs. 135 crores. This is shocking for a film that had a weekend of Rs. 105 crores.
Meanwhile, tomorrow, 1920: Horrors Of The Heart will release in cinemas. It stars Avika Gor of Balika Vadhu fame and is directed by Vikram Bhatt’s daughter Krishna. The story looks different from the rest of the films of the series. Also, the series has some takers due to the horror element. As a result, the film will open in the range of Rs. 1 crore. The last film of the franchise, 1921, also came with few expectations but managed to open at Rs. 1.57 crore.
The other major release is the Hollywood animated movie, Elemental. It’s produced by Walt Disney and will get its share of audiences, comprising families and kids, in urban areas.
No Hard Feelings, starring Jennifer Lawrence, is a sex comedy and it can attract the youth. Sadly, as per the latest reports, it is getting a very limited release everywhere.
Lastly, The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan is a French film which is being dubbed in English. The only recognizable face in the film for Indian audiences is Eva Green. There’s no buzz or awareness and hence, it’ll sink without a trace.
Adipurush was finally released last week with a lot of expectations. The advance booking was quite strong and there was a lot of positivity around the film. But things changed as soon as the first shows were played on Friday morning. It didn’t take long for the word to spread that it was a poorly made film. Viewers were not just unhappy with the direction or VFX but also with sub-standard and cheap dialogues.
Yet, Adipurush embarked on a strong start, collecting Rs. 35 crores on the first day, which is better than expectations. The negativity increased with each passing hour. Director Om Raut and writer Manoj Muntashir tried to douse the fire by defending the film. Sadly, it added to the criticism.
Meanwhile, Adipurush collected Rs. 35 crores on Saturday as well as Sunday. On the one hand, it was good to see that despite the bad word of mouth, the film didn’t crash on Saturday. At the same time, there was no growth and it indicated that the film will fall on Monday.
Yet, the expectation was that Adipurush would collect around Rs. 15 crores or Rs. 11-12 crores, in a worst-case scenario, on Monday. Sadly, the film earned just Rs. 7.75 crores on its fourth day. The collections further dipped to Rs. 4.75 crores on Tuesday and Rs. 3.25 crores on Wednesday. The collections might be around Rs. 2 crores on Thursday or it could be lesser. This means that the first week's collections are expected to be around Rs. 122-123 crores. The collections might stabilize over the weekend and then there’ll be another fall from Monday, June 26. At this rate, Adipurush’s lifetime will be less than Rs. 135 crores. This is shocking for a film that had a weekend of Rs. 105 crores.
Meanwhile, tomorrow, 1920: Horrors Of The Heart will release in cinemas. It stars Avika Gor of Balika Vadhu fame and is directed by Vikram Bhatt’s daughter Krishna. The story looks different from the rest of the films of the series. Also, the series has some takers due to the horror element. As a result, the film will open in the range of Rs. 1 crore. The last film of the franchise, 1921, also came with few expectations but managed to open at Rs. 1.57 crore.
The other major release is the Hollywood animated movie, Elemental. It’s produced by Walt Disney and will get its share of audiences, comprising families and kids, in urban areas.
No Hard Feelings, starring Jennifer Lawrence, is a sex comedy and it can attract the youth. Sadly, as per the latest reports, it is getting a very limited release everywhere.
Lastly, The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan is a French film which is being dubbed in English. The only recognizable face in the film for Indian audiences is Eva Green. There’s no buzz or awareness and hence, it’ll sink without a trace.
Adipurush row: Business dips as calls for ban grow louder
9:21 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (June 22, 2023)
The controversy surrounding Om Raut’s Adipurush, which is a retelling of the Ramayana, refuses to die down. Not only are clarion calls for a blanket ban on the film growing louder, but the backlash has also translated to a dip in box-office collections, despite a positive opening weekend. Here’s a roundup of all that ensued.
Protestors seek PM Modi’s help
All India Cine Workers Association president Suresh Shyam Lal Gupta has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling for an immediate ban on the film for “hurting religious sentiments”. He has also urged an FIR against director Om Raut, co-writer Manoj Muntashir and the producers.
“The screenplay and dialogues are clearly defaming the image of Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman,” read the letter written on Tuesday, adding, “The movie depicts Lord Ram and even Raavan like characters from a video game. We request Modi ji to ban screening Adipurush in theatres and OTT platforms immediately.”
Call it a fantasy film: Prem Sagar
In response to the backlash, the makers of Adipurush said recently that they would omit the dialogues found objectionable and release a fresh cut. Actor Prem Sagar, whose father, late Ramanand Sagar, helmed the iconic 1987 television serial Ramayan, wonders how writer Manoj Muntashir “conceived the dialogues”. “It might be a misjudgment that the younger generation would like it. Don’t say it is based on Valmiki Ramayan; give it any other name. Call it a fantasy film. But, if you’re making Ramayan, you can’t hurt sentiments,” he told ANI, adding that he “doesn’t even want to watch the film”.
Cause and effect: Film sees a free fall
The box-office collection of the Prabhas-starrer fell drastically during the week. From a Friday figure of Rs. 87 crores (nett), the India collection across languages dipped to Rs. 67 crores (approx) over the weekend. On Monday, it further dipped to Rs. 19.5 crores while on Tuesday, it fell to Rs. 13 crores.
Kriti holds screening for DPS students
Actor Kriti Sanon held a screening of her film for the students of her alma mater, Delhi Public School, RK Puram, on Wednesday. Sanon booked a show at PVR Sangam in RK Puram. “Since the film is based on the Ramayana, children would enjoy it,” says a source.
Stop recreating Ramayana: Dipika Chikhlia Topiwala
Actor Dipika Chikhlia Topiwala, who played Sita in the iconic TV show Ramayan, feels it’s high time an epic like the Ramayana stops being remade. Taking to Instagram, she shared a video clip, saying: “We often see the Ramayana being recreated after every few years, be it for a film or a TV show. Ramayana is our epic. We should not recreate it. Whenever it is made, there is some or the other controversy around it. It is a subject we should worship. We should [instead] teach it in educational institutions.”
Nepal bans Hindi films after Adipurush row; makers apologize to Kathmandu mayor
8:37 AM
THE TIMES OF INDIA (June 20, 2023)
Kathmandu: All Hindi films, including ‘Adipurush’, were banned in Nepal on Monday following a controversy over its dialogues, including the mention of Sita as “India’s daughter”.
According to reports, the screening of Om Raut-directed ‘Adipurush’ has been halted nationwide, after the movie, a retelling of epic Ramayana, was banned in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Police personnel were deployed across 17 halls in Kathmandu to ensure that no Hindi film was screened.
Kathmandu mayor Balen Shah on Sunday said that no Hindi film will be allowed to run in Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) until the dialogue “Janaki is a daughter of India” is removed, not just in Nepal, but also in India. Sita, also referred to as Janaki, is believed by many to have been born in Janakpur in southeast Nepal.
According to Shah, screening ‘Adipurush’ without getting the dialogue removed will cause “irreparable damage”. Pokhara metropolis mayor Dhanaraj Acharya said ‘Adipurush, starring Prabhas and Kriti Sanon, would be barred from screening from Monday onwards.
“Screening of all the Hindi films will be barred within the KMC from Monday as the objectionable words in the dialogue of the film ‘Adipurush’ has not yet been removed,” the mayor said in a Facebook post on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Raju Pandey, KMC police chief, said that the police inspected cinema halls within the city on Sunday in accordance with the mayor’s instructions.
“We got a positive response during inspection on Sunday,” Pandey said. A security guard at Q’s Cinema situated at the Rising Mall in Kamaladi said that the theatre stopped screening ‘Adipurush’ after showing the movie once on Friday evening.
“Now, we are screening Nepali film ‘Neer Phool’ from Monday,” he said.
--------------------------------------------------------------
HINDUSTAN TIMES (June 21, 2023)
It seems the negativity surrounding Adipurush owing to all the controversies has caught up with it. The collections of the Prabhas and Kriti Sanon-starrer have witnessed a huge dip for the first time since its release on June 16.
According to a tweet by trade analyst Taran Adarsh, “THE NEGATIVE WORD OF MOUTH HAS COME INTO PLAY... After a strong opening weekend, #Adipurush collapsed on Monday. #Hindi version. #India biz. (sic)”.
The first day’s collection of the film was said to be very good by the trade, estimated to be around ₹37 crore from the Hindi version. The makers had released the gross figures for the first day: Rs. 140 crore from the global box office. Day four figures, according to Box Office India, stood at Rs. 7.75 crores net, indicating that the film has been impacted.
Meanwhile, the makers have apologized to Kathmandu’s mayor, Balen Shah, for the controversy around Janaki’s birthplace. Kathmandu had banned all Hindi films until the line was revised.
“At the outset we would like to apologize if we have hurt the sentiments of the people of Nepal in any way. It was never intentional or deliberate to cause any disharmony for anyone. The dialogue spoken by Mr Prabhas portraying the character of Shri Raghav, ‘Aaj mere liye mat ladna, uss din ke liye ladna jab Bharat ki kisi beti par haath daine se pehle durachari tumhara paurush yaad karke thraa uthega’ has no reference to the birth place of Sita Mata but refers to, in general, the dignity of all women particularly the women of ‘Bharat’ Having said that, as Indians the respect of women all over the world is of utmost importance to us. We request you to view the film in its artistic form and support the intention of reaching out to a larger audience to create interest in our history,” the makers said in a statement.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Dialogue writer gets police cover
THE TIMES OF INDIA (June 20, 2023)
After facing backlash for the dialogues in ‘Adipurush’, writer Manoj Muntashir has requested protection, citing a threat to his life. Mumbai Police has provided him security and said they are probing the matter. Earlier, Manoj along with directors and producers of the film decided to make changes in the dialogue of the movie. He said, “There is an objection to five dialogues and they will be changed. If people are not liking some parts, then it is our responsibility to fix them.”
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Film ‘hurtful’, ban it: Ayodhya seers
THE TIMES OF INDIA (June 20, 2023)
Seers of Ayodhya, Varanasi and Prayagraj demanded a ban on the film, saying the dialogues and scenes are hurtful to Hindu sentiments. “It should be banned immediately as its dialogues are demeaning —so much so they make our blood boil,” Acharya Satyendra Das, chief priest of Ram Janmabhoomi temple, said. Swami Avimukteshwaranand, Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Kashi, said “One who hears the condemnation of Lord Vishnu commits a sin similar to cow slaughter”.
Adipurush makers to change controversial dialogues; even in the past, scenes have been re-shot or removed
9:05 AM
Modifications post release aren’t common, but scenes have been re-shot or removed, and songs have been dropped, too, in the past
Niharika Lal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 20, 2023)
Adipurush dialogue writer Manoj Muntashir Shukla believes it’s a case of just five lines. “I wrote more than 4,000 lines as dialogues in Adipurush, some sentiments got hurt on five of those lines,” he wrote on social media.
The jury is still out on whether it’s five lines or more, but the fact remains that the dialogues of Adipurush have sparked caustic reactions from audiences, politicians and film critics alike ever since its release last weekend.
The film has been widely panned for showing divine characters – especially Hanuman – speak lines that the film’s makers call colloquial, but many film-watchers have found to be crass. Bowing to the pressure, the film’s team announced on Sunday that the dialogues would be altered, “valuing the input of the public and the audience”. The makers said that they are “revisiting the said dialogues, and the same will reflect in the theatres in the next few days.”
However, such moves of altering scenes and dialogues post a movie’s release are not unprecedented. Over the years, filmmakers from Guru Dutt and Bimal Roy to Sooraj Barjatya have sought post-release changes in dialogues and songs for various reasons.
ADIPURUSH DIALOGUES THAT HAVE DRAWN FLAK
“Jo hamari beheno ko haath lagayenge unki lanka laga denge”
“Teri bua ka bageecha hai kya jo hawa khane chala aaya?”
“Kapda tere baap ka, tel tere baap ka, aag bhi tere baap ki toh jalegi bhi tere baap ki”
“Aap apne kaal ke liye kaaleen bichha rahe hain”
“Mere ek sapole ne tumhare sheshnaag ko lamba kar diya, abhi toh pura pitara bhara para hai”
WE WILL REVISE SOME OF THE DIALOGUES: MANOJ MUNTASHIR
I wrote more than 4,000 lines as dialogues in Adipurush, some sentiments got hurt on five of those lines. In those hundreds of lines, where Shri Ram was glorified, Maa Sita’s chastity was described, I was hoping to receive praise for them, which I don’t know why I did not get. For me, there is nothing greater than your feelings. I can give countless arguments in favour of my dialogues, but this will not lessen your pain. I and the producer-director of the film have decided that we will revise some of the dialogues which are hurting you and they will be added to the film this week
– Manoj Muntashir Shukla, dialogue writer of Adipurush, on social media
WHY MAKERS CHANGE FILMS POST RELEASE
While there are no recent examples, films that saw post release changes include those that were banned in some states or where the makers have made fresh edits, voluntarily. For example, Prakash Jha agreed to some changes in his film Aarakshan on the eve of its release after Uttar Pradesh and Punjab banned it over controversial scenes and dialogues. Whenever a film makes any changes, it has to get the approval of the CBFC. Sometimes, these changes are also made for the film’s satellite or streaming rights.
NINE MINUTES OF DABANGG 3 (2019) WERE CUT
The makers of Dabangg 3 announced after the release of the film that they voluntarily removed certain scenes from the film’s title track, Hud Hud Dabangg. The film was trimmed by nine minutes. As per reports, about eight minutes were edited from the first half, which included a song, Awara, featuring Salman Khan and Saiee Manjrekar. Another song Naina Lade was also shortened. The film faced controversy when several groups objected to a sequence in the title song that featured saffron-clad sadhus dancing with guitars.
FILMMAKERS SOMETIMES VOLUNTARILY SEEK MODIFICATIONS AFTER CERTIFICATION: CBFC OFFICIAL
Elaborating on the topic, a CBFC official says, “It is not uncommon for filmmakers – especially in the case of well-known directors and big-budget films – to revise dialogues and scenes. Many filmmakers voluntarily seek modifications after certification. On an average, we receive eight to ten requests from filmmakers across languages. While the film retains the original certificate in the cinemas, any updated modifications are endorsed on back of the certificate.”
SONGS WERE CUT FROM HUM AAPKE HAI KOUN! (1994)
The initial reaction to Hum Aapke Hai Koun! after the industry screening was not very positive. The film, which has a running time of 3hr 26 mins, was even longer. In a recent documentary, the film’s maker, Sooraj Barjatya, said, “For Hum Aapke Hain Koun!, we had a screening and that show was a disaster. However, Adi (Aditya Chopra) told me, ‘Dhai gaane katoge toh nikal jayegi’. And honestly, it was on my mind for the last five months. He pinpointed the exact two-and-a-half songs, which I removed the next day (sic).”
GURU DUTT, BIMAL ROY ALSO CHANGED FILMS POST RELEASE
Film archivist and historian Shivendra Singh Dungarpur shares that it was quite common in the ’50s and ’70s for filmmakers like Guru Dutt and Bimal Roy to modify their films if they felt the audience was not connecting with the story. Dutt reportedly reshot scenes of Pyaasa after the release and also removed a song. When Dutt visited a cinema showing Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam, he decided to reshoot the climax after seeing the disappointed audience but later changed his mind and didn’t change it. However, he did remove Meena Kumari’s song Sahil Ki Taraf and some dialogues. Similarly, Bimal Roy also changed some parts of Devdas post-release.
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"Meghnad is reduced to look like a cheap WWE wrestler with tattoos all over his body and made to mouth chindi dialogues. 'Beta teri jali', how can these words ever fit Ramayan? Was he a tapori character?"
-Mukesh Khanna, who played Bhishma Pitamah in B R Chopra's Mahabharat
---------------------------------------
"In my understanding, the issue is not of VFX, but of characters'' representation. Mool bhawna ko barkarar rakhna chahiye tha"
- Arun Govil, who played the role of Ram in Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan
---------------------------------------
The controversy raises a larger question: How did a film that seemingly ridicules deities receive clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) without any objection?
Syeda Eba Fatima (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 20, 2023)
The uproar surrounding Adipurush shows no signs of abating. From objectionable dialogue to problematic scenes and inappropriate character representations, audiences remain dissatisfied with the movie’s content. In a shocking turn of events, on Monday, the Kshatriya Karni Sena, during a press conference in Madhya Pradesh, gave death threats to writer Manoj Muntashir and director Om Raut. Amid outrage, Nepal banned all Hindi films in its capital Kathmandu and the tourist town of Pokhara.
INDUSTRY INSIDERS SPEAK
PAHLAJ NIHALANI
The producer and former chairman, CBFC, slams the censor board saying, “It’s filled with random officers, clearing movies without objections; chairman is not available to look after the operation. In the absence of a proper system, a film like this getting a certificate is obvious.”
KOMAL NAHTA
The trade expert calls it a “grave error” on the part of the writers, and he agrees that the censor also seems to have overlooked it. “Revising them now won’t change the fate of the film because there are more issues than just these few lines.”
TARAN ADARSH
The trade analyst says that while watching the film, he wondered how the censor could clear the movie considering the makers had made a clear mockery of religion. “However, CBFC comes into the picture much later. The onus is on the director and writer, and for me, they are to blame,” he adds.
APURVA ASRANI
The filmmaker says, “If you don’t like a film, don’t recommend it. If you don’t like its message, counter it with another story. But there are people keen to watch Adipurush. Also, if the makers are being threatened or pressured, we should stand by them in the name of free speech.”
ARUN GOVIL
The actor, who is famous for playing Lord Ram in TV show Ramayan, says, “Makers are revising the dialogue because they don’t want people to react further. Par jin logon ne film already dekh li hai, woh dobara dekhne toh jayenge nahin.”
DIPIKA CHIKHLIA TOPIWALA
“The damage is already done. How such a film was cleared by the censor board is surely something to think about,” says Chikhlia, who played Sita, in the same iconic TV show.
MUKESH KHANNA
“The problem is not only those five lines... What will you do about costumes, like Raavan made into Khilji or Hanuman made to look like a cartoon? Aur censor ko kya knowledge nahi hai hamare dharam ki?” questions Khanna, who shot to fame as Bhishma in the TV show, Mahabharat.
MAKERS ARE SAYING...
The makers of Adipurush, on Sunday, decided to change a few controversial dialogues (see box). Dialogue writer Manoj Muntashir said, “I can give countless arguments in favour of my dialogues, but this will not reduce [anyone’s] pain. I and the producer-director have decided that some of the dialogues which are hurting you, we’ll revise them. They’ll be added to the film this week.”
As the controversy continues to gain steam, Muntashir has sought protection from Mumbai Police. Meanwhile, in an interview with Zee News, he said that he trusted director Om Raut during the making of the film, and requested that any questions pertaining to the story and screenplay be directed to Raut.
“We have not shown the entire Ramayana; it is extracted from one corner of the epic, Yuddha Kand. The only questions that remain are about the dialogues. The producers and I have announced that those dialogues would be changed.”
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