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Join UsGhajini might have the 100 crore brigade a phenomenon way back in 2008 but it was Salman Khan’s massy entertainers that scorched the newly found coveted club which made this a trend of sorts. While most producers and directors along with the cast await the entry of their product into the glitzy world of the century crores, there have been quite a few definitive films that had the potential to cross all boundaries yet falling short of the massy acceptance by miles. With Star Value and Acceptance overpowering content, good films are sometimes the ones that suffer while some critically bad films with loose script or none at all work wonders on the box office front!
Writing an Ode to the Brave Testaments, which although deserved a place in the 100 crore brigade failed to manage to do so:
The Dirty Picture:
A film that recreated the aura of the ‘80s with conviction, a film that made superstar out of a woman, a film that is in itself an ode to the indomitable feminine spirit, The Dirty Picture was total ‘entertainment, entertainment, entertainment’ in its truest form! With Vidya Balan rising upto the frames tackling the Khan-daan and Kappor parivaar single handedly, Bollywood had its newest Big B: The Big Balan! Crisp storyline, crackling dialogues and some stellar performances, The Dirty Picture was bold and gusty and was one of the major forerunners to the deserving crown. Though the film bagged away most Awards that season, it still could not grasp onto the 100 crore mark, much because of the monopolistic rule of the man that exists here since times immemorial. But making a superlative 85 crores in a film ruled by one strong woman, The Dirty Picture will be remembered hamesha and forever!
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara:
While Dil Chahta Hai set new standards for friendship in the 2000s, sister Zoya Akhtar’s take on bromance was a notch higher, both in terms of content and acceptance. Clearly the forerunner of sorts, one would have expected this film, that boasted of some powerful names along with some impeccable performances to easily nudge through the 100 crore mark. But a convincing script made way for multiplex audience and even repeat audience could not help ZNMD live its total expected lifetime, falling short of the target by a meager 10 crores. Definitely a movie which stands out better than a 100 crore masala entertainer yet ZNMD lacked the universal appeal and catered to the select target audience, one that understands films more than getting entertained. The subtlety was appreciated but the treatment could have been a little more massy!
Delhi Belly:
From an age where the critics frowned and beeped every little gaali to this film which remarkably brought in a welcome change to the scenario calculatively putting in curses within humorous frills. Netting in 54 crores after a 36 crore weekend, the film lacked the ability to attract repeat audience and catered to the multiplex audience at large. With content so convoluted and plot so rich in intellectuality enveloped with crude humour, Delhi Belly earned name for its unique paradigm shift but failed to attract audiences at large. But the super hit film definitely could have made 100 crores, had it been accepted based on its content!
Kahaani:
The most riveting story revolving around a suspense thriller, creatively and brilliantly put on to the silver screen, Kahaani helped revolutionize Indian suspense genre with immense aplomb. Having the newly born wonder woman, and the Hero among the Heroines, Vidya Balan taking centre stage, Sujoy Ghosh’s Kahaani was a thrilling edge of the seat film that connected well with the masses. Made at a meager budget of around 8 crores, the film made an earth shattering 60 crores, a number which if compared with other female centric movies is mammoth! Nevertheless, despite having repeat audiences, Kahaani fell well short of the 100 crore league more due to the film’s limited release and the absence of a big budget superstar hero! But Kahaani, the film made a striking impact on the audiences, giving them a reason to wait for its sequel as well.
Oh My God:
Based on a theatre play, Paresh Rawal and Akshay Kumar’s take on God worship triggered an all new sensation of sorts. With a strong social message attached along with oodles of entertainment, Oh My God! was a stand out among most other films last year. Plagued with the ills of spiritual corruption and fake Godliness, India needed a film to reaffirm the stigmatic evils that clusters the Indian society t large. Huge mass appeal and Akshay Kumar’s presence added on to the business taking it to a whooping 82 crores but limited release along with producer’s lack of confidence on the film in itself marred its ability to cross the landmark number. Not to forget, with majority of Indians craving for gibberish entertainment. Oh My God! was one film to have repeat audiences in spite of being an out and out multiplex flick!
Talaash:
A movie that took almost two years to be made and finally release on screen, a movie that was tagged as the ‘upcoming Aamir Khan film’ right after the hugely successful 3 Idiots, Talaash released amidst a lot of euphoria and hysteria. But a boring and ineffective climax spoiled it all for the film that was otherwise a mark of triumphant writing, direction and acting! Although all the actors performed exceptionally well, the sloppy ending and the mystery revelations on everyone’s Facebook account resulted in many people giving the film a miss. While some called it a masterpiece, some stumped it over, but Talaash as an Aamir Khan film was definitely expected to climb up the league! Aamir’s Talaash ended at 93 crores, while most people lashed out at the superstar for such a mindless acting to the magnum opus!
Vicky Donor:
Another film on a social stigma, Vicky Donor stressed on the sensitive issue of Sperm Donor, one that could only be discussed in the closet. Bringing that discussion to the living room, Vicky Donor definitely flew high on the script front and some memorable [performances by its lead stars. Although the content was refreshing and new, the lack of a heavyweight name deprived the film of the dream run at the box office. 40 crores might mean a lot to a small budget film like this but Vicky Donor definitely deserved way more than what he got. Only if it was released better! The opening day as well as the opening weekend figures weren’t phenomenal but the film picked up due to the word of mouth publicity!
Special Chabbis:
Indian heist it was this time that was about to be explored on screen with a beautifully woven plot around a gang of goons who fake being CBI officers raiding in at places. But the Akshay Kumar starrer faced stiff competition from ABCD, India’s answer to the Step Up series and opened up to 5.75 crores on the first day. The film collected around 24 crores in the opening weekend, a number which was lukewarm considering the previous successes that Khiladi Kumar’s films have witnessed. While his no brainer Rowdy Rathore easily crossed the 100 crore mark, Special Chabbis which scored more on content failed to spin the magic stopping at a lifetime of around 70 crores. With too much of understanding to be done, the film run well at the multiplexes with single screens not holding up to the level of an Akki starrer at all!
So, that’s all from our side. Now, you tell us which film according to you should have reached the 100 Crores Club!
