Indian common man stories take lead at box office

Exceptional stories take lead at box office

Unconventional dramas and atypical love sagas from new-age directors are providing tough competition to larger-than-life heroes at the box-office.

 

The Lunchbox

At a time when typical masala movies like 'Besharam' and 'Once Upon A Time in Mumbai Dobaara' failed to entice moviegoers, unconventional stories like 'Ship of Theseus' and 'The Lunchbox' triumphed.
The new wave cinema is co-existing with typical commercial masala movies, says actor R. Madhavan, who successfully straddles both the worlds.
"We have not given audiences these kinds of films, but the Indian audience is extremely intelligent. They are mature and capable of handling anything. At a time when 'Dabangg' became a hit, 'Tanu Weds Manu' was a hit as well. These are great signs," Madhavan told us.
The success of atypical movies is testimony to the fact that they are no longer just the flavour of film festivals but are commercially viable too.
Made on a meagre budget of Rs.2.5 crore, Anand Gandhi's directorial debut 'Ship of Theseus' managed to win the hearts of many, while Ritish Batra's 'The Lunchbox', an unconventional love story, appealed to the viewers so much that the film, said to be made for approximately Rs.10 crore, collected Rs.1.25 crore on its opening day.
Trade analyst Komal Nahta gives credit to various platforms to showcase creativity.

'Ship of Theseus'

"Cinemas, multiplexes and business models are changing. All kinds of films run because there are small-capacity multiplexes and 1,000 people are not needed to fill up a show," Nahta told us.
He also credits the audiences.
"The audience wants to see good films. That is what makes them do well. People are opening out because of various changing forms of distribution.
"There is room for 'Rowdy Rathore' alongside 'Ram-Leela'...alongside 'The Lunchbox'," Nahta noted.
Debutant director Faraz Haider, maker of well-received war comedy 'War Chhod Na Yaar', said the magic lies in the rareness of ideas.
"For a first time director, it is very tough to get a producer and actors. The basic thing is to have a unique idea. If you have a unique idea, then everyone will entertain you. The idea has to be different," he said.