Last week’s 120 Bahadur was released with a lot of expectations. But the Farhan Akhtar-starrer had a low opening of Rs. 2 crores. Though it jumped to Rs. 3.25 crores on Saturday and Rs. 3.90 crores on Sunday, it was still not sufficient, considering the high costs. We spoke to the trade experts to understand the reason behind it.
Trade veteran Taran Adarsh said, “I haven’t watched 120 Bahadur. I heard that though the first half is just about okay, the second half is quite better. Also, the film has been overall appreciated, and its paid previews were packed. Yet, it didn’t get those numbers from Friday onwards. There was a marginal increase, but the required jump was missing, which was very crucial for such films. When you are making a film, there has to be some curiosity factor. Songs didn’t work and that also went against the film.”
Trade analyst Atul Mohan explained, “The performances are fine, the film is mounted on a huge scale, and it enjoyed good reports. But it wasn’t anything new. Moreover, the songs didn’t work. Haqeeqat (1964) and Border’s (1997) songs are remembered even today. Our filmmakers need to realize that music is very important. This year’s biggest blockbuster was a musical, Saiyaara. When your soundtrack works, half of the battle is won.”
Suniel Wadhwa, co-founder and director at film production and distribution firm Karmic Films, added, “120 Bahadur’s songs weren’t up to the mark. The other reason was that Indian audiences are not interested in seeing a lost battle. This was my observation, and I also noticed it when we released Panipat (2019). They are also not interested in the Indo-China war.”
He revealed, “Haqeeqat was also based on the same war. It didn’t work initially, but since the song was so good that it got a chance in the repeat runs, that too at a later stage.”
Distributor and exhibitor Raj Bansal agreed, “Any war film, to work, usually needs to depict a country that audiences already see as an enemy, and in Hindi cinema that has traditionally been Pakistan. China doesn’t have that kind of feeling among the moviegoers that Pakistan has. Gadar (2001) worked big time as the anti-Pakistan sentiment was at its peak. The same applies to Gadar 2 (2023).”
He continued, “The music is not good. Except for Farhan Akhtar, there was nothing in the film that appealed to the audience. One can understand that the film didn’t open, but if there was so much appreciation, the collections should have seen a major increase from Saturday or Sunday. On Monday, the film dropped completely. This shows that the film hasn’t been appreciated.”
He also added, “Moreover, though the protagonist is from Rajasthan, he doesn’t look like a Rajasthani from any angle.”
Suniel Wadhwa, meanwhile, also remarked, “A lot of war films have been released and none of them have achieved the status of Border or Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019); the latter also had a strong emotional connect. LOC Kargil (2003) failed to work either. If you notice, the inciting incidents in different war films are more or less similar, cinematically. There’s always the army, supporting characters like a cook or a doctor, and a familiar build-up to battle.”
Meanwhile, Taran Adarsh opined, “I’d like to slightly agree and disagree with it. Yes, I agree we lost the war. But this particular episode (on which 120 Bahadur is based) was victorious in a way since our armed forces prevented China from causing mayhem in the Valley.”
He also said, “Haqeeqat did well. It was a different era then. In today’s times, people are more aware of everything. So, if a film is announced on a particular chapter of history, a section of the moviegoers would research it.”
What about Battle Of Galwan?
With these trade experts commenting that Indo-China films are not getting the desired appreciation, where does this leave Battle Of Galwan? The Salman Khan-starrer is based on the fight that took place between the Indian and Chinese forces in 2020.
The trade experts, however, made it clear that this film does stand a chance. Raj Bansal explained, “We need to see how big the canvas is and how the director has treated the film. If it has entertainment, then it has chances. Also, it has the star power. Gadar also had an advantage as it starred a big name like Sunny Deol. Its music was a super-hit. Such elements work in favour of such films.”
Taran Adarsh also agreed that “That film boasts of star power,” which gives Battle Of Galwan an edge.
Suniel Wadhwa noted that besides Battle Of Galwan, a few more war films are in the offing, and all have chances, “The audience is excited to watch Border 2. Ikkis might also surprise because the film is centred on a person. Also, it is based on a winning
The post Trade experts explain what went wrong with 120 Bahadur: “Audiences don’t want to watch a lost war…China doesn’t have that kind of feeling among the moviegoers that Pakistan has” appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.
