Wednesday, August 10, 2022

On boycotting a film

It is very easy to say that a boycott is hurting a movie. But Bollywood has given 3 hits in 2 years. Were all those films affected by trolls? Is any amount of introspection in order? As many people have said, trolls cannot keep a good film down. So, maybe, instead of blaming everyone else, people could pay attention to the quality of their work? Has even a single Bollywood person come out and said, "Audience have been rejecting us for 2 years. Maybe we should sit and think about what we are doing wrong in our story telling, our execution?"

Very easy to sit and blame the audience for "not appreciating how much hard work goes into making a film."

Salman Khan answered that beautifully once. His quote - "Director ne bola public ko picture samajh hi nahi aayi. Arre tumko public nahi samajh aayi."

The last movie I saw in theater was Samrat Prithviraj. The storytelling was very different from what I expected from that director. But when the film bombed, at least he said, "If you do not like my version of the story, discuss with me, tell me what your view is. I want to listen." Contrast that with "People don't understand the hard work." 

We are not supposed to understand your hard work and pay you for that. We are supposed to get entertained and pay you for that. Where is the confusion? 

There are 2 movies being released now. Only Aamir Khan has gone to town like a cry baby. Akshay Kumar (Rakshabandhan) has put his head down and let his work do the talking. This might be that actor's third flop within the last 6 months, but he has not become a drama king even once. His promotion of the films has been dignified, and focused on the work.

For Bollywood, the tide will turn once they start making good cinema. And, after we have given justice to Sushant Singh Rajput. And, PVR stops charging the rate of gold for pop corn. 

Until then, cry on! No one is coming to the theaters. 

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