Bollywood 2023 A Year of Redemeption
Posted by admin on 2023-12-26 |
As we are about to step into the last week of 2023, it’s
time to set our sights on the entertainment world. The year unfolded with Pathaan, where King Khan made a comeback
after a five-year hiatus, single-handedly giving Bollywood a taste of its
former glory. Adding to the sense of
nostalgia, the legendary Sunny Deol made a triumphant return with the highly
awaited Gadar 2.
Box Office Resurgence and Awards
However, it was undeniably the year dominated by SRK.
India experienced memorable triumphs at the Academy Awards and International
Emmy Awards in 2023. Vir Das, the actor and stand-up comedian, clinched an Emmy
for his Netflix special Vir Das: Landing,
and producer Ekta Kapoor was honored with the Directorate Award. Shefali Shah
earned an Emmy nomination for Season 2 of Delhi
Crime. In March, 'Naatu Naatu' from the Telugu film RRR secured an Oscar
for Best Original Song and The Elephant
Whisperers won Best Documentary Short at the 95th Academy Awards. In
September, the Malayalam film 2018 was selected as India's official entry for
the Oscars in 2024.
Controversies and Debates
The year unfolded with instances of mob
influence, self-censorship, and official regulations. Social media pressure
compelled the makers of Adipurush to
issue an apology for not meeting expectations. OTT platforms, including
Netflix, engaged in self-censorship to avoid legal challenges, while the
Central Board of Film Certification granted an A certificate to OMG 2, a film on sex education tailored
for teenagers.
One
of the most anticipated films of the year also turned out to be the most
controversial. Sandeep Reddy Vanga, renowned for Arjun Reddy and Kabir Singh,
returned with his latest creation, Animal.
Once again, his protagonist portrayed an apparent alpha male who associates
love with abuse, displaying a lack of understanding of boundaries and personal
space. Despite carrying an 'A' rating and boasting a considerable runtime, the
film has emerged as one of the year’s biggest hits, surpassing its 100 crore
budget by grossing more than 800 crores. Animal
crushed its competitor, Sam Bahadur,
which had to settle for the label of a Sleeper hit.
Impactful Cinema
The National Film Awards recognized The
Kashmir Files as the Best Film on National Integration, and The Kerala Story
made a significant impact at the box office, signaling the prevalence of a
post-truth era in Hindi cinema. Films like Bheed
and Afwaah were unapologetically
anti-establishment, providing a platform for voices like Godse's in Rajkumar
Santoshi's Gandhi Godse - Ek Yudh.
Yet, amidst the allure of stars, the
spotlight must also illuminate the dedication of a method actor. The year
equally celebrated Manoj Bajpayee, who delivered three exceptional and distinct
performances in Joram, Gulmohar, and Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai.
OTT and Real-life Narratives
Throughout the year, narratives inspired by
lesser-known real-life incidents, less-celebrated personalities, and the
deepening socio-political divide captured audience interest. Films like Shiv
Rawail's The Railway Men, Prashant
Nair's Trial by Fire, Hansal Mehta's Scoop and Faraaz, and Vikramaditya Motwane's Jubilee stood out for their authenticity in portraying defining
events of our times.
Despite robust box office collections, the
surge was attributed to higher ticket prices rather than a return of larger
audiences to theaters, according to Karan Taurani, Senior Vice President at
Elara Capital. Theater occupancy levels hovered at 75-80 percent recovery
compared to pre-Covid levels, and major multiplex operators like PVR-Inox
closed down 50 unprofitable screens in May.
What Lies Ahead
Sequels and franchises will continue to
thrive, with Fighter, featuring
Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, scheduled for release in January. The Singham universe established by Rohit
Shetty and the third installment of Don,
directed by Farhan Akhtar, are also anticipated. A year ago, Bollywood faced an
existential crisis as dubbed versions of South Indian films challenged
traditional Hindi film strongholds. Fortunately, 2023 emerged as Bollywood's
year of redemption.
