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Continuing with Hindi cinema’s greatest fiascos of all time, I have explained that a flop is a film that does not recover its investment, but a disaster is that which fails to garner even 50 percent of the moneys invested in it.
Obviously, flops cannot be a celebration, but it should give rise to cerebration, especially for filmmakers. Even more so in an era when films like Mahavatar Narsimha and now Hanuman Ansh have done record business against all estimates and expectations. Content must take priority and scale and budget must be well planned.
Senior observers of Hindi cinema who have seen movies down decades point out to (the lack of good) music as a key reason for failure as well. But if music alone made a film successful, Deewaar would have been a flop and Mera Naam Joker a bumper blockbuster, But songs, which are like great trailers and also lend a film a repeat value, do matter to an extent.
I have listed films in alphabetical order and we move forward to the second part of this feature. And as is very clear, most of the films below had below-par music with the exception of the plodding drama that was Saawariya.
Maidaan (2024)
Even with its initial planned budget of Rs. 120 crore, it would have been a dud, though the film was made with great commitment by Amit Ravindernath Sharma of Badhai Ho fame. But somehow, probably due to its over-serious tenor, no entertainment and disastrous music (A.R. Rahman), the film could only amass Rs. 52 crore at the Indian b-o. and less than 10 percent of that globally. Compounding the problem was the pandemic after its 2019 launch and a fire on sets that together increased the production cost to beyond Rs. 200 crore!
Mirzya (2016)
This star-less film directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra introduced Saiyami Kher and Harshavardhan Kapoor but could collect only Rs. 11 crore against a budget that was four times the figure.
Mohenjo Daro (2016)
The Hrithik Roshan-Pooja Hegde film from Ashutosh Gowariker emerged as probably his biggest flop. Made at a cost of about Rs. 120 crore, it made a lifetime net of Rs. 58 crore. The gross figure of Rs. 27 crore overseas barely mattered, but the filmmakers made decent money from the satellite and music rights, though not a single song enjoyed even a vestige of popularity.
Saawariya (2007)
Released against Om Shanti Om in Diwali 2007, the film cracked only Rs. 21 crore against a cost of Rs. 45 crore. This Sanjay Leela Bhansali film was the debut film of Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor.
Samraat Prithviraj (2022)
A mega-disaster from Yash Raj Films, this Akshay Kumar historical was budgeted anywhere between Rs. 150 to Rs. 300 crore and could not exceed Rs. 68 crore in collections. Chandraprakash Dwivedi helmed the film.
Shamshera (2022)
A paltry Rs. 42 crore was the audience response to a film budgeted around Rs. 170 crore. The Sanjay Dutt-Ranbir Kapoor film was directed by Karan Malhotra, of the 2012 hit, Agneepath fame. YRF again in their worst year.
Thugs of Hindostan (2018)
Opening massively, this Diwali 2018 film collapsed faster than a house of cards despite having Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan and Katrina Kaif in the cast and the Dhoom franchise writer Vijay Krishna Acharya also as director (after 2013’s greatest hit, Dhoom:3). Budgeted at a hefty Rs. 300 crore, it made less than half of that figure. YRF again!
Tezz (2012)
Adapted from Junya Sato’s Japanese film, The Bullet Train by Priyadarshan, this Ajay Devgn-Anil Kapoor actioner cost Rs. 52 crore. The earning of Rs. 15 crore is all it to show against that!
