In 2016 India was the largest producer of films in the world. Its total turnover was $2.83 billion that year. Bollywood is no small town; it is the bustling center of art, culture, media, and glamour. While many might remember Bollywood for catchy dance numbers and evergreen rom-coms, it is so much more. While millions of movies make it to the theatres not all of them are upheld. Sometimes film critics do not shy away from film dissection, other times audiences trample the hopes of filmmakers. Bollywood is not an easy place to please.
There are many films that were cinematic masterpieces of its era but they sadly failed among the audiences. Here are 5 films that the critics upheld and revered but audiences had a different story to tell.
1. Lamhe
At the time of its release, Lamhe received an immense international reception but failed in the domestic markets. It was shackled by a poor box office performance despite the positive response from its critics. Starring Sridevi and Anil Kapoor the movie is an intense confederation of heartbreak, time, destiny, and love. Sridevi plays the role of both Pallavi and Pooja yet does an exceptional job with both.
It was hard to understand why Lamhe failed at the box office. The reason could be the very bold theme of the movie. Where Anil Kapoor (Viren) first falls in love with Pallavi but is unable to confess his love for her. Pallavi is already involved with another man, Siddhartha who she ends up marrying. However, they both die only a year later with a daughter named, Pooja. Later in the film, Viren falls in love with the daughter of his dead lover. This was not appreciated among the audiences. If the film had been released some years later with more liberal audiences in question, it would have had a greater chance at succeeding.
2. Umrao Jaan 1981
A magnificent tale that was too ahead of its time, Umrao Jaan is still known for its historically relevant settings, costumes, and beautiful dances by none other than the legendary Rekha. The 1981 film displayed precision in the live of courtesans in the art city of Lucknow. Where nawabs and elites enjoyed their performances but would die than to respect them.
Umrao Jaan was critically acclaimed for its historical accuracy and pitch-perfect performances but the audiences did not feel the same. Umrao Jaan failed at the box office, unlike popular expectation. Even though the songs from this film were immortalized thanks to the magical voice of the nightingale herself Lata Mangeshkar. Today Umrao Jaan has gathered more attention and fans due to its classic genre. This elegant masterpiece had however failed in its era.
3. Matrubhoomi
The finest cinematic piece to be created in India, Matrubhoomi is the story of a village with a very unequal gender ratio. This is because of their frequent practice of female infanticide and obsession with the birth of a boy. Kalki (her name is a symbolic representation of Kalyuga or the future) is a girl in a nearby village who is married to a rich man’s five sons due to their inability to find wives. Matrubhoomi stimulates disgust within the watcher that makes them want to look at it more, instead of turning away from it. If A Handmaid’s Tale was located in rural medieval India this would be the result. This bold masterpiece was however not a hit among the audiences.
Unfortunately, Matrubhoomi became too bold of a film for 2003 audiences. Its viewer scale was low hence its social impact became limited.
4. Swades
One of King Khan’s true masterpieces second to none but My Name Is Khan, Swades is a tale of discovering one own country after they have been away from it for years. It deals with the modern-day caste system, rural living conditions, and what is the meaning of patriotism. It is a journey of re-discovering your own identity, identifying with your culture, and adding to revolutions. Swades has incredible acting presented forward by Shah Rukh Khan and Gayatri Joshi.
Swades was excessively praised by the critics. In fact, it was suspected to be a blockbuster. Domestically it was a box office failure. In-depth characters, light humor, straight messages, and the movie still did not succeed in the audience criteria. It is one of those instances that leave the critics and analysts shocked both the power of viewers and their often their ignorance. Why did Swades fail, it is hard to tell but it has made a legacy. The age of Swades will come too.
5. Sonchiriya
Sonchiriya had one of the best cast-lineups that modern-day Bollywood could imagine. Bhoomi Pednekar, Sushant Singh Rajput, Ashutosh Rana, and Manoj Bajpayee were part of this film about the lives of dacoits in Chambal. Sonchiriya was exemplary work with excellent cinematography, writing, and acting. No aspect of the film was left empty or unattended.
Sonchiriya’s failure is attributed to the release of Lukka Chuppi which was only a mediocre semi-urban rom-com but a crowd-pleaser. The audiences chose to watch the lighthearted comedy instead of the much investing Sonchiriya. There is a saying that goes filmmakers don’t make films, audiences do. To what extent is that true, that is yet to decide.
