The entire point of making films is for the audiences, who are the real judge of how a film is. Though the masses are beyond quantifiable parameters, it is their expectations that matter the most in terms of a film. It need not be co-related to box office income, but whether it is the expectations we have from a film that are satisfied or not. The expectations vary from film to film, depending on its premise, target audiences and genres. A film satisfies its audiences as soon as it meets what it had promised to deliver. Box office success is absolutely devoid of satisfaction or expectations. Box office duds are easy to name, but films that do not match up what it had aspired to are qualitative failures mostly.
Here’s a look at the films we think failed our assumptions.
Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola
Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola Movie Poster
Directed by Vishal Bharadwaj, the film was based on SEZ issue but the film despite being novel in terms of its vision could have been more obviously humorous. The subtle jokes lacked the blazing quality and overall undeniably the pace will bore you. Perhaps only Pankaj Kapur saved the film. I do not deny the film is a gem but the enjoyable factor was less vivaciously packed. In terms of box office, the film’s relevance had little mass appeal despite being related to issues about the masses but if the enjoyment quotient was higher, there would be no beating this film.
Himmatwala
Himmatwala Movie Poster
Too much has been spoken about Himmatwala already. The film’s expectations were not solely harping on number but the mere fact that its target audiences couldn’t find it delicious either, that failed it. Invariably missing every beat to strike a harmonious chord with the audiences, it is not that our audiences suddenly turned intelligent and began looking for logic in the film but the film’s blazing entertaining beat was missing on myriad levels that failed it.
Ek Thi Daayan
Ek Thi Daayan Movie Poster
Publicized as one of recent times most unusual horror films, based more on ethnic folklores the film was brilliant for its entire first half. With Konkona Sen Sharma giving a bewitching performance, the film sagged badly in the second half. In a horror film you expect to be so scared out of your wits that you want to close your eyes! I watched the second half of Dayaan with almost my eyes wide open, not feeling the scary pulse or the thrill. The haunting background score and a brilliant first half, Daayan failed to strike well because it wasn’t scary enough.
Bombay Talkies
Bombay Talkies Movie Poster
Hailed as a wonderful film, its brilliance had a technical problem. On what basis do you call the omnibus film, a tribute to 100 years of cinema? Each wonderfully made films, the tribute factor was absolutely dull in the film. Whether it was hailing the beauty of stardom or the star power, it was hard to fathom its link or relevance to the centenary year!
Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb Movie Poster
Painted on the canvas of Gurgaon, the film had some wonderful performances and a strong story line. But the script turns convoluted as the director’s execution goes haywire. There are too many complications and though you might expect Arjun Kapoor-Rishi Kapoor-Jackie Shroff to come up with something better given their individual expertise over acting and hold over strong performance, it lacked sheen.
Yamla Pagla Deewana 2
Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 Movie Poster
Rollicking and ridiculous at the same time, YPD 2 passed without leaving much of an impact or making you laugh that intensely. The jokes were stale, the set up wasn’t fresh enough and hence one would still prefer watching the original rather than a sequel which only had a beautiful orangutan you can’t over.
Ghanchakkar
Ghanchakkar Movie Poster
From the trailer, the film’s story is laid out. A bank robbery, amnesia, a crazy wife and the hunt for the lost money. All these elements are there in the film, it is the roller coaster ride that the film promises doesn’t come out well enough. The repetitiveness is tedious and the climax so stretched out that boredom is invariable. It was publicized misleadingly and hence the expectations failed for most. Dark humor is meant to be subtle; to expect obvious loudness is wrong on our part and to convey that was wrong on part of its makers!
