Both Raees and Kaabil are a success, so what's the fuss?
First up, when Raees and Kaabil were released on the same date, there was a lot of talk about how the two movies would ruin each other’s chances at the box office, with some even colouring it as a face-off and rivalry between Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan.
The media, as usual, went into a tizzy to avoid the so-called clash. But all the naysayers may have to eat their words now. Well, let’s look at some stats for a clearer picture.
Both Raees and Kaabil performed wonderfully well at the box office, even into the third week of their release, with the former a little ahead of the other.
While SRK's Raees went on to become the first movie of 2017 to enter the Rs 100 crore mark, Hrithik's Kaabil was not far behind. Raees grossed Rs 150 crore; Kaabil joined the Rs 100 crore club only a few days ago.
Qualitatively, both films are poles apart. In Raees, SRK plays a don from the 1980s. The film, directed by Rahul Dholakia, features Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Pakistani actor Mahira Khan - making her Bollywood debut - and the sizzling Sunny Leone in an item number. It is a masala film, a potboiler, with entertainment thrown in a heady mix.
Kaabil, on the other hand, is a revenge drama that has Hrithik playing the role of a visually challenged man - a novel thought that received good reviews and appreciation. The film revolves around a visually impaired couple whose world is destroyed after a tragedy strikes them. Hrithik fights against his disability and seeks revenge.
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| Sunny Leone dances in Raees. |
There is absolutely no clash. Both movies cater to different audiences, with little overlap. No wonder they performed to their own strengths. In fact, had Raees and Kaabil been released separately, they would have done equally well.
If anything, this notion of a clash and its portrayal in the media as a gladiatorial contest, in fact, made their appeal that much stronger and improved their chances. Controversy as usual helped their chances.
Perhaps this is a new ploy by filmmakers to promote their movies. Any controversy or faceoff makes for good news and is now confirmed to make box office collections soar too.
The bottom line is that India is a huge market, with audience of all tastes and leanings. Two completely different releases may, in fact, act in mutually beneficial ways as there is a market for all kinds of movies.
A full on potboiler would also do well and the subtle depiction of a blind man would also evoke sympathy and keep the theater-goers hooked.