South vs Bollywood debate has been going on from the past few years. A few South films like Baahubali franchise, KGF franchise, Pushpa franchise, RRR, Kalki 2898 AD, and others did very well at the box office in the Hindi markets. On Sunday, Javed Akhtar and Aamir Khan came together for an event, and the former questioned the actor about why South films dubbed in Hindi are performing better than the actual Hindi movies.
The writer asked, “Yeh Bombay film industry itne backfoot pe kyu hai? Filmo mein koi connectivity nahi ho rahi audience se. South ki filmein dub hoti hai, unn heroes ko hum jaante bhi nahi North India mein, unki picture re koi 600 crore kar rahi hai koi 700 crore kar rahi hai. Hamari bhi ek kaad filmein jo chali hai woh bhi direct ki hui hai South walo ki. Kya reason hai? What has gone wrong with our people? (Why has Bombay film industry taken backfoot? There’s no connectivity with the audience. South movies are dubbed, no one knows their heroes in North India, but still they collect 600-700 crore. If one of our films work then that is also directed by a South filmmaker. So, what is the reason?)”
Well, Aamir tried to blame the films’ OTT release just a few weeks after the theatrical release. He said, “According to me, the problem that we are facing is something different. What we are doing is that we are telling the audience, come and buy the ticket, and even if you don’t, then in eight weeks we will come to your houses (OTT release). This is our business model.”
“I go to theatres for fancy. Earlier, I went to theatres because I wanted to watch the film. Now, I can watch it anywhere. I am carrying it in my pocket. So, we have killed our own business. How can we sell the same thing twice?,” the actor added.
However, Akhtar told him that even South films will come to everyone’s houses after a few days, but still people are watching it in theatres. So, Aamir said, “That’s what I am saying, it is dependent on fancy. ”
The Sholay writer further questioned, “Why we are out of fancy?” To this the Lagaan actor said, “I think one of the reasons is also that perhaps writers and directors in Hindi cinema are trying to entertain an audience which is slightly more finer. They have forgotten their roots, the basic emotion, the sharper emotions. Revenge is a strong emotion, it comes out very strongly. But, doubt is a very halka emotion. I am trying to show what doubt is so that is a less attractive emotion.”
He also further spoke about how Hindi filmmakers are maybe concentrating on making films for multiplex. The Laal Singh Chadha actor said, “South films that become super hit, they are typically what we used to call single screens (films); very mass, very hard-hitting, and I think maybe the Hindi filmmakers try to go more towards multiplex films. But, the fact is I never thought like this. Dangal is a multiplex film and mass film.”
“Everything is a bit of a cycle. You learn, you make mistakes, there’s a phase you do something, and then you course correct it,” he added.
Akhtar at the end quipped, “Hum jaldi se samajaye toh achcha hai, isse pehle ki cycle bhi bik jaaye (If we understand quickly it is good, before the cycle also gets sold).”
Meanwhile, Aamir Khan’s next film is Sitare Zameen Par which is slated to release on Christmas this year.
