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One might think that a movie about a husband trying to make a toilet for his wife would not really appeal to an audience seeking entertainment, but Toilet: Ek Prem Katha seems to have rewritten the rules. The Akshay Kumar-starrer has raked in Rs 135 crore since releasing on August 11.
And, it is not an exception. Over the past few years, films with some social message seem to be finding favour with audiences — as well as critics — rather than traditional boy-meets-girl romances or dramas.
Last year, Pink, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu, dealt with the issue of women’s consent. Made at a cost of Rs 25 crore, it earned about Rs 75 crore. Other such films in recent years are Dum Laga Ke Haisha and Bajrangi Bhaijaan (both 2015), PK (2014), and Vicky Donor (2012), among others.
Films with social messages have been around in Bollywood for long — Do Bigha Zameen (1953) and Naya Daur (1957) are some examples. But, in recent years, the treatment of the subjects seems to have changed and audiences are more willing to accept these films.
“While presence of marquee names (actors/directors) does help in the opening week, for long-term success at the box office (and revenues), films with differentiated content provide effective return on investment,” said Sudhanshu Vats, group chief executive officer, Viacom 18, citing examples of Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, as well as Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013) and Queen (2013).
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In contrast, movies with run-of-the-mill storylines or formula scripts have bombed at the box office, no matter which superstar leads the cast.
The most recent example is Shah Rukh Khan- and Anushka Sharma-starrer Jab Harry Met Sejal. Directed by Imtiaz Ali, who has delivered hits such as Rockstar (2011) and Highway (2014), this film found few takers.
A similar fate greeted Saif Ali Khan-, Kangana Ranaut- and Shahid Kapoor-starrer Rangoon earlier this year; Salman Khan’s Eid release, Tubelight, too, went out without a making a mark.
Last year, Hrithik Roshan’s Mohenjo Daro strutted in with a lot of aplomb but bombed at the box office, as did Befikre, starring Ranveer Singh and directed by none other than Aditya Chopra.
“The bankability of most A-listers is under fire. We’ve been saying that stories — and not stars — will be the secret of movies’ success; it’s finally happening,” said Komal Nahta, trade analyst and publisher of Film Information.
He added, “The audience wants good content. Gone are the days when fans would flock the theatres just to see their favourite superstar on the screen. People demand better now and if it’s not delivered, no matter who is in the film, the audience will reject (the movie).”
Among the A-listers, only Aamir Khan and Akshay Kumar have consistently churned out hits. Incidentally, they have also been most active is doing projects that go beyond the regular romance or action stories.
Ayushmann Khurrana, Ranaut and Nawazuddin Sidiqui also seem to have found a balance between the more mainstream films and those with a social message.
Leading ladies, too, are experimenting with the projects they choose. Ranaut has a Queen under her belt; Alia Bhatt found success with Dear Zindagi. Bhumi Pednekar debuted with a film that spoke about the stigma against heavy girls in the society (Dum Laga Ke Haisha) and has tasted success again with Toilet. Kalki Koechlin’s portrayal of a paraplegic exploring her sexuality in Margarita with a Straw won her kudos.
Experts believe that success of these films could also be attributed to statements made subtly and not in a preachy manner.
“A good story is what will work, no matter the cast as long as the treatment is sensible. Marketing the film goes a long way too, but just having a big name on the reel is not going to do the job,” said another studio executive.
