There were many times almost a decade back or so when social media was not this big when producers and media were in hand and gloves and it was easier to declare a flop film as a hit, an average film as a super hit or hit film as a blockbuster. Advent of social media gave power and information to every section of audience and they are now able to see through numbers and action of paid media or desperate producers to make their film hit.
Tricks Of Reporting Numbers, Desperate Marketing And THE Success Party
One top most production house released a film on a big festival recently. Film is a part of big franchise and ambitious plan of production house to create universe on the lines of Hollywood. This production house never indulged in desperate marketing campaign or fudging box office numbers over last two decades or so. But then unexpected turn of events happened!
Film opened to below par reviews and cameos of biggest of stars failed to salvage the film. It was more of distribution and strategic failure to release a tiring star’s film on a festival and in middle of massive sporting event. Outlandish excuses were circulated in media and even success event cum press interactions took place soon after the release.
Full cast of the film ‘thanked’ everyone for ‘blockbuster’ success contrary to poor box office numbers. Poor overseas opening was termed as record opening as preview sales were added and poor domestic opening became highest for that ‘particular’ festival. Such a massive production house and such a big superstar looked in poor light and desperate measures made situation laughable!
Recent Biggie Failed To Recover Even Half Of The Budget From Cinema But Still Termed Hit By A Section Of Trade
There were sections of media who called the film flop or below par or disappointing. This narrative started to take precedence and that is why usual suspects came to the rescue of superstar and production house. Film got ‘hit’ tag from ‘fan turned journalist’ to ‘oldest box office portal’ to ‘paid media’.
Easiest way to bribe ‘so called neutral’ media is by offering one on one interview with a big star. PR offers it like a big favour and most of the journalists or media persons fall for it as this one selfie is good enough to boost their social media standing. They flaunt this ‘selfie’ and call the film hit within days or hours. Even a leading portal called the same flop film critical and commercial success due to pressure from PR and commercial deal involved.
Ranbir Kapoor And Shah Rukh Laughed At Their Failures
Actors from 90’s to young actors of today, all indulge in this paid PR practice to save their sinking films. But then there are stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor who never hesitate to celebrate their failures.
Ranbir Kapoor spoke openly about dismal numbers of his flop films at different point of career. His better half Alia Bhatt even spoke about Ranbir’s attitude towards his failure like Shamshera in a recent episode of Koffee With Karan.
Shah Rukh spoke about Fan to Zero to Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna and analysed about their indifferent box office numbers. It’s so refreshing to give audience peep in their minds as well as accept failures.
It’s really passé to call a failed film a hit: a film of 385 crore budget with 190 cr of global distributor share is nothing short of big flop at box office. It might recover its budget with ancillary rights or discount on his fee by leading man post poor business. But still it’s a massive flop specially if it earns less than the earlier part of same franchise of same leading man which released 6-7 years back.
Hopefully sense will prevail and this desperation of calling a mediocre quality of film with poor box office numbers a hit will die down soon.
Stay tuned with us for latest news, Hindi box office news, Hollywood news, OTT news, latest bollywood news and latest box office news.
