No VFX & Masala: Raw Emotions Pull BO Back on Track

After a long dry spell at the box office, the recent releases of Shekhar Kammula’s Kuberaa and Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par have given hope to Indian cinema.

Both films, though backed by big names, have succeeded more due to content than spectacle or formulaic mass appeal.

Kuberaa, a bilingual film with Dhanush, Rashmika Mandanna and Nagarjuna has collected 80 crores worldwide which is a big achievement considering the current scenario.

The film has got positive reviews with the audience appreciating the performances and emotional depth.

Similarly Sitaare Zameen Par has surprised many by collecting 60 crores net in India in the opening weekend.

Though there was some speculation about corporate bookings inflating the numbers, overall it’s clear that the film’s content and emotional connect has attracted the audience.

This is big because even big budget, star driven films have not been working.

The performance of these two films shows that the audience is responding to stories based on basic human emotions rather than just visual spectacle or high budget.

Both films have proved that with right content and promotion, the audience will come back to the theatres.

But it’s worth noting that the presence of big stars and strategic release has also played a role in their box office performance.

Now the challenge is for smaller films to repeat this success.

For now Kuberaa and Sitaare Zameen Par has proved that content is the biggest draw to get the audience back to the cinemas.