This Week’s Topic: WHY IS OUR INDUSTRY WORKING WITHOUT ANY LOGIC?
It all started with Om Shanti Om last year. Eros International bought the rights of this film for around 40-45 crores. OSO was the first film to sell its rights for such a high amount. And with the success of OSO, a number of corporate houses decided to buy the rights of upcoming biggies for astronomical amounts. Singh Is Kinng went one step ahead-Studio 18 reportedly bought the film for 70 crores!
Om Shanti Om and Singh Is Kinng managed to recover the cost. However, other films bought at an inflated price were not so lucky. The ambitious Studio 18 bought Sanju-Imran Khan starrer Kidnap for 40 crores. Unfortunately for them, the film took a great start but failed to survive at the BO. The film collected a whopping 23 crores but still it was not enough to recover its full cost and the film was declared a flop.
It’s highly amusing that Studio 18 invested so much money on a film like Kidnap. They must have felt that the film has Imran Khan, who has become a superstar with the success of Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na and therefore audiences would surely flock to the theatres and watch no matter how bad it is. All big trade analysts feel that buying the film at 40 crores was foolhardy. Kidnap’s cost should not have been more than 15-20 crores. If that had been the case, Kidnap would have been a hit today.
Big Pictures then joined Studio 18 in the foolhardy act. They bought the rights of Karzzzzz at 40 crores! I wonder what was going on in their mind when they pumped in so much money. Himesh may be a crowd puller but he’s not a star like Khans and Bachchans. Not to forget Himesh’s previous film, Aap Ka Surrooor, was a flop. Then why did Big invested such an amount? The film failed to impress the audience and it’s a disaster at the BO. It has failed to recover even half of its amount.
It’s unfortunate that our industry, which has talented and experienced people, are signing deals without any logic or sense. The big honchos maybe creating news when they buy a particular film for an xx amount, but in the long run, they suffer huge losses. Studio 18 even committed the mother of all foolish acts. In the beginning of the year, they bought the rights of Salman-Ajay Devgan starrer upcoming film London Dreams for 120 crores! Salman is a superstar but does not always give a hit. Same with Ajay Devgan. Then can you find any sense in buying the film for such an unheard amount? Fortunately, the debacle of Kidnap gave Studio 18 some sense and they have now backed off from buying the rights of London Dreams!
With so many flops, it’s high time these corporate houses and production companies should start functioning in a better manner. This may take some time but there surely would be a change. In the meantime, don’t be surprised if you hear that a certain biggie starring a superstar is bought for 1000 crores!!