‘Sultan’ To ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’, A Look At Eid Blockbuster Films
Ajay Devgn’s ‘Maidaan’ and Akshay Kumar’s ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ will be releasing in cinemas on April 10, coinciding with Eid 2024.
Eid-ul-Fitr, also known as Eid al-Fitr, is one of the biggest festivals in the Islamic religion. Also known as Meethi Eid, it marks the end of Roza (fast), which is observed during the whole month of Ramadan (the holy month of fasting). Eid-ul-Fitr is mostly celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Hijri (Islamic lunar calendar), after the sighting of the new moon. This year, the Meethi Eid is likely to be celebrated on Thursday, April 11, 2024. However, it depends on when the moon is sighted. On the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, people wear new clothes, prepare special delicacies, do charity, and get together with their loved ones. Like any other festival, Indian cinema on Eid also goes into hyperdrive with new movies and songs.
When we come to think of what makes a festival releases films successful, mostly we think it takes a good story, renowned stars and a talented director to make any festival releases films a hit. While all those things are crucial in a film’s success, we can’t ignore the fact that the release date of a film does play a role in its success too.
Over the years, many Bollywood stars and directors have aimed to have festival releases films. Many actors have managed to slot their films for an Eid, Diwali, Holi or Christmas release and, received an overwhelming response by getting crowds in larger numbers. Since the 1990s, Bollywood’s Eid connection has only gotten stronger with each and every year.
While Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan are known for their Diwali and Christmas releases, no one can beat Salman Khan when it comes to box office hits on Eid. Salman Khan Eid films have always been the talk of the town, however, this year is a little different. This year, we have Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn aiming to join the Eid blockbuster releases list.
Akshay Kumar is coming out with ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ on April 10, coinciding with Eid 2024. The upcoming Hindi movie is directed by Ali Abbas Zafar of ‘Sultan’ and ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’ fame. It also stars Tiger Shroff, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Sonakshi Sinha, Alaya F and Manushi Chhillar. The new Hindi movie is touted as an action thriller and it is produced by Jackky Bhagnani, Vashu Bhagnani, Deepshikha Deshmukh, and Himanshu Kishan Mehra.
‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ will see Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff perform action-packed stunts as they play two elite soldiers who embark on a mission to recover a stolen AI weapon. Prithviraj Sukumaran will play the antagonist in the movie.
Akshay Kumar’s ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ will clash with Ajay Devgn’s upcoming Hindi movie ‘Maidaan’ at the box office. ‘Maidaan’ is a biographical sports drama based on the life of football legend Syed Abdul Rahim. The movie also stars Priyamani, Gajraj Rao and Rudranil Ghosh in pivotal roles. The movie is produced by Zee Studios, Boney Kapoor, Arunava Joy Sengupta and Akash Chawla.
Apart from these Eid blockbuster releases in theatres, Diljit Dosanjh’s ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’ will also be releasing on Netflix. The movie has been helmed by Imtiaz Ali and also stars Parineeti Chopra. Diljit Dosanjh plays the slain Punjabi singer Amar Singh Chamkila and Parineeti Chopra essays the role of his wife and singer Amarjot in the biopic. Amar Singh Chamkila will start streaming on Netflix from April 12.
Now, as we anticipate ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ and ‘Maidaan’ to continue Bollywood’s Eid connection, we decided to take a look at the some of the biggest box office his on Eid and their box office collections as mentioned by industry tracker Sacnilk.
Without further ado, check out the list below:
1. ‘Beta’: The movie, which released in 1992, gave Bollywood its Dhak Dhak girl Madhuri Dixit. This is the first film of the 1990s that was released on Eid and emerged as a blockbuster at the time, grossing over Rs 11 crore. Directed by Indra Kumar, the 1992 Hindi movie starred Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit, Aruna Irani, Anupam Kher and more. The family drama revolved around the relationship between a stepmother and her son. The film, made on a budget of Rs 4 crore, is notable for its engaging narrative, powerful performances, and its hit music, composed by Anand-Milind. Songs like ‘Dhak Dhak Karne Laga’ and ‘Koyal Si Teri Boli’ became particularly popular and are still remembered fondly. ‘Beta’, a huge success, won several awards, including the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for Anil Kapoor and Best Actress for Madhuri Dixit.
2. ‘Judwaa’: Helmed by David Dhawan, the 1997 Hindi movie starred Salman Khan, Karisma Kapoor and Rambha in the lead roles. The film was a hit as it minted Rs 13 crore in India and earned Rs 23 crore globally. The 1997 Bollywood movie, produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, featured Salman Khan in a double role as separated-at-birth twins Raja and Prem, who reunite later in life to defeat a villain. Karisma Kapoor and Rambha played the female leads opposite the twin characters. The movie explored themes of sibling bond, identity, and revenge, with a mix of slapstick comedy, romance, and action sequences. The movie is often remembered for its catchy music composed by Anu Malik, with popular songs like ‘Chalti Hai Kya 9 Se 12’ and ‘Oonchi Hai Building’. The popularity of ‘Judwaa’ led to the creation of a standalone sequel titled ‘Judwaa 2’ in 2017. The film starred Varun Dhawan, Taapsee Pannu and Jacqueliene Fernandez.
3.‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’: The 2001 movie, which featured a huge star cast that included Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor Khan, was a massive hit. The epic family drama that enthralled audiences worldwide was directed by Karan Johar and produced by Yash Johar under the banner Dharma Productions. The earnings certainly got them only khushi and no gham as it made Rs 54.86 crore in India and grossed over Rs 119 crore globally. The 2001 Bollywood movie revolved around the wealthy Raichand family and explored themes of family values, traditions, and the deep bonds that tie family members together, as well as the conflicts that can drive them apart. The film is known for its dance numbers, lavish sets, extravagant costumes, emotional narrative, memorable dialogues, and performances. The portrayal of family dynamics, combined with the mix of humour, drama, and romance, has struck a chord with a wider audience, making it one of Bollywood's all-time classics.
4. ‘Don: The Chase Begins Again’: A remake of the 1978 Amitabh Bachchan-starrer, ‘Don: The Chase Begins Again’ was helmed by Farhan Akhtar. The movie starred Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Arjun Rampal, Boman Irani and Isha Kopikar. The Bollywood film, made on an approximate budget of Rs 35 crore, earned over Rs 50 crore in India and Rs 104.64 globally. The 2006 Bollywood movie is known for its stylish direction, fast-paced action sequences, and a modernized storyline while maintaining the core essence of the original film. Shah Rukh Khan's portrayal of Don brought a new charisma to the character, making it iconic in its own right. The music of the film, composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, became extremely popular, adding to the movie's overall appeal. It later spawned a sequel, ‘Don 2’, which continued the story.
5. ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’: ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’, the iconic Bollywood psychological horror comedy film, was released in 2007. Directed by Priyadarshan, the movie starred Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Rajpal Yadav, Paresh Rawal, Ameesha Patel and more. The 2007 Hindi movie, which perfectly blended elements of horror, comedy, suspense and drama, remains a fan-favourite even today. The movie's iconic songs, including its title track, ‘Mere Dholna’ and more, further enhanced its appeal. The movie was a commercial and critical success, earning Rs 49.11 crore in India with a total worldwide collection of Rs 82.35 crore. The movie’s legacy was taken forward by Kartik Aaryan, Kiara Advani and Tabu in 2022 as they delivered a hit in the form of ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’.
6. ‘Wanted’: Starring Salman Khan in the lead role, ‘Wanted’ was directed by Prabhu Deva. The 2009 Hindi movie, a remake of the Telugu film ‘Pokiri’, was the second highest-grossing movie of the year. It made Rs 60.65 crore in India and grossed over Rs 87 crore worldwide. The high-octane action thriller also starred Ayesha Takia, Prakash Raj, and Vinod Khanna in pivotal roles. The film marked a significant turn in Salman Khan's career, setting the tone for his future action-packed blockbusters. The movie’s narrative weaves through a series of twists and turns, involving gang rivalries, deceit, and a complex web of relationships. It is known for its gripping storyline and high-energy action sequences.
7. ‘Dabangg’: Another masala action hit, starring Salman Khan, that released on Eid 2010. The movie also marked the Bollywood debut on Sonakshi Sinha, who shot to fame soon after the film was released. And who can forget the song ‘Munni Badnam Hui’? A dance number, featuring Malaika Arora, that became insanely popular. ‘Dabangg’, directed by Abhinav Kashyap and produced by Arbaaz Khan under the banner of Arbaaz Khan Productions, made Rs 140.22 crore in Indian and minted Rs 215 crore globally. The success of the first film led to sequels – ‘Dabangg 2’ in 2012 and ‘Dabangg 3’ in 2019. The film series is known for its high-octane action sequences, comedic elements, and catchy music. Salman Khan's portrayal of Chulbul Pandey became iconic, contributing to the movie franchise’s massive popularity.
8. ‘Bodyguard’: Bhai did it again! This time, he played a well-built, sort of uptight bodyguard in the 2011 Hindi movie ‘Bodyguard’. The movie, co-starring Kareena Kapoor Khan in the lead role, was a massive hit. The film earned Rs 148.52 crore in India and Rs 230 crore globally. The Bollywood film was co-written and directed by Siddique Ismail. The movie combined elements of action, comedy, and romance. Its music, particularly the song ‘Teri Meri Prem Kahani’ became extremely popular and contributed to the movie's success.
9. ‘Ek Tha Tiger’: The 2012 Bollywood movie, starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif in the lead roles, marked a significant turning point in the Salman-Katrina collaboration after having worked together in ‘Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya’, ‘Partner’ and ‘Yuvvraaj’. ‘Ek Tha Tiger’, directed by Kabir Khan, was a huge success. The movie made Rs 198.78 crore in India and minted Rs 320 crore globally. In the high-octane spy thriller, Salman Khan played the role of Avinash Singh Rathore aka Tiger, India's top spy, and Katrina Kaif portrayed Zoya, a Pakistani agent. Their chemistry in this film was electric, and the action sequences were a treat for fans. ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ cemented Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif as a popular on-screen pair. The 2012 Bollywood movie also marked the beginning of the ‘Tiger’ movie franchise, the first-ever film in the YRF Spy Universe. The film was co-written by Kabir Khan and Neelesh Misra. The story originated from YRF head Aditya Chopra. Apart from Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, the film also starred Ranvir Shorey, Roshan Seth, Girish Karnad, and Gavie Chahal.
10.‘Chennai Express’: Shah Rukh Khan released his movie ‘Chennai Express’ on Eid 2013. The film, co-starring Deepika Padukone, was a massive hit. It made Rs 227.13 crore in India and minted Rs 422 crore worldwide. In Rohit Shetty’s 2013 directorial ‘Chennai Express’, Shah Rukh Khan’s Rahul spread his arms yet again as the hero of the movie, and Deepika Padukone packed a surprise as she played the daughter of a South Indian gangster. Critics criticised ‘Chennai Express’, but if you are a fan of Bollywood masala films, then you should watch it if you haven’t already. The movie also gave us a fun dance number, ‘Lungi Dance’, sung by none other than Honey Singh! I am already humming the peppy number while writing this piece.
P.S.: ‘Kick’ (2014) continued Salman Khan Eid films extravaganza. It was the second highest grossing Hindi film of the year, making Rs 231.85 crore in India and Rs 378 crore globally. Salman Khan returned with Eidi for his fans in 2015 with ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’, co-starring Kareena Kapoor Khan. The movie, directed by Kabir Khan, earned Rs 320 crore in India and Rs 922 crore globally. He then came back in 2016 with ‘Sultan’, co-starring Anushka Sharma. The movie, directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, made Rs 300.45 crore and Rs 607.84 crore globally. His 2019 Eid blockbuster release ‘Bharat’, also starring Katrina Kaif, earned Rs 212 crore in India and Rs 321 crore worldwide.
