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| Ghadar 2: After ten years of flops, how did Sunny Deol's film earn 300 crores in nine days? |
Sunny Deol's film Ghadar 2 has created a buzz at the box office for the past nine days. It has earned more than Rs 300 crore till now.
15 August 2023 was India's Independence Day and it was the fifth day after the release of Ghadar 2. Ghadar 2 earned a record on that day. Ghadar 2 earned Rs 55.40 crore in that one day.
Film critic Taran Adarsh tweeted that 'On August 15, the film made history by breaking all previous records.
40.10 crores on 11th August, 43.08 crores on 12th August, 51.70 crores on 13th August, 38.70 crores on 14th August and 55.40 crores on 15th August.
He wrote that the situation on August 15 was that tickets were not available not only on single screens but also in multiplexes.
Now he has set another big record. The film crossed the Rs 300 crore mark on Saturday and has also become the fastest film to cross the Rs 300 crore mark.
Film critics have predicted that its business will reach Rs 400 crore by the end of this week.
The reason for the record-breaking performance
Directed by Anil Sharma, the film is a sequel to the 2001 blockbuster film Ghadar: Ek Prem Katha.
A sequel rarely retains its old charisma even after two decades. Film critic Taran Adarsh gave Ghadar 2 a rating of four and a half on the day of its release and in one word called it a blockbuster.
The sequel of the film Aashiqui also hit the silver screen after 23 years and in 2013 it earned Rs 100 crore.
A press release issued by the makers of Ghadar 2 claims that the film's collection has reached a record level for any Hindi film in a province like Punjab.
Female film critic Bharti Dubey tells BBC's Madhopal that nationalism is a major reason for the success of Sunny Deol's Ghadar 2.
"We are living in an age of nationalism," she says. Sunny has also promoted this film very well.
'Releasing just before Independence Day is one of the major reasons for its success. The film incites nationalism. The timing of the film and its songs are excellent.
She says Sunny is back. Sunny Deol is 66 years old, he is a senior citizen and it can be said that he has made a big comeback.
On the other hand, film critic Girish Wankhede tells the BBC's Madhu Pal that 'August 15 is filled with patriotic feelings.
"Parents and Pakistan are all the spice in this film which is also a hit formula."
"It has a great emotional connection with the Indian audience," he says. It is a great thing that every Indian's heart is connected with the film whether he is a Hindu or a Muslim.
Sunny Deol's concept is beyond religion, it is a big thing. No other actor comes into this circle.
Tough competition from OMG 2 and Jailer
Ghadar 2's box office test was not easy. Akshay Kumar, Pankaj Tripathi's Oh My God 2 also released on August 11.
According to data from the box office tracking website, OMG 2 has earned more than Rs 100 crore so far.
On August 11 itself, the film 'Bhola Shankar' with a star cast like South Indian superstar Chiranjeevi, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Keerthy Suresh was also released but it was flat at the box office.
On the other hand, Superstar Rajinikanth's film 'Jailor' was also released on the same day and is continuously creating new records.
'Jailer' has crossed the Rs 250 crore mark in terms of earnings. If we include the overseas earnings of 'Jailor', it is turning out to be a big blockbuster.
Jailer's worldwide earnings have reached close to 450 crores. 'Jailor' has also surpassed 'Ghadr 2' in terms of worldwide earnings.
The total overseas earnings of 'Ghadar 2' is close to Rs 35 crore till now.
According to film critics, its main audience is the North Indian audience and this is reflected in its low overseas grosses.
Film critic Girish Wankhede says, "It was released with a film like Oh My God." Oppenheimer, Barbie had already made a splash at the box office. The love story of Rocky and Rani is still going well.
So the timing of its release was very good. The Colonel is shown in the film, then the Vande Mataram tune comes. There is background music, there is an emotional element to it, there is love between father and son, and there is some anti-Pakistan sentiment as well.
The power of Sunny Deol
Sunny Deol has given blockbusters in the past too but this is not the first time that a Sunny Deol film has been released alongside another big film.
Aamir Khan's 'Lagaan' was also released on the same day as 'Ghadraik Prem Katha' hit the screens. Released on 15 June 2001, both films were based on nationalism.
While 'Lagaan' earned around Rs 60 crore, Ghadar- Ek Prem Katha earned more than Rs 130 crore.
On June 22, 1990, Sunny Deol's film 'Ghail' was released, on the same day Aamir Khan's 'Dil' was released.
Then 'Ghail' earned Rs 20 crore, while Dil earned Rs 17 crore. Both films were declared blockbusters by film critics.
However, one thing is clear from these figures that come what may, Sunny Deol's films have proved to be the best from the point of view of earnings.
Sunny's films have not been released for the last 10 years
It is not that 'traitor-a-fairy'After M Katha, all Sunny Deol films were successful at the box office.
After Ghadar Ek Prem Katha, Sunny Deol's 'Yamla Pagla Deewana' came in 2011, grossed around Rs 90 crore and became a hit, but since then Sunny Deol's stardom has been more or less on the decline.
When 'Yamla Pagla Deewana 2' came out in 2013, it earned an average of Rs 50 crore.
Whereas in 2018, its third installment 'Yamla Pagla Returns' grossed only Rs 17 crore and turned out to be a flop.
In 2022, his psychological thriller 'Chip' turned out to be a flop with a collection of Rs 19 crores, while in 2019 the film 'Blank' earned only Rs 8 crores.
Power of Ghadar 2
Film critic Girish Wankhede says that it has become the third fastest film to cross the Rs 100 crore mark after 'Ghadar 2', 'Pathan', and 'Aadi Parsh'.
He says, 'This film is not very good, its reviews are decent. It was released before August 15th so the nationalistic feel has worked.
Sunny Deol's acceptance, his humility, and people's love for him can be counted among the many reasons for the success of this film.
Girish Wankhede says, 'Ghadar is like a puzzle, it has the same power, excitement about it and the songs and drama that people have appreciated even after 22 years on screen.
People are watching it with passion, and people are taking tractors. In Punjab, people are going to theaters to watch these films and are dancing to these songs.
Was it expected that the film would make such a splash before its release?
On this, Girish Wankhede says, "Even Anil Sharma would not have thought that it would become such a hit." We had seen the trailer, but we didn't think so either. After investing around Rs 60 crore, his earnings have reached Rs 350 crore.
He says, 'Every film comes with its own fate and it is not fair to compare Ghadar-2 with Pathan or other films.'
When asked what were the aspects of the film that made it a hit, Girish Wankhede said, 'The sense of patriotism, the sense of fun more than the anti-Pakistan sentiments, before criticizing others. Talk about country and action and Sunny Paaji.'