Decoding The Phenomenal Success Of Avengers

 Is it  the most successful film of all times? Yes, probably. Even  Akshay Kumar think it’s out-of the-world ,so who are  we  ordinary mortals to question its  credibility?

Should  Bollywood cinema feel  threatened  by the unprecedented  success  of  Avengers The Endgame? Not in the least. First of all, lightning  doesn’t strike in the same  place twice. What we are  looking at is a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence  ,not  the beginning  of  the end, for  Ironman’s sake!

Avengers  The Endgame  is  a seriously stylized   but  inherently  vacuous send-off to a slew  of superheroes that  generations have grown up with.The audience  we see flocking to  the theatres all across  the world  consists  of two kinds of  people: the ones who are genuinely  addicted to this Marvel of  nature. And the  ones  who like to be seen at  the right place.

 Let’s face it. Many  of those  posting selfies  from movie theatres bragging about  acquiring tickets are  there because they  think they should be there.They give a hoot about  the future of  the  universe.

 No, I am  not trying to  run down the  Avengers(so  please, don’t track me down to my home to kill me). Success  of   this volume  cannot be  questioned.  But to write an  epitaph  for  Indian cinema(message on  the epitaph: ABBTERA KYA HOGA, KALIA) after Avengers  is like saying Ishaan  Khattar will wipe  out the Khans ,Kumars,Singhs,Dhawans and Kapoors.

Now that the Avengers  have saved the  universe from destruction, how do we save  Bollywood from self-destruction?  Firstly, stop paying a handful of stars  money that amounts to  75 percent of a film’s  budget. You are  not only spoiling them(the stars) but the entire economics  of filmmaking.When will you learn that  it’s  the  script that counts  ,  not the stars. When would  you  stop  making  Kalank  start thinking of making more films like Uri andStree? Then we can finally pat  each  other  on  back and  say ‘Badhai Ho’.

 In  the meanwhile  there  is  the  next  Shah Rukh/Salman/Akshay starrer which  will work only if  the writers put their heart  to it.

And  please, please  don’t try making  super-hero films in  Bollywood. It’s like Abhishek Varman  doing a  Bhansaliin  Kalank when Bhansali  is  very much around.  When we have Wonder Woman and  Avengers why would anyone want to sit through Tiger Shroff  or  Diljit Dosanjh  playing a super-hero  in  A Flying Jatt  and Super Singh ? Or  Shah Rukh Khan  doing a  Ra.One ?

 Wait , it gets even worse. How about Navin Nischol as  Zorro(1975)  or P Jairaj as  Superman(1960).

These cringe-worthy attempts  to  mimic Marvel must end. Make  movies that are  about real life heroes. Super-heroes are  not Bollywood’s  cup of tea.