2024's Box Office: A Year of Triumphs and Disasters

As we reflect on 2024's theatrical releases, one thing is clear - the year was a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows for Bollywood. The major big-ticket release, Fighter, starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, set the tone with its reassuring box-office status, but ultimately, superstars alone are no guarantee of success.

Akshay Kumar, despite his workaholic schedule, struggled to grab eyeballs with most of his major releases. His films, including Safira and Khel Khel Mein, faltered at the box office, while Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and produced by Vashu Bhagnani, was a massive disappointment.

However, Rajkummar Rao's journey from 10 consecutive flops to triumphing with Srikanth and Stree 2, a biopic on visually impaired industrialist and the highest-grossing Hindi film of 2024 respectively, was a story worth telling. His outings, including Mr. and Mrs. Mahi, were moderate hits.

Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine as Light created history by winning Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and went on to receive a Golden Globe nomination. Though Laapataa Ladies, India's official selection at Oscars, failed to make it to the long-list, many believe that Kapadia's film stood a better chance.

The box office saw success with Telugu films like Kalki 2898 AD and NT Rama Rao Jr.'s Devara, which offered cheer in a year marred by revenues dipping by 18%. The north-south alchemy is still here to stay, and upcoming releases like Baby John are set to ignite the box office.

Horror.coms proved that it's possible to marry entertainment with woke messaging with Stree 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. However, Neeraj Pandey's Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha failed to drum up any buzz.

Dinesh Vijan's Maddock Films mastered the formula of making successful films by controlling costs with films like Stree 2, Munjya, and Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljhya. The company generated Rs 1,300 crore at the box office in 2024.

Not all government-ponsored films found their audience, despite being hits. Main Atal Hoon lost its way, and I Want to Talk faced mixed reviews before failing to make an impact. However, some like Vasan Bala's Jigra caught the imagination of niche viewers with its breakneck action.

Audiences proved that they still care about the cinema experience by attending films like those from Dharma productions, such as Bad Newz and Article 370. Many iconic films re-releasing in theatres added to the nostalgic feel of the year.

In conclusion, 2024 was a mixed bag for Bollywood. Despite its triumphs, it's clear that the industry needs to shift its thinking goalpost. As someone said, "A fresh start isn't a new place, it's a new mindset."