MovieChat Forums > Chak De! India (2007) Discussion > Movie doing badly in America: Indication...

Movie doing badly in America: Indication of audience taste?

posted 17 years ago by kartikr
25 replies | jump to latest

Well supposedly this movie has had one of the worst openings ever of all bollywood films in the U.S, and is predicted to do badly in the U.S. As someone who hates the typical bollywood cry fest (K3G, Kabhi alvida so on and so forth ) I always wondered how bollywood can make these movies time and again, who are the people that sustain these kinds of movies!! And then when a decent movie like 'Chak de' comes along, it flops and that further justifies the movie-makers switching back to the old Bollywood formula.

I always thought that the reason those films did well in India was because a large percentage of our population is poor and Bollywood films were a chance for vicarious pleasure. During those 3 hrs they could switch from the harsh reality of life into the fantasy world of Bollywood.

But the reality seems to be that these movies are actually doing extremely well overseas!!So now I shift the blame( I call it blame because I abhor these movies :P) to Indians in the US/Indian Americans.So here are my 2 cents:

a) When Indian Americans go to watch a Bolly flick , they expect colour,songs,dances, festivals , basically the whole 9 yards. If they wanted a movie with a storyline, they would watch a Hollywood film!

b)Indians living in the U.S are nostalgic about India and after the hundreds of hollywood films, they crave the 'typical' Bollywood fare!

There will be occasional movies that can have all the typical bollywood elements as well as a decent storyline. Movies like Munnabhai, DCH, Lagaan etc. But unfortunately the market is still not ready for an 'unconventional' movie!

Comments?

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] feyenoorder1908 17 years ago

It will be hit in india, but overseas dont think so

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] bomjan_raj 17 years ago

The movie has just begun and i am sure Chak de India will be winner both in India and Oversees.

[–] HeadleyLamarr 17 years ago

I take no responsibility for all my NRI brethren - speaking for myself, I love unconventional films like Swades, Dor and for me Chak de rocked. I think we have to wait and watch the fates of this one - Marigold and Last Legion may not provide competition for Chak de overseas. Reason? Salman romancing a gori chick may not be that interesting, there are enough gori chicks in HW films. Last Legion appears to be a pathetic film and Ash's name will not save it - it could do nothing for UJ. So IMHO Chak de has another clear week run ahead of it and word of mouth and fantastic reviews will help it more overseas where proportionally more people are connected to the web.

'A wed wose, how womantic'

[–] sharma-raghvendra 17 years ago

Well, to say the least, I agree. The movie is a gem. Its another symbol of the maturing bollywood industry. May be its about time the industry took more risks and attempt at unconventional movies like this.

For me, the movie worked well in all departments. The patriotic bit, the direction BYTE, the editing BYTE, the acting bits etc.. :)

And, I hope that this movie provides some food for thought to the corrupt (well, I know thats a lesser word, but let it be) administrators in indian sports bodies. And to the people out there, remember people like Dhyanchand once again and may be produce more of such...

god bless india
chak de india..

[–] feyenoorder1908 17 years ago

It's really a dissepointment overseas

http://www.indiafm.com/trade/overseas_boxoffice/index.html

[–] HeadleyLamarr 17 years ago

LOL! I think we got that. How many times do you have to say it?

It is a VERY GOOD film. Now can you say that or is that too hard for you?

'A wed wose, how womantic'

[–] HeadleyLamarr 17 years ago

I love it that people are watching it rather than wannabe films like Partner and Cash.

No one expected it to be like other YRF fare - there is nothing that is a YRF signature here. And it is heartening to know that it is doing better than JBJ and TRP did in USA.

'A wed wose, how womantic'

[–] kartikr 17 years ago

Yes, but it is sad that partner is doing much better chak de (at least from initial reports!).

I am really glad though that a banner like YRF decided to make an unconventional movie! This is a step in the right direction. So far it had only been smaller directors like Nagesh Kukunoor who dared to deviate!

[–] HeadleyLamarr 17 years ago

Of course Partner is doing well, Dhoom 2 did well too. I am actually surprised at how well the film is doing in India - if I had to take a bet I would have said it would be average and not a hit. Kudos to the entire team for daring to make a path breaking film like this, and making it in a way that has engaged the audience.

'A wed wose, how womantic'

[–] puja_docter 17 years ago

I dont think the movie is doin that bad
check out this http://indiafm.com/trade/business_talk/index.html

and http://boxofficeindia.com/Cdiscores.htm

[–] sid_235 17 years ago

Kartik....you were spot on about why these "unconventional" flims fail to do well abroad. Its really simple actually , what is "unconventional" in India is like a standard issue Hollywood flick. But what i like about the new trend in bollywood is that atleast the Indian audience is getting smarter. They will not accept *beep* anymore.

[–] HeadleyLamarr 17 years ago

I would agree with that if someone told me why Partner and Dhoom 2 are unusual cinema and not *beep*.

'A wed wose, how womantic'

[–] sid_235 17 years ago

Well....Partner was a hit because of Govinda....plus its a frame by frame copy of Hitch. Hitch was decent. So i guess partner is also doin well...The songs are really catchy too...i loved that "PO PO" song...

[–] HeadleyLamarr 17 years ago

And a frame for frame copy is unusual cinema?

'A wed wose, how womantic'

[–] trigger_jam 17 years ago

SRk's fanbase consists mostly of teenage girls that do not giving a flying squirrel about his acting. Others do. When SRK continues to churn out the same acting dose one movie after another, the "others" do not wish to sit through his nonsense. believe what you must, but Chak de india isn't different from other bollywood masala movies. It applies a set formula and therefore sits well with any other bollywood crap .

[–] HeadleyLamarr 17 years ago

Hah! I do not think this poster actually saw the film at all. As for barbies - it has been a while since some one called me a teenage gilr so I'll take that as a compliment.

You might want to check out the IMDb ratings - a 8.4 with about 500 votes in, ratings of over 8 from BOTH males and females. Judging from your bile it is evident that you are a 30 - 44 year old male who hates other successful men.

'A wed wose, how womantic'

[–] kartikr 17 years ago

Lol, judging by your harsh reaction, I am guessing that you are a major SRK fan :D!!

I do agree to an extent with trigger though, some of SRKs acting has been attrocious (usually when he cries I feel like shooting myself). And some of his cry-fests have done well so I can't help but wonder what people saw in his acting!!

But all the same some of his earlier films( Kabhi haan kabhi na , baazigar) etc were not half bad and I liked Swades and now Chak De. I wouldn't call him a bad actor I just wouldn't call him a good one. A bad actor is one who could ruin a good film and a good actor is one who could make a mediocre film look good.SRK is neither IMHO!!

[–] feyenoorder1908 17 years ago

I agree. There are better actors in bollywood than shahrukh kham

[–] HeadleyLamarr 17 years ago

Few examples of bad films that were turned good by SRK:

Deewana - just watch the two halves and see for yourself.
Darr - no offense to Sunny fans, but without SRK this would be a major heap of trash.

Other films that are nothing without him:

Dil se - his hyperactive obsessive pursuer makes this an outstanding film.
Mohabbatien - Big B tries his best to turn this into an angry old man film, it is saved somewhat by SRK.

I will say on the flip side that Kal ho naa ho had the chance to be a really good film, but SRK ruined it. However, on balance I think he comes out in the very good actor category.

His acting in Swades, KHKN, Dil Se, KANK (yes it is one of the best - playing the guy we all loved to hate), Chak de can match the best from anyone out there in Hindi cinema.

'A wed wose, how womantic'

[–] brilara 17 years ago

SRK was awesome in Kal ho naa ho, him and Saif should be peered more

[–] feyenoorder1908 17 years ago

srk annoyd me in kal ho na ho

I think he was good in HTHS, wich was a very bad film

[–] HeadleyLamarr 17 years ago

HTHS was redeemed somewhat by SRK. Salman was annoying and Madz completely washed out. But I agree with you about KHNH - the only good moments were when SRK and Saif were on screen together, but the melodrama made this film a wasted opportunity. Strangely enough the comedy still makes it a watchable film for me.

On the other hand Big B and the three cheesy love stories annoyed the heck out of me in Mohabbatein and the film was made bearable by SRK (and to a lesser extent Ash in guest appearance).

'A wed wose, how womantic'

[–] Forlorn_Rage 10 years ago

Dil Se is an outstanding film by itself, if anything, it's "masala" elements of obsessive love and out of place song and dance numbers that weigh it down a bit and give it a nonsensical feel.