A major release on Ramzan Eid and Christmas is a recent phenomenon. But biggies arriving at the cinema with a bang is a very old tradition. Some of the biggest hits like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), hum Saath Saath Hain (1999), mohabbatein (2000), Mission Kashmir (2000) etc were released at or around the Festival of Lights. Hence, it will come as a surprise to readers to know that, for some inexplicable reason, the Bollywood industry did not have a major movie release on Diwali in the years 2001, 2002 and 2003. In fact, three soft porn movies were the biggest Diwali releases in 2001!
2001: Pre-Diwali Friday
Throwback: When Bollywood ‘forgot’ to release major movies on Diwali between 2001-2003; 3 B-grade erotic movies were the GRAND Diwali releases in 2001!
In the year 2001, Diwali fell on Wednesday, November 14. On Friday 9 November, three B-class erotic films were released. Two movies had the word ‘Mau‘ in their titles – Maut Ka Khel and Maut Ki Haveli. The third release was Kaam Grant. As expected, all of these movies were failures. Interestingly, on Dussehra 2001 Shah Rukh Khan starrer Asoka and Sunny Deol starrer Indonesian had let go. These movies were in week 3 during Diwali and did huge business and this even goes for Asokawhich was a flop at the box office.
2001: Friday after Diwali
Some respectable A-class films arrived in cinemas during Bhaidooj holiday on Friday, November 16. These movies were Arjun Rampal and Dia Mirza’s romantic action entertainer Deewaan pandrama by Ajay Devgn-Sonali Bendre Tera Mera Saath Rahenthe romantic drama of Jimmy Sheirgill-Ameesha Patel Yeh Zindagi Ka Safar and Abhayi, a dubbed Tamil film starring Kamal Haasan. Unfortunately none of them were exciting and got mixed to negative reviews. Deewaan pan reached the maximum due to the mass and youth element. But the lifetime collections were only Rs. 5.10 crores, equivalent to about Rs. $31 million today.
2002:
2002 Diwali was slightly better, although the films were nowhere near ideal Diwali releases. Jeena Sirf Merre Liye was the biggest of them all as it brought back Tusshar Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor and producer Vashu Bhagnani after the super hit movie, Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai (2001). Unfortunately it could not tempt. Govinda’s Comedy Waaah! Tera Kya KehnanSanjay Dutt-Suniel Shetty’s Action Figure Annatho and the art cinema Leela, starring Dimple Kapadia and Dino Morea, were also released on November 1, 2002 and were declared a disaster. Diwali fell on Monday, November 4 and the day after Diwali, November 5, saw the release of Rajshri’s Hum Pyar Tumhi Se Kar Baithe, starring Jugal Hansraj. But due to negative reporting and negligible publicity, it was a sham.
interesting, Deewangee was released in the pre-Diwali week, on October 25, and it was the first choice for moviegoers at the festival. Despite good word of mouth, it was a below average grosser at the counter.
2003:
Diwali, in 2003, was celebrated on Saturday, October 25. On October 24, 4 movies were released – Samrat Prithviraj (2022) Director Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi’s pinjarGovinda’s Comedy Antics Raja BhaiyaDino Morea-Tanishaa Mukjerji’s Horror sssshhh and the thriller of Vikram Bhatt inteha. The last three films flopped due to unexciting promos and negative reports. pinjar, starring Urmila Matondkar and Manoj Bajpayee, received critical acclaim but was too niche and arthouse for mainstream moviegoers. Therefore it got the verdict of disaster and the same was true for: Rajah Bhaiya and inteha. sssshhh got flopped status.
What’s strange is that in 2003, big movies like Kal Ho Naa Ho, Baghban and Koi Mil Gaya were released on non-holiday days and these films would have been ideal for Diwali releases.
Analyzing experts
Raj Bansal, the owner of Entertainment Paradise in Jaipur, agreed that “Yeh ajeeb bait hai” when informed about the 2001 Diwali B-grade releases and that too Asoka and Indonesian had released on Dussehra. However, he added: “Sometimes movies were scheduled on a certain day but were delayed if those movies weren’t ready on time. That should be the only reason.”
An industry expert noted, “The holy month of Ramzan took place during the festival of Diwali in the years 2001, 2002 and 2003. Hence, filmmakers shy away from releasing their great films.”
Raj Bansal, however, disagreed. An exhibitor on condition of anonymity also said: “I disagree. You can’t waste a big festival putting out soft porn movies on Diwali. This was also a time when filmmakers avoided releasing films during the ‘shraddh’ period. But in 2002, for example, Shakti – The Power had hit theaters, starring Karisma Kapoor and starring Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai in cameos. Therefore, it is astonishing that our filmmakers have chosen not to release anything better on Diwali during these three years.”
Fortunately, the situation normalized from 2004. That year, as many as four films hit theaters on Diwali – Veer-Zara, Aitraaz, Naach and colored version of Mughal-E-Azam. And from now on, the festival has always seen fireworks at the box office.
Also Read: Diwali 2022 – From Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham to Chachi 420, 4 Bollywood Movies That Show The Essence Of Diwali
BOLLYWOOD NEWS – LIVE UPDATES
Catch us up on latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movie Update, Box Office Collection, New Movies Release, Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood Live News Today and Upcoming Movies 2022 and keep up to date with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama.