OPINION: Are Bollywood fans really missing larger-than-life heroes on-screen?

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As a child of the ’80s and ’90s, I grew up idolizing the larger-than-life heroes of Bollywood, from Amitabh Bachchan to Sunny Deol. Their magnetic presence on the big screen was nothing short of mesmerizing, and their characters were the epitome of power and strength. Watching them fight against all odds and emerge victorious filled me with a sense of inspiration and hope that has stayed with me even today.

Fast forward to the present day, and I find myself longing for those larger-than-life heroes who once defined Bollywood. The shift towards more realistic and relatable characters is understandable, but it has left a void among fans like me who miss the larger-than-life heroes of yesteryears.

I remember the excitement that accompanied the release of big-budget films featuring our favorite stars back then. From Aamir Khan’s Lal Singh Chaddha to Salman Khan’s Tubelight or SRK’s Zero, these movies were disappointments at the box office, but their predecessors like Ghajini, Bodyguard, and Wanted were hits because they offered what modern Bollywood seems to have forgotten – larger-than-life heroes.

Today, I find myself searching for those characters elsewhere, and Tamil and Telugu films like Pushpa: The Rise and Baahubali have delivered exactly what Bollywood no longer seems to offer. Their success in North India, where they didn’t have a market in the past, has encouraged more filmmakers down south to follow this route.

It’s not that filmmakers are ignorant about the audience’s demand for larger-than-life heroes; films like Kabir Singh and Animal tried to depict dominant male characters, but their toxic behavior became a major point of debate. This resulted in major backlash, and filmmakers are now more cautious.

I believe that audiences channel their inner need for power and the win of good over evil in these characters, and they yearn for that aura and enigma once again. They satisfy their personal need for inspiration when they watch these extraordinary characters fight the most dreadful villains with powerful dialogues. But this is something that Bollywood rarely delivers today.

In the end, I can’t help but joke about it – If you ask me where the larger-than-life heroes of Bollywood have gone, I would say they’ve moved to Tollywood!

From the inception of Hindi cinema, actors have been viewed as towering personalities, and the fame of Rajesh Khanna, Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, and the three Khans is a testament to this fact. Be it the Tragedy King or the Angry Young Man, audiences have revered strong characters who valiantly battle injustice. However, I opine that these robust characters are less prominent in contemporary Bollywood productions.

As someone who grew up watching Bollywood movies and idolizing its larger-than-life heroes, I have to admit that I find the new, more realistic characters being presented in cinema today refreshing and relatable. They offer a side of storytelling that I hadn’t seen before, and they’ve certainly impressed me. I can see how these characters represent an evolution in the industry, pushing it towards greater depth and complexity.

However, as much as I appreciate this change, I must acknowledge that there is a sense of nostalgia among many Bollywood fans, myself included, for the heroes who once defined the industry. The larger-than-life characters that we grew up with were a big part of our childhood and played a significant role in shaping our views of heroism and courage. It’s understandable that some fans might miss them, and I share their longing for those iconic figures to return to the silver screen.

In the 1970s, Amitabh Bachchan was unforgettable with his captivating screen presence, while in the 1990s, Sunny Deol, Ajay Devgn, and Sanjay Dutt ruled the big screen, leaving audiences in awe. Unlike modern Western actors, these heroes were more than just relatable; they were iconic figures who seemed almost untouchable. Today’s films lack that same aura, demonstrating a noticeable gap between contemporary Hindi cinema and some of its most influential productions.

In contrast to their failures in films like Lal Singh Chaddha (Aamir Khan), Tubelight (Salman Khan), and Zero (Shah Rukh Khan), which bombed at the box office, these stars gained immense popularity through movies like Ghajini (Aamir Khan), Dabangg, Bodyguard, or Wanted (Salman Khan), and as Pathaan (Shah Rukh Khan). This suggests that while big-budget films featuring the Khans didn’t perform well, they were highly successful in other projects.

Currently, the void left by these characters is causing viewers to seek them out in other places, and an increasing number are finding solace in Tamil and Telugu films such as Pushpa: The Rise and Baahubali. These movies have provided what Bollywood appears to no longer offer. Remarkably, the success of these films in Northern regions, where they previously lacked a market, has inspired more Southern filmmakers to follow this trend.

These films’ viewership figures show that they aren’t merely popular in South India, but rather have a nationwide appeal as sensationally successful movies. It’s evident that the public craves epic-scale hero characters.

Numerous Bollywood celebrities share this common viewpoint. Lately, Vivek Oberoi expressed sentiments that many fans have been sharing during an interview with MensXP. He remarked, “Is there someone new like Sunny Deol? No. Is there anyone comparable to Ajay Devgn? No. Is there a replacement for Sanjay Dutt? There isn’t anyone who can simply step in and command the stage.

His speech reflects the escalating discontent among the audience towards dominant male characters in films. What spectators seek now isn’t merely actors, but individuals who exude respect and are naturally admired. Ajay Devgn addressed this matter in an interview with Ranveer Allahbadia, suggesting that excessive use of social media could be a contributing factor to this shift.

In the midst of life’s pressures, films have traditionally offered an escape from reality. Consequently, I feel that viewers project their deep-seated desire for power and the triumph of good over evil into these characters. They long for that allure and mystery once more. Fulfilling their personal craving for inspiration, they watch these extraordinary characters battle fearsome villains with compelling dialogue. However, this is often lacking in contemporary Bollywood productions.

Filmmakers aren’t unaware of this issue, as movies like Kabir Singh and Animal portrayed strong male characters. However, when these characters were intended to be complex, their toxic behaviors sparked considerable debate, leading to a significant backlash. As a result, filmmakers have become more careful about the stories they tell. They understand that audiences prefer narratives that don’t condone harmful actions, even if they are popular.

As a dedicated follower, I’ve noticed that one factor contributing to the decline of larger-than-life characters is the shift in focus by modern and independent filmmakers towards a particular segment of urban audiences. These filmmakers express their opinions on social media platforms, serving as influential sources of validation. Conversely, the masses who have always adored powerful characters may demonstrate their approval later, as they rush to cinemas to watch Sunny Deol’s Gadar 2 or Salman Khan’s Tiger series, creating initial uncertainty due to a delay in their validation.

It’s clear that Bollywood’s transition towards more realistic roles, including boy-next-door characters, holds importance. However, eliminating the grandiose heroes of the past has left a gap. The public craves the excitement of a pulse-pounding chase and an epic triumph – something Bollywood should take into account when planning future productions.

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2024-12-31 01:08