Baahubali 2 is out and was one of the highest grossing movies of 2015, so maybe all the hype around it is nothing new considering that is how Bollywood always makes fans behave. While all is upbeat and bright for the movie, seems like several deserving regional films are being taken down to make way for it and even though that is again nothing new, it’s sure worth our attention.
The movie in question here is Kaushik Ganguly’s ‘Bishorjon’ which has been taken down to make way for Baahubali in theatres. Ganguly happens to be a National-award winning film director and was obviously hurt at the kind of disrespect being shown to his talent, all for the sake of Baahubali 2.
Heartbreaking for a filmmaker. BB2, 8 to 10 less shows in Bengal wouldn’t have made any impact, but Bishorjon is suffering. @karanjohar https://t.co/AR9c2arv5H
— Kaushik Ganguly (@KGunedited) April 25, 2017
They are Bahubalis & we are Bengalis. They rule & we surrender! But for how long? Bishorjon losing theatres and shows in its own state! SAD
— Kaushik Ganguly (@KGunedited) April 25, 2017
Shame! We need to learn from Maharashtra. The way govt. supports Marathi films. https://t.co/wI0GWkwvOE
— Aniruddha Chatterjee (@DaMoViEmAnIaC) April 25, 2017
@karanjohar @ssrajamouli pulling down of a national award winning bengali film in bengal doesn’t go with your stature sir,kindly reconsider
— Suvonkar Banerjee (@SuvonkarB) April 25, 2017
Heartbreaking for a filmmaker. BB2, 8 to 10 less shows in Bengal wouldn’t have made any impact, but Bishorjon is suffering. @karanjohar https://t.co/AR9c2arv5H
— Kaushik Ganguly (@KGunedited) April 25, 2017
@KGunedited @srijitspeaketh So Goliath again got scared by David ?? #Bishorjon gets pulled down to accommodate BB2, thought it was a film about brave hearts?? Shame !!!
— Suvonkar Banerjee (@SuvonkarB) April 25, 2017
The Times of India reports said that, ‘Bishorjon’ had managed to earn Rs 30,69,186 over the first week and 212 shows, which was a lot more than it’s big-budget competitors. ScoopWhoop News got in touch with Kaushik Ganguly that he was particularly disheartened because his movie was doing well and had a 60 percent occupancy rate even on weekdays. He further said that regional movies need to be protected and a Bollywood movie is bound to release every week but “the way Baahubali 2 has gobbled up screens is unprecedented”.
‘Bishorjon’ might not have as massive a budget as Baahubali 2 and might even lack in the VFX department, but it does have to its credit the Best Bengali Film accolade given by National Film Awards jury. It had released on April 14 and might have done a lot more business had it’s richer counterpart not taken over. Karan Johar is responsible for distribution of Baahubali 2 in theatres across the country. Also fun fact: Baahubali 2 happens to be a Telugu movie that has been dubbed in Hindi for mass consumption.
It indeed is high time steps are taken to protect small-budget regional cinema, especially the one that win us awards purely on merit. While, this is not a first, here’s hoping the last comes soon.
