2018 is over and it has left behind many cinematic memories. It might prove to be the watershed year for Bollywood, considering the way in which people have accepted or rejected movies at the box-office. Here are some random thoughts and impressions.

• With 16 movies entering the coveted 100 Crore Club, 2018 will go down as one of the most successful years for Hindi film industry. Interestingly the big collections mostly came from non-star vehicles and many star-studded ones failed to woo the masses.

• Padmaavat, the typically ornate Bhansali-take on a historical legend, and 2.0, the second Sci-Fi coming of Shankar- Rajnikant proved that the big screen spectacles can still work at the box-office. 

• Rohit Shetty reconfirmed his total mastery on mainstream masala films with Simmba.

• Despite all their big stars, sets, special effects and ‘Masala elements’, (not to forget their rather misleading 100-crore labels!), Remo Fernandes’s Salman-starrer Race 3 (third installment of the popular thriller franchise) and Vijay Krishna Acharya’s Thugs of Hindostan, (a wannabe take on Pirates of the Caribbean with YRF-Aamir-Big B-Kat Kaif combo), both were rejected by masses.

• It was not only Sallu and Aamir who had a forgettable year; for the first time in many years, no Khan-movie made big money. Shahrukh Khan’s Zero failed to score. Saif Ali Khan’s Kaalakandi and Bazaar added to his growing list of flops.

• In comparison, Ranbir Kapoor (Sanju), Ranveer Singh (Simmba, Padmaavat), Ajay Devgan (Raid) and John Abraham (Parmanu, Satyamev Jayate) did well. 

• Akshay Kumar continued his steady hold with Padman, Gold and 2.0.

• Successful outings for Ayushmann Khurrana (Andhadhun, Badhaai Ho), Varun Dhawan (Sui-Dhaaga), Tiger Shroff (Baaghi 2), Rajkummar Rao (Stree) and Karthik (Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety) showed their growing stature as bankable stars.

• More than any other genres, comedies ruled the box-office. The success of SKTKS, Stree, Blackmail, Andhadhun and Badhaai Ho showed that Bollywood is now coming up with different sub-genres in comedies and the audiences are enjoying them.

• Aalia Bhat in Raazi ,  Taapsee Pannu in Manmarziyan and Anushka Sharma in Sui-Dhaaga were the best female performances in the central role. On the male front, no mainstream hero really did anything special.

• Vicky Kaushal (Raazi, Sanju, Manmarziyan) was one actor who made his presence felt with his versatility even when he was not in the central role. 

• With Netflix and Amazon Prime making huge impact with shows such as Sacred Games, Ghoul, Mirzapur and Breathe, and movies such as Lust Stories, Love Per Square Foot and Rajma-Chaawal, Bollywood is facing a new challenge. 

 

Let’s see what’s in store in 2019!