This week, it's big versus small at the boxoffice

Boss, let’s take a toss. This week would you like to watch a hard-hitting drama on the politics of terrorism? Or would you prefer a full-on masala product where all the traditional ingredients of commercial cinema that we’ve all grown up watching come together in a rush of drama, comedy action and emotion? Anthony (Tony) D’Souza’s Boss and Hansal Mehta’s Shahid represent the two polarities of filmmaking in country. Boss has the obvious advantage of being designed as a blockbuster. With an estimated budget of Rs 90 crore it reeks of eye-grabbing opulence and extravagance. Plus it has the advantage of opening on Wednesday on the occasion of Bakri-Eid. On the deficit side superstar Akshay Kumar’s last two films Khiladi 786 and Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobaara have under-performed at the boxoffice. Director D’Souza himself has been out of luck with his directorial debut Blue proving a boxoffice disaster. But Boss has ‘blockbuster’ written all over it. Hansal Mehta too has point to prove in Shahid. Mehta is one of our most underrated directors. He started directing movies 13 years ago with the Tabu-Manoj Bajpai starrer Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar, then went on to do the espionage thriller Chhal and one of Bollywood’s first sex comedies Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai? Success has been elusive so far. Shahid which has garnered rave pre-release reviews seems to have finally gotten Mehta the recognition he deserves. Interestingly that very talented actor Raj Kumar Yadav who plays the slain lawyer Shahid Azmi has come into his own this year after the success of Abhishek Kapoor’s Kai Po Che. Many considered Yadav’s performance to be the most nuanced among the three protagonists’ performances. Shahid’s co-producer Sunil Bohra admits the success of Kai Po Che has made a difference to the boxoffice prospects of Shahid. “It’s not like we were waiting and watching. Because we’re very confident of Raj Kumar Yadav’s performance in Shahid. It will get him the National Award for sure. But yes Kai Po Che was a visible product. It has made a great contact with the youth. In our country films about male bonding get immediate attention. Any film based on a real-life hero is considered boring.” He continues, “Though Shahid is anything but a dull plodding bio-pic. In fact my director Hansal Mehta has made it like Life Is Beautiful. But like I said Kai Po Che brought Raj Kumar Yadav into the hero’s league. Though Sushant Singh Rajput had the author-backed role, Raj Kumar was the silent scene stealer.” Bohra admits the release of Shahid was held back because of Kai Po Che. “Yes, we were waiting for Kai Po Che. It’s given a boost to Raj Kumar Yadav’s mass appeal. He is the only one who has a romantic angle in the film. And he’s brilliant.” How far would Boss affect the small large-hearted film Shahid about real-life slain lawyer Shahid Azmi who fought cases on behalf of the under-trials accused of TADA offences? “We are not competing with any of the big commercial films. We are not even competing with the offbeat films. We believe we’ve made a film that tells a story which every Indian needs to know. I can only speak for my film. I am confident that Shahid’s story will appeal to the audience,” says Hansal Mehta. Adds Raj Kumar Yadav, “I can only talk about our film. I am very proud of Shahid and very confident that we’ve made a really good film.” Trade analyst Taran Adarsh feels the two antithetical films can co-exist at the boxoffice this week. “The two films represent diverse genres and wouldn’t cut into each other’s business. The masala lovers would relish Boss and the multiplex audiences at urban centers should appreciate Shahid.” Adds Amod Mehra, “Shahid opens on Friday while Boss opened two days earlier. It all depends on whether Boss is still around to dominate the boxoffice on Friday.”