The box office success of the film based on the life of Neeb Karori Baba, made with a limited budget of around Rs 2 crore, has surprised the filmmakers. This small film has attracted the attention of the audience, leaving behind the big budget films. After ‘Krishnavataram Part 1’, ‘Lalo – Krishna Sada Sahayate’ and ‘Hanu Man’, this film has made it clear that a new equation of faith, modern technology and market is being created in Indian cinema.
Makers’ inclination towards mythological stories increased
There is now a competition in the industry to bring mythological stories to the big screen. Karan Johar is preparing to make a large-scale film on the story of Radha-Krishna. Actor Sanjay Mishra will be seen playing the role of Sai Baba in the film ‘Tera Sai’. Apart from this, projects like Shri Khatu Shyam Ji and ‘Epic Shri Ramayan Katha’ are also in the queue. Ranbir Kapoor starrer ‘Ramayanam’ is all set to release in theaters this Diwali, while work on Vicky Kaushal’s ‘Mahavatar’ is also going on.
Why is the mood of the audience changing?
According to trade analyst Atul Mohan, the impact of the cultural environment created in the country in the last few years is clearly visible on cinema. Projects like Kashi Vishwanath Dham in Varanasi, Mahakal Lok of Ujjain, Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and redevelopment of Kedarnath have increased cultural consciousness.
“When a cultural environment is created in the society, the audience likes to watch stories related to their roots. People are now more vocal about their beliefs. If the content of the film is made with the right intentions, whether the budget is small or big, the audience gives full support to it.”
— trade analyst
Films are being made keeping Gen-Z in mind
‘Krishnavataram: Part 1’ director Hardik Gajjar says that this change is not limited to the old audience only. Connecting the young generation (Gen Z) with Indian philosophy has now become the main goal of film makers. South Indian films like ‘Kantara’ and ‘Hanu Man’ have established this trend on the global stage through technology and strong screenplays. According to Anupriya, producer of ‘Hanuman Ansh’, today’s cinema is focusing on presenting human values, equality and philosophy of life on screen easily, instead of selling superstition or miracles.
impact on audience
Indian mythological texts and folk tales have an innumerable storehouse of stories. The stories of Shaktipeeths, Jyotirlingas and the five Tantras not only have religious aspects, but also have scientific and logical contexts. In the coming times, with the help of technology (VFX) and better screenplay, these films are moving towards becoming the mainstay of Indian cinema.