2024: The year of pan-Indian flops

The Indian film industry in 2024 has been a roller-coaster of triumphs and failures, surprises and disappointments. Blockbusters that carried sky-high expectations stumbled into the depths of failure, while some unexpected gems soared to success. Meanwhile, a few films, overlooked at the box office, found love and acclaim on OTT platforms beyond borders.

As we step into a new year, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on the cinematic journey of 2024. Indian cinema delivered a mix of remarkable successes and notable missteps, offering audiences a diverse array of experiences. Here's a closer look at how the country’s major film industries fared over the past year.

Bollywood
For Bollywood, 2024 extended the slump that began during the COVID-19 era. A significant portion of its creative community including directors and star actors still struggles to adapt to the evolving tastes of modern audiences, leading to a string of high-profile failures and further delaying the industry’s comeback.

Several films with massive budgets and star-studded casts, like 'Bade Miyan Chotte Miyan', 'Singham Again', 'Sarfira', 'Khel Khel Mein', and 'Yudhra' etc failed to deliver, receiving scathing criticism for their lack of substance. Notable among these was 'Singham Again', which, despite featuring heavyweights like Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Akshay Kumar, and Tiger Shroff, fell short due to its weak storyline.

In a desperate attempt to patch up its narrative gaps, the movie even incorporated elements of the Ramayana -- a decision that audiences found both forced and irritating. Although it scraped through at the box office, its reception was far from glowing.

For Akshay Kumar, 2024 marked another challenging year. Out of five releases, three bombed outright. Even his much-anticipated Hindi remake of 'Soorarai Pottru' failed to resonate with audiences, extending his streak of underwhelming performances. His only saving grace was the multi-starrer 'Singham Again' and a cameo in the hit 'Stree 2'.

Bollywood also churned out films with overt political leanings, such as 'Accident or Conspiracy: Godhra', 'The Sabarmathi Report', and 'Swatantra Veer Savarkar'. These productions, seemingly tailored to appease the union government, failed to connect with audiences and were box office disasters.
However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom for Bollywood. The runaway success of 'Stree 2' injected fresh energy into the industry, breaking records and winning hearts. Another standout was 'Kill', a gripping thriller about an army man’s rampage on a moving train, which generated nationwide buzz. Other notable successes included 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3', 'Fighter', 'Shaitaan', 'Crew', and 'Chandu Champion'.

Bollywood has much to learn from the overwhelming audience support garnered by films in the parallel stream. Movies like 'Laapataa Ladies', 'Maidaan', 'Amar Singh Chamkila', and 'Bhakshak' sparked significant discussions after their OTT releases. It’s high time Bollywood returns to stories rooted in human experiences, resonating with the audience's pulse and connecting deeply with the realities of life.

Tollywood
While Bollywood struggled with convoluted interpretations of Indian epics, the Telugu film industry demonstrated a seamless integration of Indian mythology into modern cinema. A prime example is 'Kalki 2898 AD', a groundbreaking sci-fi epic by Nag Ashwin that blended Indian mythology with a post-apocalyptic narrative. The film’s depiction of the Mahabharata war, lasting only a few minutes, became an iconic highlight.

For Prabhas, who had faced consecutive setbacks after 'Baahubali', 2024 marked a triumphant comeback. After regaining momentum with 'Salaar' in the previous year, he reclaimed his throne with 'Kalki'. The film’s resounding success can be credited to Nag Ashwin’s visionary direction, assembling an ensemble cast of legendary actors from across the Indian film industry and delivering a masterfully crafted cinematic experience. At a time when many films fell short of audience expectations, 'Kalki 2898 AD' stood out as a film that thoroughly satisfied its viewers.

Another major success was 'Hanuman', which followed the story of a young man who gains the superpowers of the mythological hero. The film was a massive box office hit. Similarly, 'Devara Part 1', starring Jr NTR,  too shattered records. Meanwhile, 'Saripodhaa Sanivaaram', featuring the dynamic Nani-SJ Surya duo, enjoyed huge theatrical success. The film also sparked discussions across languages after its release on OTT platforms.

In a year where many leading actors across industries struggled at the box office, a remarkable success story came from the Malayalam actor Dulquer Salmaan. Making waves in the Telugu industry, Dulquer delivered a Rs 100 crore blockbuster with 'Lucky Baskhar', directed by Venky Atluri. The film, which charted Baskhar's transformation from a modest bank employee to a millionaire, resonated not only in Telugu but also in other regional markets. Beyond Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, 'Lucky Baskhar' found significant success in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. What made this achievement even more special was the film’s reliance on strong storytelling and content, eschewing the typical tropes of anti-gravity action sequences, item songs, and larger-than-life characters often deemed essential for success in Telugu cinema.

Meanwhile, 'Pushpa 2: The Rule' starring Allu Arjun set theatres ablaze like wildfire, particularly in North India, where it dominated the box office. However, the film received a mixed review in Kerala, sparking a meme frenzy with jokes about how everyone loved Pushpa except the “Chettans” (a playful reference to Keralites). Regardless, 'Pushpa 2' continues its victorious march at the box office, reaffirming Allu Arjun’s pan-Indian appeal. Similarly, Mahesh Babu’s Guntur Karam emerged as another theatrical success for Telugu cinema this year.

However, some films, like Ravi Teja’s 'Mr Bachchan', brought disrepute to the industry. A remake of the Hindi film 'Raid' starring Ajay Devgan, this investigative thriller was transformed into a lacklustre romance filled with cringe-worthy moments. Particularly criticised were Ravi Teja’s romantic scenes with a heroine half his age, which were ridiculed across social media. The film bombed at the box office.

Another film that suffered a catastrophic fall at the box office was Vijay Devarakonda's 'Family Star'. Touted as a family entertainer, the film portrayed its hero as an ideal man—devoted to his family, embodying values that every woman, Indian or foreign, would admire. However, the narrative took a shocking turn, with the hero displaying his "mass appeal" by threatening to assault women in the villain’s family. This disturbing twist alienated audiences, leading to widespread criticism and the film's swift demise in theatres.

Similarly, 'Yathra 2', the sequel to Mammootty’s much-celebrated 'Yathra', failed to live up to its towering expectations. Despite the hype surrounding its release, the film could not recreate the magic of its predecessor, leaving fans disappointed. Adding to the list of flops was 'Double iSmart', a film that turned out to be a tragic misstep.

Kollywood
Kollywood, often celebrated as a complete package of Indian cinema, found 2024 to be far from a year of pride. Big-ticket releases featuring major stars struggled at the box office, leaving fans and the industry disappointed. The first half of the year, which began sluggishly, offered no notable successes. While the Malayalam film 'Manjummel Boys' created waves in Tamil Nadu, theatre operators in the state managed to stay afloat by re-releasing  old classics.

'Kanguva', touted as Suriya's grand comeback, failed to meet expectations. Similarly, Rajinikanth's 'Lal Salaam' and 'Vettaiyan' nosedived at the box office, adding to the list of lacklustre performances. Even 'The Greatest of All Time' starring Vijay, though it raked in money, faced heavy criticism for its lack of substance. The film even sparked a plea from Vijay's fans, urging him to choose more meaningful projects towards the end of his acting career as he steps into politics.

The iconic Kamal Haasan and Shankar duo returned with 'Indian 2', a sequel to their celebrated classic. Unfortunately, it became one of Tamil Nadu's biggest box office disasters of the year. Vikram's 'Thangalaan' earned favourable reviews but struggled to translate that into box office success.
Amidst the gloom, 'Maharaja' and 'Amaran' provided some solace to Kollywood. Vijay Sethupathi's outstanding performance and the film's compelling plot twists made 'Maharaja' a standout success. Meanwhile, Sivakarthikeyan delivered his career-best performance in 'Amaran'. Other commercially successful films included 'Captain Miller', 'Raayan', 'Aranmanai 4', 'Guardian', and 'Vaazhai'.

While mainstream commercial cinema faltered, Tamil Nadu's art-house offerings soared. Films like 'Lubber Pandhu' and 'Meiyazhagan' transcended state boundaries, earning acclaim from film lovers elsewhere after their OTT releases. A few other titles, such as 'Lover', 'Blue Star', and 'Kottukkaali', also sparked meaningful discussions among viewers.
Late in the year, 'Viduthalai Part 2' arrived with a strong reception from audiences and the movie is still going strong.

Sandalwood
The Kannada film industry, which made waves across India with movies like 'KGF', 'Kantara', and 'Sapta Saagaradaache Ello' over the previous years, had no notable hits to its credit in 2024. Compounding its challenges, the industry found itself under scrutiny due to the release of 'Martin', a film that brought more criticism than acclaim.

While the success of 'KGF' had previously set a gold standard, the string of weak adaptations that followed created fatigue among audiences. 'Martin', which came on the heels of 'Kabzaa', was weighed down by its attempts to emulate the 'KGF' formula, ultimately testing viewers' patience. Directed and scripted by Tamil actor Arjun Sarja and starring his nephew Dhruva Sarja in the lead, the film failed to deliver on the grand expectations set for it.

In a move reminiscent of 'KGF', Martin also announced a sequel in its end credits, but the audience's lack of enthusiasm for the first instalment raises questions about the viability of the franchise.

Mollywood
While the major film industries across India experienced a mix of highs, struggles, and box office disasters, it was the small yet formidable Malayalam film industry that stood out for its consistent success. Hailing from the southernmost corner of the country, Mollywood has not only captured audience support but also delivered stellar box office performances, making it the most successful Indian film industry of 2024.

From heartfelt dramas like 'Premalu' to haunting narratives such as 'Braramayugam' and the uproarious 'Manjummel Boys', Mollywood kept its winning streak alive. The momentum reached its crescendo with the release of 'Rifle Club' and 'Marco'. The latter, in particular, has been lauded as a cinematic triumph, drawing comparisons to Bollywood hits like 'Animal' and 'Kill', with some even placing Marco a notch above.

The year 2024 also silenced critics who previously ridiculed Mollywood for its niche themes and modest storytelling style, often reduced to jokes about 'parippuvada' and 'pachappu'. With a diverse slate of films that resonated deeply with audiences, Mollywood cemented its place as a powerhouse of Indian cinema.
As the curtains fall on 2024, all eyes are on the year ahead. Will Mollywood continue its stellar run,  who will rise and who will stumble or will new contenders rise to the challenge in 2025? Only time will tell.