When Bollywood Graced Independence Day

They say ideas can change the world. It was these very ideas that won us our independence. Many died in the process of winning us freedom; some are known to us, but there are countless other martyrs whose names are not recorded in our history books. They died, and their deaths won us freedom. Freedom that enabled us to celebrate our 70th Independence Day. Bollywood has graced this special day with many movies. While a few managed to make ripples at the box office, others managed to create bubbles, and naturally, some got washed away. BollyCurry has decided to share with its readers some of the many Independence releases.

The ability to induce emotions in the viewer is what essentially makes a hit, and Independence Week has seen the rise of a handful of movies that connected with the audience.Sholay, often considered as one of the best Indian movies ever, was released on 15 August, 1975. Despite a poor opening collection, the movie picked up the pace and went on to be the first film in India to celebrate a silver jubilee at over 100 theatres.Khoon Bhari Maang(1988), Rekha's comeback venture, was a female-oriented movie in which she played a widow. This movie turned out to be a commercial and critical success.

Karan Johar'sKabhi Alvida Naa Kehna(2006) starring big names including Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Abhishek Bachchan, and Preity Zinta in the lead roles, as well as Amitabh Bachchan and Kirron Kher in crucial supporting roles, created waves at the box office and went on to bethe seventh highest grosser overseas.Chak De India, the third-highest-grossing film of 2007, tells the story of Kabir Khan (Shah Rukh Khan) a former hockey star and his stint as the coach of a women's hockey team. Salman Khan'sEk Tha Tiger(2012), in which he essays the role of an Indian (RAW) spy, and Ajay Devgn'sSingham Returns(2014), proved to be commercial successes. Farhan Akhtar's directorial debut,Dil Chahta Hai(2001), Ranbir Kapoor'sBachna Ae Haseeno(2008) and Akshay Kumar'sDhadkan(2000) grappled the attention of a section of the audience and were declared as hits.

Gour Hari Dastaan(2015) is a critically acclaimed biopic on an Odisha freedom fighter, Gour Hari Das, who made his way through a tenacious battle of silent war that lasted for 32 years, against his own government, to prove his patriotic association towards the nation. InAarakshan(2011), Dr. Anand (Amitabh Bachchan), along with his disciples, fight against the odds to abide by the Supreme Court's decision to reserve seats for the backward class students. Despite the big star ensemble, including Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan, this movie bombed at the box office.Mangal Pandey: The Rising(2005), another biopic with Aamir Khan playing the title role of an Indian soldier known for helping to spark the Indian rebellion of 1857, also failed to score at the box office.

Rustom(2016)and Mohenjo Daro(2016)are the latest to join the list of Independence releases. While the former has already proven to be a box office success, the latter is panting behind. Indian audience has no partiality to one specific kind of film; any film which charms them is worth a good run. Their freedom to choose remains one of the key factors in deciding such worthy movies. We hope more movies hit the screen next Independence day. Until then, let us celebrate being alive, and being free.

Writer:Dhanya S.
Editors:Sonia R. and Mohini N.
Graphics:Nidhi D.