Can mythologicals succeed in B'wood today?

When cinema had started in India, most of our earliest films were based on mythology. Some of the films enjoyed crazy popularity even among those who were wary of films and felt it would spoil kids.

It's said that the guy who played Lord Ram in a film called Ram Rajya had become so damn popular that people actually considered him Lord Ram in human form and they'd mob him, touch his feet and bow down to him whenever he'd step out.

Jai Santoshi Maa was an ATBB and it's said people used to take their shoes off outside the cinema hall before entering to watch the film and actually offered flowers when the devi would appear onscreen in the film.

Many of our contemporary films take inspirations from epics in their plot (Trishul is heavily inspired from the story of Karna in Mahabharat. Amitabh's character has several shades of Karna in him, in later years, Hum Saath Saath Hain was almost like a contemporary Ramayan onscreen.)

On TV, mythological shows like Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan and BR Chopra's Mahabharat have enjoyed unprecedented popularity, are still considered classics, are huge hit online and were first Indian shows to be launched on home video.

Considering that in fiction, currently it is Amish's Shiva Trilogy that has topped all bestsellers' charts - can mythology stuff still work in movies?

Should movies inspired from mythology be made in mainstream Bollywood? Can they attract audience?

Can a mytho inspired film become an ATBB in today's times? Or even a clean hit at least?

We have the special effects in place. But do you think we have the right actors, filmmakers, script writers, research team etc. to do complete justice to mytho films?

As a viewer would you like to watch a mytho film in theatre?

Mythology has created history in films, TV and now books. Can it again prove to be a success formula in today's Bollywood?

Your thoughts please.

It might suceed if u cast the right actors , have the right director and most importantly have the right script

Dont mean to sound prejudice or racist but itd have to be all hindu cast for the public to fully accept it

Definitely. I , personally, would love to see such a movie.

Not if they are as is. People are into instant gratification these days, no one will sit in the theater for hours and hours watching the whole thing unfold. Perhaps if they are tweaked to suit present times, they might work. Kind of like DevD from Devdas etc.

Originally posted by: KkkingKhan

Dont mean to sound prejudice or racist but itd have to be all hindu cast for the public to fully accept it

I don't think that will be the case. Serials like Ramayan and Mahabharat were lapped up by all Indians (non Hindus included).

An animated series on the Buddha was popular among audiences. It was so popular that it was telecast both on DD National and later Cartoon Network.

And I don't think buyers of Amish's books are mainly Hindus.

If religion factor mattered then Amitabh's Coolie would have not worked because he was playing a Muslim in it and there were many references to Quran, Muslim religion and customs in it, including a song on the holy Hajj.

The stories and epics are more relatable due to characters. They have less to do with religion. This is why Mahabharat was adapted by prominent Japanese company into an animated series about warriors. The setting was theirs but characters and situations were all inspired by Mahabharat.

Audience is more concerned with actions and behaviours of characters. Not religion or caste alone.

Originally posted by: Rehanism

Did you know that the man who wrote the script and dialogues for BR Chopra's Mahabharat was a Muslim by the name Dr. Rahi Masoom Raza? And that the lead role of Arjun was played by another Muslim? When they were accepted back in 80s I see no reason to believe they won't be accepted in the second decade of 21st century..

And I don't know why people mix up racism with religion...

Originally posted by: Dexterkilaila

Not if they are as is. People are into instant gratification these days, no one will sit in the theater for hours and hours watching the whole thing unfold. Perhaps if they are tweaked to suit present times, they might work. Kind of like DevD from Devdas etc.

Originally posted by: Dexterkilaila

Not if they are as is. People are into instant gratification these days, no one will sit in the theater for hours and hours watching the whole thing unfold. Perhaps if they are tweaked to suit present times, they might work. Kind of like DevD from Devdas etc.

You mean make some modern characters have traits of characters from mythologicals and set the story in an urban milieu?

I think film can be managed in short duration. If they've done that in past with less resources, surely they can manage better now with more resources, better knowledge of cinema and better understanding of viewer mindset.

I do agree film should not be lengthy. If it keeps going on and on for 3 hours and also has some religious bhajan or shloka based song every two minutes then there is no chance of audience sitting through the whole film in today's times!