What are the cult classics of Bollywood? - Page 4

Originally posted by: tapori

Yaar good question. I did NOT like SLB's Devdas (and I usually love SLB). But Devdas is ingrained in our culture. Like when I didn't shave, my mom would say kya Devdas bana ghoom raha hai. Or if some friend is hopelessly in love, even when the girl is taken, you'd say yeh toh Devdas ban gaya. We have so many references. Even derivative movies like Dev D. And the songs were a hit.

For me, the most memorable part of SLB's Devdas was actually the parody of Dola re Dola song done in Munnabhai MBBS, during the ragging scene! And also parodies of Maar Daala.

So story + songs + multiple original/derivative movies on Devdas together a cult make.

Devdas is ingrained in our culture because of the literature, not the movie. SLB's Devdas is more like a soap opera. But the source material and the initial movie starring Dilip Kumar is what made it a sensation, and a part of pop culture.

What you're suggesting is akin to considering those Mahabharata serials as cults over the original source material.

Originally posted by: CrimeMasterToto

I dont think HAHK, DDLJ, Dabanng, Hera Pher etc. can be counted as cult classics. They were massive hits and have a huge fanbase since the time they were released.

Whereas movies like Gulaal, Black Friday, Wasseypur fall in arty/off beat category. They would never made to have a big fan following

Cult classics usually need to check a few boxes for consideration

- movie being panned and disliked upon release

- the fandom is limited and only increases well after the release

- becomes very quotable in pop culture (or meme-able these days)

Pulp fiction is a classic example. It did not do well on release, is still disliked by a lot of people and most people say that they do not get it or find it ridiculous. The fanbase has mushroomed over time and it is one of the most quotable movies.

In bollywood, I would say we have Andaz Apna Apna, Shaan, Bheja Fry, Nayak, Gunda, etc. Its hard to find cult classics and that sort of is the point of cult classics anyways

Pulp Fiction was box office success, Shaswank Redemption on the other hand is the one whose popularity grew on later.

Originally posted by: SaayaOfKaaya

Devdas is ingrained in our culture because of the literature, not the movie. SLB's Devdas is more like a soap opera. But the source material and the initial movie starring Dilip Kumar is what made it a sensation, and a part of pop culture.

What you're suggesting is akin to considering those Mahabharata serials as cults over the original source material.

Which is why I just wrote Devdas in the original post.

And in the explanation I wrote:

"story + songs + multiple original/derivative movies"

The story here alluded to the novel. (btw I'm a HUGE fan of Saratchandra's Hindi translated short stories)

There are at least 3 original Devdas movies, if not more +

Devirative movies like Dev D +

Derivative web series like Dev DD!

Its an expanding universe in itself!!

Although, to be fair to SLB's Devdas, certain aspects of that movie blew up.

E.g. Dola Re Dola parody in Munnabhai MBBS

Maar Daala had many many parodies.

Certain scenes and dialogues got very famous too.

So it sort of seeped into our culture as well.

Coming to Mahabharata, this might be an unpopular opinion, but I think but for that amazing TV serial, people might not be as fascinated by Mahabharata. That TV serial made a huge impact on our culture.

Although Ramayana had its serial (I need to watch it), but it was already pretty famous and jagjaahir because of the regular ramleelas. Not so for Mahabharata.

Originally posted by: MujheMaarjaneDo

Pulp Fiction was box office success, Shaswank Redemption on the other hand is the one whose popularity grew on later.

Sometime back a friend who's not seen any Hollywood movies, asked me for a reco. I asked him to start with "Shawshank Redemption".

One of the best movies ever made!

Originally posted by: Kaya65

Main Prem Ki Divani Hoon

we are mention/talks about this masterpiece more than any other movie in the last 18 years 😆

❤️❤️❤️ Best movie ever. Other directors need to quit because they will never compare😡😡 😡

Originally posted by: bollyqueen0

❤️❤️❤️ Best movie ever. Other directors need to quit because they will never compare😡😡 😡

Sooraj ji´s reaction

other directors reaction

Jaani Dushman

Gunda

Sooryavansham

Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon

‘Tum Bin’ !!!!

Haven’t met a single person who didn’t like the movie or haven’t watched it multiple times. Just watched it yesterday after years and boy one of the rare movies which has aged really well also! So I guess it can be called a true cult classic!!

Originally posted by: CrimeMasterToto

Cult classics usually need to check a few boxes for consideration

- movie being panned and disliked upon release

- the fandom is limited and only increases well after the release

- becomes very quotable in pop culture (or meme-able these days)

I don't think that definition is necessarily true. A cult film is basically a movie that has such a dedicated and loyal fan following that it becomes it's own aesthetic and subculture.

Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter were well received by critics, huge box office hits and opened to an existing fanbase. But audiences started dressing up and camping out for opening nights. They often still get shown as marathons where fans take the whole movie-watching experience to another level. People still have themed events and collectibles. They qualify as a cult classic.

Studio Ghibli and Disney Pixar also produce critical/commercial successes. Their long-term fandom is very niche. There is a whole cult of merch, collectibles, and even foods from the production houses (more for Ghibli than Pixar).

There was a whole slew of 2000s films that were well received but went on be everlasting quotable memes in pop culture - Legally Blonde, Bring it On, Miss Congeniality, and Mean Girls.

Then of course there are the ones more typically associated as cult classics - Rocky Horror Picture Show, Army of Darkness, Big Trouble in Little China, The Room, etc.

In Bollywood, I'd say Sholay and DDLJ have achieved cult status. Their showings still command a fan base, they are highly quotable, and new generations enter the fandom.

Gangs of Wasseypur too was critically very well received, but not so much commercially and has a niche following making it a cult.

Then there are the genuine niche films like Gunda, Ramsay Horror flicks that fall into the so bad they're good cult.

In general, though, there are not as many true cult films in Bollywood because the entire industry is massy. Films become mass hits and then before they can become cult they are forgotten for the next mass hit. Although HAHK, Devdas, DCH, etc are quotable and people do watch them over - they hardly have a discernible subculture (maybe I'm wrong, but I can't see it)

None.

In last twenty years.

Either they are classic or have a certain fan following not enough to be called cult clasic.