Would anyone have asked such questions if Gadar were a Khan/Bachchan film?
But ready to point out a Gadar.
The film IMHO was nothing special but was a complete package as an entertainer. It was massive when it released, especially in the North Indian states it was a storm in theatres! It had good music, action, romance, family-emotional angle with a dash of historical memories of partition.
We can tolerate OTT acting of many A listers in ATBBs or 100 crore hits what's the issue with OTT acting in Gadar? For average Indian audience it's emotionally charged stuff.
Unlike films of today, Gadar had a story to tell. The hero's affections for the heroine, memories of partition, a dad's possessiveness and deep bonding towards his daughter, cheesy family drama (man and son braving all odds to reunite with wife), loads of action, patriotism - all elements of entertainment were in place for masses. Sunny Deol's avatar as a romantic and family man was equally liked as his action hero avatar in this film. Unlike other films where he only fights goons, here he had to fight with his own people - that probably made it a little more interesting for audience.
Partition setting was kind of a masterstroke because it evokes a lot of memories and emotion in Indians - especially North Indians. I vaguely remember comments on Sify.com of people reminiscing those days, lost friends, lost love after release of Gadar. Similar emotion must've been aroused in movie-goers when they watched it.
They were smart enough to put in romantic moments (like Sunny preserving the turban tied by Amisha, Amisha keeping that Taj Mahal memento given by Sunny), epic angry clashes (Sunny-Amrish clash always fantastic to watch be it in Damini or Gadar), show of possessiveness for beloved family members (remember how Amrish Puri tries to strangulate the woman who strips Amisha of her jewellery?) - to press the right emotional buttons of typical Indian audience.
Gadar got no support from media which was only pumping Lagaan (critically was justified, but even commercially they tried to prop it up as "equal" to Gadar though it was nowhere as massive!), still this film stormed box office. Even later, media promoted K3G but ignored Gadar as if it hadn't even released. It was a true juggernaut, completed Golden Jubilee run at several cinemas across India unlike today's overhyped weekend blockbusters.
I don't think Amisha's acting was great shakes but frankly speaking even Kajol (who got Best Actress that year for K3G) was hamming and loud in an extremely stereotypical portrayal of a Punjabi girl. Amisha as innocent, petite girl, seemed to be perfect contrast to the macho man Sunny Deol probably this is what audience liked.
Honestly, Gadar has more layers to it than say, a wafer-thin drama like Raja Hindustani. It's strength was that it got all emotional elements right - passion for lover, fanaticism for religion, patriotism, attachment with family. This is why when the same team came together for The Hero in 2003, they didn't quite succeed, because they had the gloss but not the emotional core which Gadar had.
I believe Gadar showed power and importance of catering to masses, way before a Ghajini or Wanted. 90s onwards everybody had started catering to urban elites or NRIs. Gadar - an extraordinary story of an ordinary man set in era of Partition, came like a change for masses. I think it wasn't much of a success in South but in North it was just tsunami in urban and small town areas alike.
I always enjoy it as an entertainer (though its length sometimes puts me off).
(P.S. - We shouldn't talk of OTT acting. Indians like everything OTT only. Even Amitabh's angry outbursts in 70s-80s films were OTT for critics but it struck chord with audience. Indians are an emotionally charged lot, no wonder even our journalists outrage every night on TV!)
Edited by Skepblun - 13 years ago
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