In a candid interview with The Indian Express, director R Balki delves into the challenges and unexpected setbacks faced by his recent release, ‘Ghoomer,’ at the box office. Balki reveals how the film was adversely affected by the massive wave created by ‘Gadar 2,’ an unforeseen blockbuster.
‘Gadar 2,’ featuring Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel, stormed into theaters on August 11, while ‘Ghoomer’ followed a week later on August 18. Reflecting on the situation, Balki commented, “It didn’t get sandwiched, it got smashed! We had no other date, had we come along with Gadar 2, we may have been better off. Because Gadar 2 did better in the second week. Nobody expected this kind of a thing. We thought everyone will do well, and we can have the second week. This kind of tsunami was not expected.”
The director went on to highlight the challenges faced by a film like ‘Ghoomer,’ emphasizing the need for word-of-mouth to spread and establish its presence. He acknowledged that even ‘Ghoomer’ generated buzz and drew audiences, but it required proper showcasing, which proved challenging to achieve. Balki stated, “Sometimes you need a proper showcasing, which we couldn’t get. We tried our best because we need enough options for people to go and see the evening shows. Various schools and colleges took [the film], but it was just… unfortunate.”
Adding to the tough competition posed by ‘Gadar 2,’ ‘Ghoomer’ also faced a challenge from ‘OMG 2,’ a sports drama starring Abhishek Bachchan and Saiyami Kher, which collected ₹4.41 crore in its first six days. In contrast, ‘Gadar 2’ broke numerous records and entered the prestigious ₹500 crore club, establishing its dominance in the box office arena.
Interestingly, ‘Gadar 2’ marked a reunion for Balki and Sunny Deol, who had previously collaborated on Balki’s last directorial venture, ‘Chup: Revenge of the Artist,’ the previous year.
About ‘Ghoomer,’ the film centers around Abhishek Bachchan’s character, a coach, whose life takes an unexpected turn when he crosses paths with a paraplegic athlete, portrayed by Saiyami Kher. Their journey unfolds against the backdrop of societal issues and personal struggles, addressing themes such as gender equality, sports discrimination, the importance of education, and superstitions in a compelling narrative.
Despite the box office challenges faced by ‘Ghoomer,’ the film received praise for its concise runtime and its handling of various important societal issues. The cinematography by Vishal Sinha, especially during the cricket scenes, was lauded for capturing the essence of ‘Ghoomer’ magnificently.
Sources By Agencies
