Clashes in Film Releases: Part 2

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Among the same-day release cases, though, we have had some historic cases down the years. Let us now go year-wise to check them out.

1996:

Raja Hindustani / Ghatak

In those times, there was nothing like deeming co-releases as a prestige issue, for as we know, no one even thought of the Phool Aur Kaante-Lamhe or the DDLJ-Yaraana co-releases as ‘clashes’! This common date in Diwali 1996, however, was the forerunner of the Aamir Khan-Sunny Deol battle that was to truly become ‘historic’ half a decade later. This time, Aamir was the clear winner as Raja Hindustani topped an otherwise lukewarm year. Ghatak did only average business in most parts of the country.

2000:

Mission Kashmir / Mohabbatein

This time, Diwali saw Shah Rukh Khan (for whom this festival has almost always proved lucky) win over new sensation Hrithik Roshan. Mohabbatein also proved to be Amitabh Bachchan’s comeback vehicle.

2001:

Gadar—Ek Prem Katha / Lagaan

The clash was historic and historical, as both films were set in bygone eras. Gadar—Ek Prem Katha did bumper business and finally topped in footfalls in that entire decade, even putting 3 Idiots in the shade. On the other hand, Lagaan drew in the encomiums and an Oscar nomination, though its business was good only in Mumbai and Delhi.

2006:

Don / Jaan-E-Mann

Though Don did ordinary business (it did better overseas), SRK’s Diwali 2006 release performed far better than Akshay Kumar-Salman Khan’s Jaan-E-Mann¸ which crumbled.

2007:

Om Shanti Om / Saawariya & Welcome / Taare Zameen Par

This year saw two mammoth clashes. In Diwali, SRK again won the box-office game with his blockbuster, Om Shanti Om. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya, on the other hand, was a disaster. The former film introduced Deepika Padukone, the latter marked the debuts of both Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor.

For trivia hunters, note that Salman Khan did a cameo as himself in OSO and made a special appearance in the latter film. Also, Shah Rukh’s movie was a tribute to Rishi Kapoor’s cult song of that name in Karz as well as its plot, while Rishi himself did a cameo, and Saawariya saw Rishi’s son Ranbir Kapoor reciting Main shaayar to nahin, another cult number enacted on screen by his father!

2010:

Action Replayy / Golmaal 3

In Diwali, moviegoers preferred the mad comedy of Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal 3 to the serious though humorous romance that was Action Replayy. Pritam was the common composer, whose music in the former film was brilliant. Like Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan with Maidaan, this was the first of the Akshay-Ajay clashes and Round One went to Ajay!

2012:

Son of Sardaar / Jab Tak Hai Jaan

This time, both films fared reasonably well in Diwali 2012, though the latter did great business overseas. However, this time, a fuming Ajay Devgn, actor and producer of Son of Sardaar, alleged foul play by Yash Raj Films in the matter of screen and show allocations, and even filed a case. Nevertheless, all’s well now on the Ajay-Yash Raj front.

2015:

Dilwale / Bajirao Mastani

The battle was drawn between Shah Rukh Khan and filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali for the second time after 2007. And this time the winner was the latter!

2016:

Rustom / Mohenjo-Daro & Ae Dil Hai Mushkil / Shivaay

Akshay Kumar in the role close to real-life ex-Naval officer Nanavati in the dramatized retelling of the real case in Rustom won audience hearts, not so Ashutosh Gowariker’s fanciful narration of a love story from prehistoric times!

And the morose Ae Dil Hai Mushkil released alongside Shivaay in Diwali week. Both claimed 100 crore business, but only the former one was a tepid success overall. Ae Dil… had better music, while the latter had better action and VFX! Essentially, both movies were underwhelming in terms of performance, but this clash was hyped.

2017:

Kaabil  / Raees

The third Shah Rukh-Hrithik face-off (we have mentioned the unusual Krrish 3 versus Chennai Express in 2013 in Part 1)  ended with both films doing only moderate business in Republic Day week, though in every sense, especially music, Kaabil had a clear edge.

2018:

Gold / Satyameva Jayate

Akshay Kumar did another dramatization of a real incident and the film did decent business. John Abraham’s masala actioner also did good business and in terms of ROI fared better.

2019

Mission Mangal / Batla House

This time, Akshay Kumar got a walkover. Mission Mangal was a real drama again, while Batla House was patriotism over-the-top. And audience tastes were changing…!

2022:

Raksha Bandhan / Laal Singh Chaddha & Ram Setu / Thank God

Akshay’s Raksha Bandhan alsotook on Aamir Khan’s magnum opus Laal Singh Chaddha, but the audience also rejected both in no uncertain terms! And Akshay Kumar’s novel yet quite inane Ram Setu collapsed alongside Ajay Devgn’s fantasy, Thank God. The Akshay-Ajay tussle this time was a draw, with both coming out losers!

Over to Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Maidaan!