Director Siddharth Anand’s recent comments on the box office reception of his film ‘Fighter’ have stirred a humorous wave on social media. In an interview with Galatta Plus, Anand suggested that the film’s unfamiliar genre, centered around aerial action with planes, faced a challenge because a significant portion of the Indian audience, approximately 90%, hasn’t experienced air travel.
Released on January 25, ‘Fighter’ stars Hrithik Roshan as an Indian Air Force officer and aims to pay tribute to the sacrifice and patriotism of the Indian armed forces. However, the director believes that the film’s unique premise and aerial sequences may have been too unfamiliar for a majority of the Indian audience.
Anand stated, “Fighter is a huge leap. It’s a space that is unexplored, and is absolutely new. It has no reference point for the audience, that means what they are seeing is a little… accha… such big stars, a commercial director, accha ye planes kya kar rahi he (what are these planes doing)? I am like is this my film, I don’t know this.”
The director suggested that the lack of air travel experience among Indians could have contributed to a disconnect with the film’s portrayal of airborne action. He argued, “If you realize, there is a huge percentage of our country… I would say 90% who have not flown in planes! Who have not been to an airport! So how do you expect them to know what’s happening in the air?”
Social media users responded with a mix of humor and criticism, drawing parallels with other successful films. Some quipped about the success of espionage film ‘Pathaan,’ attributing it to the notion that 90% of Indians are RAW agents. Others humorously connected the box office performance of films like ’12th Fail’ and ‘Dangal’ to similar percentage-based theories.
In the same interview, Anand further defended his film, stating, “The genre of it is very new, and I think that was the initial hesitance.” He described ‘Fighter’ as a basic film with an emotional and desi (Indian) storyline that appeals to a broad audience once they engage with it in the auditorium.
While the director’s explanation may have raised eyebrows, ‘Fighter’ continues its cinematic journey, attempting to bridge the gap between the unexplored realm of aerial action and the diverse preferences of the Indian audience. Whether the film will overcome its initial hurdles remains to be seen as it endeavors to resonate with viewers on an emotional and relatable level.
Sources By Agencies
