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EYE ON BOLLYWOOD APRIL 11, 2025 | The Indian Eye 32

BOLLYWOOD IN 2025

Bad writing to blame for string

of failures like ‘Emergency’, ‘Deva’,

‘Azaad’ and ‘Sikandar’?

In the last 4-5 years, Bollywood has experienced a string of unsuccessful movies that were released

amid huge anticipation among the viewers and starred superstars of the Hindi film industry

OUR BUREAU

Mumbai
ately, Indian cinema, especially Bollywood,
has witnessed underwhelming performances
Lfrom films such as Kangana Ranaut-starrer
‘Emergency’, Shahid Kapoor’s ‘Deva’ and Abhishek
Kapoor’s directorial ‘Azaad,’ among others. Salman
Khan’s Eid release, Sikandar, also did not open to
great reviews.
When Meena Iyer was asked why movies are
losing their sparkle, the veteran journalist dis-
cussed several factors that might have contrib-
uted to Bollywood’s recent struggles. “We have
stopped thinking about our scripts. Ek beimani
agai hai (There’s dishonesty now). Be it the au-
dience or media, or distributors, everyone is now
disappointed. Filmmakers should realise that they
can’t fool anyone. They should put efforts to pro-
vide quality and sensible cinema to audience. To-
day, concentration is not so much on art.... People
are not thinking about the script. They feel they
have a superstar in the film and they can then do
anything with it and then the film will become hit...
It does not happen like this. There should be a The Salman Khan starrer Sikandar was leaked online, and film trade expert Komal Nahta was among the people who first
proper focus on the script,” she opined.
Meena Iyer feels that Bollywood needs to work discovered it on the online website (ANI)
on its storytelling. “Please engage a good script-
writer, a good editor, a good music director. Please is the only reason for the series of Bollywood. Recently, the Salman Khan starrer Sikandar
engage the finest talent and give us sensible cinema. Nahta called the lack of passion among script- was leaked online, and film trade expert Komal
This brain-dead cinema that you’re giving us week writers the reason for the downfall of good stories Nahta was among the people who first discovered
on week is not helping you. It’s not helping me, it’s in Bollywood. He said that nowadays, writers don’t it on the online website.
not helping the viewer. We have good makers who revise or rehash their stories as they expect their “This morning, I spoke to seven or eight people
have the talent to bring commercial and sensible first draft to be accepted as the final draft. When in the trade, and they confirmed that the film had
cinema together....why just lean so much on super- asked about the reason for the series of flops in been leaked. I was also told that Sajid Nadiadwala
star or star or anyone....and not back them with Bollywood, film critic Nahta said, “Only and only and the authorized team worked hard to remove
good script or good plot..why?” she emphasised. Kamchori (Laziness). Whoever finalizes the script the film from many piracy websites. But by then,
Three months have passed since the start of thinks that it is right that I have finalized it. It is not the damage was already done. It spreads very fast,”
2025, and so far, the only major blockbuster we’ve like that. There is a team. the analyst said
seen is Vicky Kaushal’s film Chhaava. Hopefully, It has to pass through a lot of processes. You Nahta also added how piracy can severely af-
moviegoers will be pleased and experience quality have to write it again and again.” fect a film’s Box Office performance, especially
cinema in the upcoming months. While citing the example of scriptwriter and when it happens just around the time of its release.
In the last 4-5 years, Bollywood has experi- director Rajkumar Hirani, Nahta highlighted the ANI reached out to producer Sajid Nadiadwala’s
enced a string of unsuccessful movies that were re- passion for writing in successful filmmakers to pro- team for a response. While they did not confirm
leased amid huge anticipation among the viewers duce good stories. the leak, the team shared that their piracy agencies
and starred superstars of the Hindi film industry. “Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi, their are actively working to handle the issue.
While many attribute this downfall to the emer- writing team, they said that how many times we ‘Sikandar’, directed by AR Murugadoss and
gence of OTT platforms, film trade expert Komal have written 80% of the script and say that it is not starring Rashmika Mandanna, was released on
Nahta believes that the laziness of the scriptwriters working, let’s cancel it.” March 30.

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