Can Hanuman Ansh change Bollywood’s approach to small films? Anand Pandit answers | Exclusive
New Delhi: The phenomenal box-office success of Hanuman Ansh has once again put the spotlight on a familiar question in the film industry – Can a compelling story and strong word of mouth still beat star power, massive budgets and aggressive marketing?
Producer Anand Pandit believes they can. Speaking exclusively to News9 Digital about the success of , Pandit said audiences have always had the ability to recognise a good film, even when it arrives without the machinery usually associated with a big theatrical release.
For him, Hanuman Ansh is not an isolated phenomenon. Indian cinema has repeatedly seen films grow because audiences connected with them and spread the word, sometimes overcoming modest beginnings at the box office.
Anand Pandit on Hanuman Ansh success
Drawing parallels with films from different eras, Anand Pandit pointed out that word-of-mouth successes existed long before social media became capable of turning a film into an overnight talking point.
“Box-office hits powered by word-of-mouth appreciation are not new in cinema. We have had hits like Shyam Benegal’s Manthan, Govind Nihalani’s Aakrosh, and Basu Chatterjee’s Chitchor, among others, in the seventies and eighties. In the end, a good story always travels a long way. Audiences, as I keep saying, can smell a good film and will go out of their way to watch it. 12th Fail in 2023 and, more recently, Hanuman Ansh exemplify exactly that.”
“Sure, star power and marketing strategies have their place in the scheme of things, but if the film that follows cannot live up to the hype, it won’t work. Even before the age of social media recommendations and trending memes, good films gained momentum eventually because the audience warmed up to them. ‘Sholay’ was written off initially despite its star cast but eventually became a cult hit because of multiple reasons, including its memorable dialogues,” he added.
Should the industry rethink how it treats small films?
Asked whether the success of Hanuman Ansh could change how producers evaluate modestly budgeted films, Anand Pandit said the industry needs to create better conditions for independent cinema rather than waiting for occasional breakout successes.
“As I said, there have always been unexpected hits, and there will be many in the future too. But what we need to do as an industry is to make space for such films in theatres and create an ecosystem where more independent films can be crafted with a lot more ease. We must acknowledge that good cinema can be made within a modest budget. The Gujarati films I make, for instance, are quite cost-effective and have done very well. When capital allocation and distribution, as well as exhibition networks, become easier to access, then independent makers will make more such films. And finally, high-concept, low-budget scripts must be given the respect they deserve,” he told us.
‘A smaller film needs time in theatres’
Anand Pandit believes the industry needs to examine how such films can be given enough breathing room to find their audience, while acknowledging that there may not be a single formula that works for every release.
“A smaller film that may not have a flashy star cast but great content needs time in the theatres to gain momentum, and yes, we need to figure out how to ensure that. But a one-size-fits-all solution may not be the answer,” he said.