Bollywood’s Wave of History

By Sanskriti Tomar

With the upcoming release of Panipat, by Ashitosh Gowarikar, on 6th December 2019, it is important to see this wave of Period Films that has been going through Bollywood. The world of indian cinema has taken by storm with an obsession of historical films. With Taanaji and Shamshera in the pipeline, to be released in 2020, Filmi Files did it’s own research on this growing trend.

Jodha Akbar

Released in 2008, this Ashutosh Gowarikar classic of our times was a superhit and a rather controversial film. Starring Aishwarya Rai and Hrithik Roshan, the movie was released amidst a whirlpool of drama and controversy. After its release, the movie grossed 40cr and we think it is safe to say that it set a trend.

Veer

This Salman Khan starrer that introduced Zarine Khan to the world was another movie set in the past battles of our history, and began the upward graph of period films. It was released in 2010 and grossed 40cr as well.

From 2010 onwards, started a decade of back to back such films, and has reached 2020.

Bajirao Mastani

Another period film, this Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh starrer was made by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and released in 2015. It hit the box office hard and grossed 356 cr by the end of its time on the big screens.

Mohenjo Daro

This Hrithik Roshan starrer, was released in 2016 and was made by Ashutosh Gowarikar and grossed 108cr in the box office. As the name suggests, the movie was made on the rise and fall of the civilisation of Mohenjo Daro.

Padmaavat

Perhaps the queen of recent cinema controversy, Padmaavat was released in 2018 and the name of the movie had to be changed in order to assuage the offended crowds. Made by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the movie grossed 585Cr in box office. The movie starred Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor.

Manikarnika

Released in 2019, this Kangana Ranaut film was the one made on the woman-hero of our freedom struggle- Rani Laxmi Bai. The movie was produced by Zee studios and directed by Ranaut herself. It grossed 152Cr and became quite a hit.

This is a trend that is not going anytime soon, we think. Bollywood has created a nest in history and cosily rests there. While we appreciate the dose of history we have been getting on big screens, but we feel the scripts have turned repetitive, and the trend has come to a passe.