Shekhar Kapur's 'Masoom': From Box Office Disaster to Cult Classic
Renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, celebrated for cinematic masterpieces like 'Mr India' and 'Bandit Queen', recently revisited one of the most turbulent chapters of his illustrious career. In a candid revelation, Kapur disclosed how his directorial debut 'Masoom', featuring powerhouse performers Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi, initially bombed at the box office before undergoing a miraculous transformation into a beloved hit.
The Devastating Opening Day
Accompanied by a nostalgic throwback photograph showcasing the film's ensemble cast including Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Urmila Matondkar, and Jugal Hansraj, Kapur painted a vivid picture of the movie's disastrous premiere. He recounted visiting a major cinema hall on the release day only to find the auditorium virtually deserted.
"On the first day of release, I went to the main theatre... and there were only two people in the whole cinema hall... and one of them was me!" Kapur wrote, capturing the profound disappointment of that moment.
Confrontation With Angry Ticket Black-Marketers
The director further elaborated on the rampant ticket black-marketing practices prevalent during that era, where organized groups would purchase seats in bulk for later resale. However, on that fateful day, the scheme spectacularly backfired.
Kapur described being surrounded by visibly furious young men outside the theatre once they identified him as the film's director. "Outside I got surrounded by some pretty angry looking young boys when they discovered I was the director... they had lost their money that day," he recalled.
The Puzzling 'Article Film' Advice
Noticing Kapur's crestfallen demeanor, one of the black-marketers surprisingly offered him career advice. "I must have looked pretty crestfallen. So one of them actually took pity on me, and said... 'Sir... the problem is you've made an 'article' film'... if you want a career, don't do that," Kapur shared.
The filmmaker admitted being initially baffled by the term "article film" before realizing the young man meant "artistic film." "Don't ever make an artistic film this young black marketeer was trying to warn me," Kapur reflected on the ironic warning.
Distributors Pull the Film From Theatres
From Friday through Tuesday, cinema halls remained predominantly empty, prompting distributors to initiate the withdrawal of 'Masoom' from theatres. This decision devastated the young director.
"I remember the feeling that day... when they told me they had decided to give up trying to hold the theatres... I walked the streets of Mumbai and thought about what I was going to do next in my life, for making films was certainly no longer an option," Kapur wrote, describing his profound despair.
The Miraculous Thursday Turnaround
Just as hope seemed lost, an unexpected reversal occurred. "Something strange happened on Thursday. A friend called me and asked if I could help him get tickets to Masoom. I told him that was a bad joke," Kapur recounted.
Miraculously, one cinema hall filled up that Thursday. By Friday, queues formed outside ticket counters, and over the weekend, distributors scrambled to reclaim the theatres they had abandoned. Kapur's so-called "article film" was officially declared a box office hit.
The Enduring Mystery of 'Masoom's' Success
Even decades later, Kapur remains puzzled by the sudden turnaround. While many attribute the film's success to word-of-mouth promotion, he points out that barely anyone had seen the movie initially to spread such recommendations.
"What happened that Thursday?.. I still wonder as I am about to go into making 'Masoom, the next generation'... years after Masoom the original became a cult film," he concluded, highlighting the enduring mystery.
'Masoom's' Lasting Legacy
'Masoom' continues to be cherished by audiences years after its release, celebrated for its poignant narrative and soulful musical compositions, particularly the iconic song 'Tujhse Naaraaz Nahi Zindagi'. The film's journey from commercial failure to cult classic remains one of Bollywood's most fascinating success stories.
