Why Bollywood movies seem to go overboard with larger than life portrayals when it comes to dealing with sensitive subjects like social injustice, disability or women’s issues? Why can’t such topics be handled more realistically? Is the Indian audience not ready to accept realistic movies or movies about ‘serious’ issues? When a couple of realistic movies like ‘Taare Zameen Par’ and ‘Chak De India’ hit the blockbuster, many such questions arose inevitably in the minds of both audience and filmmakers.

A typical Bollywood film has always been having the same formula – drama, emotions, fights, songs, and dances – to be a box-office hit. Filmmakers want returns on the money they have invested, and never thought for making films that arouse the appetite of the audience. And yet, some like Aamir Khan are successfully making thought-provoking films that reflect social reality, and possibly refining the tastes of the audience in the bargain.

Criminals, bandits and underworld dons somehow seem to attract Bollywood directors, producers and of course the audience. Movies drawing inspiration from Haji Mastan, Veerappan, and Phoolan Devi have all done well. However, making movies about them is not wrong, but showing them as larger than life characters ill-treated by society creates a wave of sympathy among the viewers, making these wolves in sheep’s clothing heroes in real life.

Is the audience ready?

With producers willing to risk their money and actors ready to experiment with different roles, some offbeat movies are being made by creative directors these days. However, viewers expect entertainment worth their money, but when social issues are woven in with an interesting plot, the film manages to retain the audience’s interest and gain acceptance.

It’s not easy to predict the pulse of the Indian moviegoers, but the success of movies like ‘Lagaan’, ‘Black’, ‘Rang De Basanti’, ‘Chak De India’ , and ‘Taare Zameen Par’ prove that the audience does welcome clean, entertaining movies without scantily attired heroines, fight sequences and item numbers.

Do filmmakers underrate the intelligence and taste of the audience by churning out mindless formula films like ‘Aag’ (Sholay’s remake) and ‘Bombay to Bangkok’? Or, are they shrewd businessmen who assume that the big bucks don’t come from multiplex audiences but from the hinterland where hero-versus-villain still sells?

Future of Unconventional Movies

Inspired by the movies like ‘Taare Zameen Par’and ‘Chak De India’, not only directors and producers have made up their mind to make unconventional movies, but even many Bollywood actors have decided to work in such films. Recently, the dashing John Abraham has leant towards unconventional roles rather than playing routine romantic and action hero characters. “I know I have an audience and if I have faith in what I'm doing, so will they,” John was quoted as saying in the media.

Often referred to as India's sexiest movie star, John has tempted to feel himself the most comfortable with unconventional roles. Recently, he won praise for ‘Water’ that has been nominated in the foreign film category for the Oscars. In the film about the harsh treatment of Indian widows, he plays a law student who falls in love with a widow (Lisa Ray) living in a home where others like her are sent by their families to live in social exile.

As offbeat and unconventional movies are going well with the viewers at present, it’s sure that very soon the filmmakers will shift their attention towards such movies.