Home / Arts and Entertainment / From empty theaters to cult classic: Masoom's journey
From empty theaters to cult classic: Masoom's journey
9 Feb
Summary
- Debut film played to an almost empty theatre on opening day.
- Critics labeled the film an 'article film,' predicting career failure.
- A surprising midweek turnaround led to unexpected box office success.
Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur recently recounted the astonishing journey of his 1983 directorial debut, Masoom. On its opening day, the film screened to a remarkably sparse audience, a disheartening start for Kapur.
Industry insiders and audience members alike initially dismissed Masoom as an "article film," a term used for artistic movies perceived as box-office poison. This perception nearly ended Kapur's nascent filmmaking career as the film struggled for nearly a week, with distributors preparing to withdraw it from theaters.
However, an unexpected shift occurred mid-week. By Thursday, audiences began filling the cinema halls, and by Friday, queues had formed. Distributors who had planned to abandon the film rapidly sought to reclaim screens. Masoom then achieved significant box office success and eventually attained cult classic status.
Kapur admitted he remains mystified by the film's dramatic turnaround, questioning how word-of-mouth could have fueled its success with such a limited initial viewership. He is now preparing to release "Masoom: The Next Generation," a spiritual sequel featuring original cast members Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah.
