What happened on the opening day of Shekhar Kapur's film Masoom?

On the opening day of Masoom, the film played to an almost empty theatre, with only two people in attendance, one of whom was the filmmaker himself.

Why was Shekhar Kapur's debut film Masoom initially dismissed?

Masoom was initially dismissed by some as an 'article film,' a label for artistic movies that was considered box-office poison in those days.

What is Masoom: The Next Generation?

Masoom: The Next Generation is a spiritual sequel to the 1983 film Masoom, reuniting original cast members Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah.

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.

From empty theaters to cult classic: Masoom's journey

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.