Mumbai: There used to be a time when Bollywood films would run for 25, 30, even 50 weeks at a stretch in cinema halls.
The advent of multiplexes and, subsequently, OTT platforms, resulted in reduced runs for movies in theatres. Even the biggest box-office hits are screened for 10 or 15 weeks, leave alone 25. Within months of their release in cinema halls, most movies are available for watching in one of the innumerable OTT platforms.
Seen in that context, the success of ‘12th Fail’ is quite remarkable.
The Vikrant Massey starrer, directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, on Friday completed a 25-week run in theatres.
It thus became the first movie in 23 years to earn the tag of ‘silver jubilee hit’. Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel’s ‘Gadar: Ek Prem Katha’, directed by Anil Sharma and released in 2001, was the last Bollywood film to have a 25-week run in theatres.
“First film in 23 years to achieve this milestone. Thank you audiences for making our dream come true. YOU truly are responsible for making this happen,” Massey wrote on Instagram along with a poster.
Vidhu Vinod echoed Massey’s sentiment, calling it “a testament to the impact that a good story can have.”
Massey won the Best Actor Award in the Critics Category at the 69th Filmfare Awards for his performance in ‘12th Fail.’
The film, based on a 2019 book of the same name, depicts the early life and struggles of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma.
