Anubhav Sinha’s latest social drama, Bheed released in theatres on Friday. The black and white film stars Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar in the lead and retraces the plight of migrant workers who moved from cities to back to their hometowns during the first coronavirus lockdown. The film, however, is not doing too well at the ticket windows. Hollywood release John Wick, on comparison, is doing much better.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared partial first day figures that give some idea about its status at the box office. “#Bheed at national chains… Week 1 – Friday… #PVR: 15 lacs #INOX: 8 lacs #Cinepolis: 6 lacs Total: ₹ 29 lacs #JohnWick4 at national chains… Week 1 – Friday… #PVR: 1.93 cr #INOX: 1.05 cr #Cinepolis: 67 lacs Total: ₹ 3.65 cr,” he wrote.
Even Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway and Tu Jhooti Main Makkaar, which last week and last to last week, respectively are doing better than Bheed. Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway earned ₹60 lakh in theatre chains and Tu Jhooti Main Makkaar minted another ₹1.1 lakh on Friday.
Bheed was labelled “anti-India” by a section of social media users ahead of release. Director Anubhav Sinha said “… there are enough people thumping their chest and celebrating it, which is great” but someone has to speak up about the issues too. Those people who thought my film is anti-India, I love them for being Indians and I try to be better as an Indian myself… Don’t you criticise your mother? You criticise your mother, father, sister, but you love them dearly. Why do you criticise them? Because you want them to be better, you think they can be better.”
He added, “I love my country and society so dearly, I think we should rise higher, we should do better…”
John Wick franchise started with 2014’s John Wick, about a retired assassin who returns to the world he had left behind to avenge the murder of a pup, a gift from his late wife. It was followed by two sequels – John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019). The films are known for their intense combat sequences and violence.
