Filmmaker AR Murugadoss has attributed the box office disappointment of Salman Khan’s “Sikandar” to his own struggle with the Hindi language, despite his past successes in Bollywood.
Sikandar’s Unexpected Underperformance
When “Sikandar,” starring Salman Khan and directed by AR Murugadoss, was announced, it carried high expectations, especially after the success of films like “Jawan.” However, the movie significantly underperformed at the box office.
It managed to collect only Rs 184.6 crore globally, a stark contrast to “Jawan’s” Rs 1,160 crore. This outcome was particularly surprising given Murugadoss’s track record, which includes the blockbuster Aamir Khan-starrer “Ghajini” (2008).
A Language Barrier Confession
Speaking about the film’s failure nearly four months after its release, AR Murugadoss pointed to his “inability to understand Hindi” as a core issue. He explained that directing in one’s mother tongue provides a deeper understanding of cultural nuances and audience trends.
Murugadoss described the process of making Hindi films as challenging. Scripts are often translated from English to Hindi, making it difficult for him to grasp the exact meaning or impact of dialogues. He admitted feeling “handicapped” when working in an unfamiliar language and cultural setting.
He believes a director’s strength is deeply tied to their cultural roots and language fluency. This candid admission shed light on the unseen complexities directors face when crossing linguistic boundaries in cinema.
Previous Bollywood Successes
Murugadoss’s statement came as a surprise to many, considering his history of successful Hindi films. Besides “Ghajini,” which was a massive hit, he also directed Akshay Kumar’s “Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty” in 2014.
“Holiday” earned a respectable Rs 180 crore against a budget of Rs 50 crore, receiving positive reviews much like “Ghajini.” These past successes raised questions about why the language barrier would be a factor now.
Public Reaction and Criticism
The director’s explanation prompted a wave of reactions from the public and film enthusiasts. Many questioned why he would take on Hindi projects if language was such a significant hurdle.
Social media users, for instance, asked why he accepted the project if he felt “handicapped.” Others pointed out his past blockbusters, implying that a strong story and execution should transcend language barriers. The comments highlighted a debate on accountability versus external factors in film production.
- AR Murugadoss blamed his limited Hindi understanding for “Sikandar’s” poor box office performance.
- He described feeling “handicapped” when directing in an unfamiliar language due to translation challenges.
- His past Hindi hits like “Ghajini” and “Holiday” contradict this recent explanation, sparking public debate.
The discussion around “Sikandar’s” outcome underscores the intricate challenges of filmmaking across diverse linguistic and cultural landscapes in Indian cinema.
