Hindi Cinema in 2024: The State of Bollywood

by YOUxTalks | Dec 28, 2024 | Entertainment

2024 has proven to be a mixed year for Hindi cinema, marked by a variety of ups and downs. While the year witnessed both commercial trends and artistic risks, there was also a sense of stagnation in creativity, and the once-vibrant Bollywood ecosystem seems to be struggling with issues that have been left unaddressed for too long.

The Decline and Struggles of Major Stars

2024 felt like a transitional year for Bollywood. Despite the strong box office numbers from 2023, this year saw several big stars, including Hrithik Roshan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, and Kartik Aaryan, failing to generate the same level of success. Films like Bade Miyan Chotte Miyan and Singham Again did not meet expectations, leaving audiences disillusioned. The once-dominant stars seemed to have lost their magic, with many films floundering in the box office.

The Rising Stars: Rajkummar Rao and Others

While the major stars struggled, a new wave of performers gained attention in 2024. Actors like Rajkummar Rao, Kriti Sanon, and Shahid Kapoor brought fresh energy to the screen. However, despite these successes, films like Munjya, Crew, and Srikanth were far from critical successes, indicating that the industry’s struggle with innovation continues.

Maddock Films and Horror Comedy

One of the standout trends in Bollywood this year was the persistent success of horror comedies, especially those produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films. The Stree franchise continued to thrive, though films like Bhediya didn’t have the same impact. Still, Maddock Films’ Sector 36, a dark Netflix title, proved to be their strongest offering, but it went largely unnoticed by mainstream audiences. The growth of horror-comedy as a genre highlights the lack of significant breakthroughs this year.

Independent Films: A Glimmer of Hope

While Bollywood faced challenges in the mainstream, a small but significant group of independent films shone through. Films like Laapataa Ladies, Madgaon Express, and Raat Jawaan Hai offered fresh perspectives, dealing with issues like relationships, societal norms, and personal dilemmas in nuanced ways. These films didn’t make the same impact at the box office, but they earned critical acclaim and brought much-needed innovation to the landscape.

The Feminist Struggle

Women-centric films continued to make waves in 2024, though many struggled with the conventional trope of “feminism” as a sales tool. Films like Crew, Mr. & Mrs. Mahi, and Bad Newz attempted to project empowerment but often did so through formulas that didn’t feel truly radical. Meanwhile, movies like Girls Will Be Girls, Poacher, and Laapataa Ladies offered more nuanced portrayals of women, showcasing them as flawed but strong individuals.

The Action Genre and Failed Expectations

Action films, which had dominated the landscape in previous years, faced a hard reckoning in 2024. High-profile films like Fighter, Bade Miyan Chotte Miyan, and Singham Again failed to live up to expectations. However, smaller films like Kill and Despatch managed to provide moments of brilliance, where action was used to explore deeper social issues.

Franchises and Sequels: A Sign of Creativity’s Decline?

One of the most prominent trends in 2024 was the sheer number of franchises, sequels, and remakes dominating the Bollywood landscape. From Singham 3 to Mirzapur 3, Yeh Meri Family 3, and more, the emphasis on nostalgia and familiar stories raised questions about Bollywood’s originality. Although some of these sequels, such as Stree 2 and Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein 2, found success, they were the exceptions in an otherwise uninspired environment.

The OTT Space: Declining Standards

Streaming platforms, which had seen a golden age of content just a few years ago, struggled to maintain the same level of innovation in 2024. While series like Poacher, Raat Jawaan Hai, and Lootere held promise, most popular shows, such as Mirzapur 3 and Maamla Legal Hai, coasted along on existing fanbases and legacy rather than offering fresh, groundbreaking content.

Heartbreak at the Box Office

The year also saw the release of films with significant potential that unfortunately failed to find their audience. Amar Singh Chamkila, CTRL, and Jigra are examples of films that, despite strong direction and storytelling, were overshadowed by commercial expectations. These films’ struggles may have been exacerbated by the reluctance to embrace direct-to-digital releases, a route that might have allowed for greater artistic freedom.

The Evolving Cityscape of Bollywood

Mumbai, often portrayed as the heart of Bollywood, continued to evolve in 2024. Films like CTRL, Do Aur Do Pyaar, and Raat Jawaan Hai subtly depicted the city’s spaces without romanticizing them, making Mumbai a backdrop to personal stories rather than a character in itself. This shift in focus reflects a broader change in how films are approaching their settings—less about aspiration, more about real-world, lived-in experiences.

A Year of Reflection

2024 was a year of reflection and re-evaluation for Hindi cinema. While there were a few gems, the general lack of fresh ideas, reliance on formulas, and failure to capture the public’s imagination suggest that Bollywood is at a crossroads. With the commercial and creative divide widening, it remains to be seen if the industry can adapt and find its way back to the heights it once enjoyed.