In Bollywood, success is often measured by box office collections. How many crores did the opening amount to, which records were broken, who entered the “100 crore club” – it seems as if the entire value of cinema is limited to these questions.
But there are some films that do not earn money, but do wonders. These films do not draw crowds to the theatre, but with time they make a place in the hearts.
Whatever be their fate at the ticket window, their soul is immortal. Is being a flop bad?
Many times, people reject a film as soon as it flops. But can only the number of tickets sold be a proof of a film being great or bad?
“Swades”, “Tamasha”, “October”, “Rocket Singh”, “Udaan”, “Ship of Theseus” — these are some examples that were ignored by the audience earlier, but time has made them cinematic heritage.
These films were not just entertainment; they were journeys that touched every corner of the heart.
Swades (2004): When returning to India was the biggest step
Shahrukh Khan starrer Swades came at a time when NRI fantasy films like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Kal Ho Naa Ho were dominating. And in the meantime, came a film that had neither stylish dialogues nor item songs — but a simple message:
> “Sometimes you have to leave what is easy, so that you can choose what is right.”
Villages, electricity, education and responsibility — Swades was the voice of those who were once connected to the country and then got separated from it.
The film did not get much success at the box office, but today Swades is considered a cult classic and perhaps Shah Rukh’s most mature role. flop
Tamasha (2015): When losing yourself is also necessary
Imtiaz Ali’s Tamasha was also a similarly misunderstood film. Despite the stardom of Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone, the film was declared a flop at that time because people did not catch the story that was speaking within the soul.
The character of Ved – who tells stories since childhood, but life turns him into a ‘corporate robot’ – is a truth that perhaps every third youth feels.
> “Tum wahi ho, jo tum kaam karte ho?”
This question is not asked by the film, but by the society. flop
Today the young generation considers Tamasha as their mirror. Its dialogues are repeated in college fests; its monologues are played on Instagram reels.
The film may have been a flop, but it became a documentation of emotions.
Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year (2009): When honesty doesn’t sell, but wins
Ranbir Kapoor’s another commercially underrated film was Rocket Singh. This film was the story of a salesman who opens an honest shop amidst bribery and lies. flop
The film did not succeed at the box office, perhaps because it did not have any high voltage drama, no collection-pulling romance.
But that film left a question:
“Do the right things seem good only in theory? Or can they last in practice as well?”
People who compromise every day in their office find their silent pain in this film.
✦ October (2018): When love does not need words
Varun Dhawan’s most understated and emotional film till date, October, was perhaps the complete opposite of his star image. No dance, no punchlines — just silence, love, and care.
The film shows that true love is not just about getting it, it is about fulfilling it.
Shoojit Sarkar’s film received rave reviews from critics, but theatres remained empty. Still, the peace and emotion of October resonated in the hearts of those who watched it.
Udaan (2010): When the desire to fly found words
Vikramaditya Motwane’s debut film Udaan did not have any loud publicity, nor did it have any big faces. A simple, straightforward story – a teenage boy who wants to be a writer, but his father is hell-bent on making him an engineer.
The strictness of the father, the silence of the son, and the silent yearning of dreams – this film was the story of every child who suppresses the voice of his heart just to be called ‘obedient’.
This film did not do well at the box office, perhaps because at that time some superhero movie or item number-centric masala was dominating.
But today, when a youth stands up against his dreams, he remembers Udaan.
“When you want to fly, then chains cannot suppress the voice.”
✦ Ship of Theseus (2013): Cinema or philosophy?
If Bollywood ever has to be called the confluence of cinema and philosophy, then Ship of Theseus will be the face of that identity.
This film raised that question —
> “If all the parts of a body are replaced, does that person remain the same?”
This film raises such questions on the body, society, morality and soul — that they become not just a film, but a philosophy. This film of Anand Gandhi could collect almost nothing at the box office, but the cine-lovers who saw it consider it a chapter in the book of life.
✦ Kaamyaab (2020): When the side role actor became the real hero
Kaamyaab was Sanjay Mishra’s film in which for the first time the life of a side actor got full respect.
The people who appear for 5 seconds in every film — “Panditji”, “Nattha”, “Chowkidar” — whose names people do not know, but remember the face — Kaamyaab was their voice.
The film neither serves any romance nor a big set. It just asks a question:
“Can a side role player ever become the lead in life?”
The film did not do well at the box office, but it became a cult — especially for the crowd that is playing small roles in their dreams.
Soni (2018): When women become resistance, not just characters
Soni, which released on Netflix, was the story of a female police officer — but it was not a typical ‘women empowerment’ film.
This film shows how everyday small incidents — a comment, a doubt, a transfer — tire a woman’s soul a little bit every day.
The film did not release in theatres, and even if it had, it probably would not have gathered crowds. But on OTT, it did what many big films cannot do — a silent revolution.
So why do such films flop?
1. Commercial structure: These films do not fit into the “hero-heroine-song” formula.
2. Less publicity: Big films do marketing in crores, whereas these films do not make a sound.
3. Slow pace and depth: In today’s fast-paced world, some viewers find depth ‘slow’
4. Pressure of traditional theatre release: Such films did not get as much freedom as OTT.
But the audience is changing, the world is changing
Now the audience does not want immediate applause, but things that sting slowly.
OTT platforms have fuelled this change.
Today, dialogues from Swades are made into memes, there are video essays on scenes from Tamasha, lines from Udaan are written in youth protests.
These films have passed the test of time, not the box office.
Conclusion: These films are not flops, they are the need of the future
In every era, there are some films which are first ignored, then appreciated, and finally become a model.
When Lagaan was sent to the Oscars, some people said – “It is an art film, it will not work.”
Today it is history.
Similarly, films like October, Udaan, Kaamyaab remind us that cinema is not just a medium to earn money, it is a link to connect society and soul.
If you also feel something after watching these films – then believe me, you are today’s “conscious audience”. And this audience will decide what tomorrow’s cinema will be like.
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