Abhishek Kapoor’s Azaad, starring debutants Aaman Devgn and Rasha Thadani, opened to much fanfare today. Nevertheless, the action-adventure drama opened at Indian box office very modestly fetching only Rs 1.50 crore net on the first day. The opening day numbers are still underwhelming even though prices of all tickets were slashed to Rs 99 across the country for Cinema Lovers Day.
Set in the 1920s, Azaad is a gripping tale of Govind (Aaman Devgn), a poor horse stable cleaner whose life undergoes a complete transformation due to a series of confrontations with Jaanki Devi (Rasha Thadani), daughter of a local zamindar. With clear themes of rebellion, justice, and personal redemption, the film unravels its plot against the canvas of British India.
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While Azaad has been praised for its period setting and Ajay Devgn’s extended cameo as the rebel leader Vikram Thakur, the debuts of the cast and the screenplay of the film have elicited mixed reviews. The word-of-mouth among viewers seems to be divided, leaving the box office prospects of the movie uncertain.
The story of the film centers on Govind, who undergoes a journey from revenge to enlightenment about the true definition of rebellion. His romance with Jaanki Devi leads him into questioning issues of revenge and reconciliation, while Vikram Thakur (Ajay Devgn) and Kesar (Diana Penty) add the richness to the movie. In my opinion, this movie lacks an impact which will make viewers drench into it.
Box Office Performance
Day Net Collections
1 Rs 1.50 crore
Total Rs 1.50 crore
The opening day numbers are good enough for a film from a new lead, but they do not really stand up to the heavily subsidized ticket prices. Azaad will require rapid growth over the weekend and must sustain well over the coming weeks to reach a decent box office total.
With star power from Ajay Devgn and a patriotic narrative that will surely appeal to a certain section of the audience, Azaad stands a chance to bounce back in the right direction with positive audience engagement. Competition from the release of Sky Force and Deva later this month might prove challenging. Will Govind’s rebellion against British oppression and local tyranny win the hearts of the audience in the long run? Only time will tell.
