Despite being the No. two market for movies around the world after the US, China was not given much importance when it came to releasing Bollywood movies overseas. All that has changed drastically, after Dangal has grossed over 1,100 crores in China, making it the most important market for Bollywood movies overseas. This edition, we look at the top grossing Bollywood movies in China, and analyse the reason behind this sudden popularity
China Box office collection: Rs. 1,200 Cr
China loves Aamir Khan. Even six months after it’s release, his last movie Dangal is till breaking records. After becoming the highest grossing Bollywood film of all time with a gross of Rs. 384 cr (in January 2017), Dangal released in China a couple of months back, and set the Chinese box office on fire. It has grossed over 1,200 crores (and counting in China) and is inching towards a Rs. 2,000 worldwide collection, which is simply unheard of for a Bollywood film. Thanks to the Chinese box office, it has grossed $300 million dollars, making it only the fifth non- English film to reach that staggering total. The subject of the film, with its filial themes and overcoming bureaucratic corruption, resonated in China where a similar system of patriarchy prevails. In a recent meeting of Chinese President Xi Jinping with Indian PM Narendra Modi, he told PM Modi that he loved Dangal, and would like more such movies to be released in China.
China Box office collection: Rs. 123 cr
Before Dangal shattered box office collections in China, it was another Aamir Khan starrer PK, which set a record at the Chinese box office. The film, directed by Rajkumar Hirani, had become the first movie to cross the Rs. 100-crore mark at the Chinese box office, collecting Rs. 123 crore ($16.68 million) since its release. This is also the first time a Bollywood film has achieved such a feat in an overseas territory. The reason PK was a hit in China was due to the films’ central theme of questioning organised religion, which struck a chord in China’s predominantly atheist society.
China Box office collection: Rs. 25 cr
Dhoom 3 was anticipated in China because it was only recently that Chinese audiences had watched 3 idiots and loved it. It received the widest ever release for its time in China, and went on to gross 25 crores. In retrospect, it is speculated that the movie would have grossed a lot more had it been marketed better. Also, Dhoom is an action thriller, and China has had enough of those from Hollywood. Chinese audiences crave variety, and Dhoom 3 was a bit more of the same old wine. Despite that, it is the 3rd highest grossing Bollywood movie in China, and the credit to that goes to the last movie on our list.
China Box office collection: Rs. 17 Cr
The success of all Bollywood movies in China can be traced down to this single movie. It is based on Chetan Bhagat’s book ‘Five Point Someone’, released in China when there was barely a market for Indian movies there. It ended its theatrical run with only Rs. 17 cr. Since then however, the movie has gone on to be a cult classic in China, achieving near iconic status. China’s educational system mirrors India’s, and the lofty ideas advocated by the movie resonated unanimously in China. So much so, that it is shown in several universities in China as a learning lesson. The movie also kick started the Aamir Khan fan club in china, which is very active, and today Aamir is the most followed Indian celebrity in China on weibo, the county’s twitter. The moive also made Chinese audiences look at Indian movies with respect, and the overwhelming success of Dangal is a direct result of that.
by Neeraj Varty
