The Pharmoola, the Box Office
Romance ruled the roost in 1990s
Yes, with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak the concept of puppy love, college romances and star-crossed lovers came into fashion. Immediately, we saw the filmmakers everywhere speeding towards the finish line of this rat race. But hey, what can we say?!
The plots were so romantic they made you want to rip your heart out and wear it on your sleeve! The formula was set again. A poor boy meets a rich girl. They fall in love and the girl's family protests. They also try to get the young man intimidated by hiring a set of goons. When that doesn't work they finally try to get him murdered. Somehow the young girl too gets drawn into this evil plot, getting her life in danger and we see the young man saving her, finally winning her parents' trust. And they live happily ever after...
Of course that was just the skeleton which directors used with variations. But it worked... until suddenly, directors were given sky-high budgets to work with. Filmmakers started churning out something a little 'different'. Something more extravagant!
And the Drama begins...
The second half of the 90s saw a sea change in terms of content as films like Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and DDLJ heralded the era of family drama. Stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Salman Khan suddenly stood out as favourites with the audience. Maa, Pitaji, Bhaiya and Bhabhi gave a lot of lower grade actors the opportunity to share the limelight with the big stars. There were roles for character artistes as well.
It worked as audiences were enthralled by multi-star cast films. But alas, after films like Hum Saath Saath Hain and Baabul directors finally realised that the saas-bahu sagas were better off on television. Thus, they let go of the concept. It was a new age and a new millennium and the audience was changing, asking for more...
Next Page: And then as they say is history...
