5 Less Than Impressive Bollywood Films That Got International Recognition

There is a simple calculation when it comes to Bollywood films. Even though the ideal case scenario for a film would be to receive both critical acclaim and earn money at the box-office, rarely things go that way. With exceptions of course, films that do record breaking numbers at the box-office are usually not the ones that receive rave reviews or tour international film festivals. And, no matter how sad it sounds, often films that wow the festival circuits go almost unnoticed at the box-office.

Over the year we have got ourselves accustomed, but things become a little confusing when genuinely less than impressive films which did not even work at the domestic box-office, somehow manages to show up on the international circuits. Here are a few less than impressive Bollywood films that got international recognition.

Zero

There is little doubt about the fact that Zero is one of the biggest debacles of Shah Rukh’s career. Most critics panned the film and it even failed to do well at the box-office. However, somehow the film is all set to be screened at the closing ceremony of Beijing International Film Festival with Shah Rukh in attendance. Say what now!

Thugs of Hindostan

One of the most colossal debacles of Bollywood, it is hard to find even the biggest of Aamir Khan fans who liked this absolute shipwreck of a film. However, given a major part of the film was shot in Malta, the government there decided to screen the film at the Malta Film Festival, probably to increase tourism.

Bombay Velvet

Box-office has not been Anurag Kashyap’s best friend, but for the critics and cerebral cinema lovers of the country, he is the blue-eyed boy of Bollywood. Thus, it was heartbreaking when he delivered a misfire like Bombay Velvet. But guess what? It was screened at the Locarno Film Festival despite all the negative reviews.

Joker

One who has sat through this brainless joke of a movie can attest how terrible an experience it was. While most of us would rather not watch this movie or have anyone we know watch it, the film was actually screened at Indian International Film Festival of Queensland in 2016. Yes, that really happened.

Fugly

Remember Kiara Advani’s Bollywood debut? We don’t blame you if you don’t. Fugly was not a film that anyone would have liked to remember, but somehow the Indian International Film Festival of Queensland thought it would be a good idea to have this movie at their festival. Confused? So are we!