25 years ago, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha and Lagaan hit theatres and went on to become two of Indian cinema’s biggest success stories. We speak to members of the film fraternity as they look back on the excitement surrounding this box-office clash and reflect on what makes both films enduring classics even today.
Filmmaker and trade expert, Girish Johar recalls that Gadar was already carrying tremendous buzz before its release. Its music had become popular and audience anticipation was high. In comparison, Lagaan appeared to be lagging initially.
Nitin Datar, former president of the Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India, recalls that many single-screen theatres preferred allocating more shows to Gadar during its initial run.
Lagaan became the first Hindi film to be shot using sync sound which means that dialogues and sounds were recorded live during the shoot itself.
To mark its 25th anniversary, Lagaan returned to theatres for a limited three-day re-release on June 12, 13 and 14.
Gadar enjoyed a successful re-release in 2023, becoming one of the highest-grossing Bollywood re-releases in India.
According to trade estimates: Gadar: Ek Prem Katha grossed approximately ₹135 crore worldwide, while Lagaan grossed approximately ₹75 crore worldwide.
