Is 'Race 3' or 'Thugs of Hindostan' the Worst Bollywood Film?

There is a persistent debate among Bollywood fans and critics about which of the two films, 'Race 3' or 'Thugs of Hindostan', deserves the title of the 'worst' movie. It's a discussion that rarely fails to spark a heated conversation. Let's delve deeper into the reasoning behind these opinions and analyze both films for ourselves.

Introduction to 'Race 3'

The film 'Race 3', starring the charismatic actor Salman Khan, aimed to continue the legacy of action and romance that propelled 'Race 1' into the stratosphere of box office success. Nonetheless, it failed to live up to the audience's expectations. Despite not being outright terrible, 'Race 3' left many viewers baffled and frustrated.

Among the factors contributing to its poor reception were:

Overly predictable plot and clichéd actions. A weak and shallow script that failed to offer depth to its characters. Numerous plot holes and inconsistencies.

However, it's worth noting that 'Race 3' wasn't entirely ignored by the audience. While it was a box office failure, it managed to carve out a small niche for itself, and its performance is better than many other films in similar categories.

Analysis of 'Thugs of Hindostan'

'Thugs of Hindostan', a big-budget film with stars including Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan, seemed to hold more promise. Unfortunately, it suffered from the same fate as 'Race 3'. The film was ambitious in its story and cast, yet it ultimately failed to meet the high expectations set by its industry.

The reasons for its failure were:

Outdated and over-the-top actions scenes that could have been delivered with a modern sensibility. A weak screenplay that possibly couldn't live up to the dynamic duo of Aamir and Bachchan. A fractured narrative that left viewers lost and disinterested.

Despite these issues, 'Thugs of Hindostan' was the first Bollywood film to attempt a proper action-adventure set in India. It's a commendable effort that aims to bring a new wave of storytelling back to the industry.

The Question of Comparison

When comparing these two films, it's essential to recognize that they serve different purposes. While 'Race 3' may have been overhyped and failed to deliver, 'Thugs of Hindostan' was a fresh attempt with an untapped genre. Both films, however, fell flat in their execution.

It's a mistake to directly compare the success of '2.0', which has been a massive hit, with these two. The box office performance of '2.0' is not subsets of these films, but its own entity. Comparing it to 'Thugs of Hindostan' is like comparing apples to oranges.

Therefore, while both 'Race 3' and 'Thugs of Hindostan' were considered disappointments, they differ in their approach and execution. 'Race 3' was perhaps more predictable and soulless, while 'Thugs of Hindostan' was an ambitious but ultimately flawed effort. Neither should be entirely dismissed, as they both offer insights into the current state of the Bollywood industry.

Conclusion

While both films have their critics, it's hard to argue that either 'Race 3' or 'Thugs of Hindostan' is the worst Bollywood film ever made. However, they do represent the polar ends of the spectrum of ambition and execution in contemporary Indian cinema. It is crucial to understand the context and expectations of each film to form a proper judgment.

Bollywood, like any other film industry, is constantly evolving, and every film has its place in the timeline of its industry's history. Let's hope for a future where both the ambitions and the execution meet more frequently, leading to more satisfying cinematic experiences.