In a surprising turn of events, the 1971 Indian film Caravan, starring Jeetendra and Asha Parekh, has emerged as a dark horse in the annals of international cinema, surpassing the box office achievements of the iconic Bollywood blockbuster Sholay. While Sholay remains a cultural touchstone in India, Caravan quietly amassed a staggering 30 crore ticket sales in China, dwarfing Sholay's domestic record and solidifying its place as a cinematic phenomenon in the East.
Caravan, directed by Nasir Hussain, was a commercial success in India, grossing ₹3.6 crore and becoming the sixth highest-grossing film of 1971. However, its journey to legendary status began eight years later when it was released in China. The film struck a chord with Chinese audiences, selling an initial 8.8 crore tickets and becoming the highest-grossing foreign film in the country at the time. The film's popularity led to multiple re-releases, eventually reaching a total of 30 crore tickets sold, a record for any Indian film in a single country.
This feat surpasses not only Sholay's Indian box office numbers but also the overseas success of more recent blockbusters such as Dangal and RRR. Dangal, which is considered one of the biggest Indian hits overseas, sold 4.31 crore tickets in China, a fraction of Caravan's sales. Similarly, while RRR garnered significant attention in the United States and Japan, its combined footfalls in those territories amounted to only 30 lakh. Even Pushpa 2: The Rule, a recent box office sensation, pales in comparison to Caravan's China record.
The reasons behind Caravan's extraordinary success in China remain a topic of speculation. Some suggest that the film's themes of love, freedom, and adventure resonated with Chinese audiences, while others point to its catchy musical score and vibrant visuals. It is also worth noting that during the 1970s and 1980s, Indian films like Awara, Noorie, and Disco Dancer gained commercial success in China.
Sholay, directed by Ramesh Sippy and released in 1975, is widely regarded as one of the greatest Indian films of all time. Despite initial lukewarm reviews, it became a massive box office success, breaking records for continuous showings and running for over five years in Mumbai's Minerva theatre. The film's estimated footfalls in India are over 10 crore tickets sold. Sholay was also an overseas success, particularly in the Soviet Union, where it sold approximately 6 crore tickets. Made on a budget of ₹2 crore, Sholay collected around ₹15 crore nett (₹30 crore gross) in its initial run.
While Sholay's impact on Indian cinema is undeniable, Caravan's unexpected triumph in China highlights the unpredictable nature of the film industry and the potential for films to transcend cultural boundaries. Caravan's success serves as a reminder that a film's impact can extend far beyond its domestic market, and that sometimes, the most unassuming stories can resonate with audiences in unexpected ways. Jeetendra, known as 'Jumping Jack', has worked in around 200 films.
