Mohalla Assi box office collection Day 1: Sunny Deol starrer earned only Rs 25 lakh.
The much-awaited film Mohalla Assi was finally released on November 16, after many controversies over the years. The film, starring Sunny Deol, Sakshi Tanwar, and Ravi Kishan in lead roles, is getting mixed responses from both the critics and audience. As per Bollywood Hungama, the film only managed to earn Rs 25 lakh.
This satirical comedy drama is based on Dr Kashi Nath Singh’s Hindi novel Kashi Ka Assi. Set in the post-independence period, the film takes a dig at the commercialisation of the pilgrimage city and also the satire is on the fake religious gurus who try to lure the foreign tourists.
Interestingly, the film also touches upon the Ram Janbhoomi movement that started in 80s and 90s. But unfortunately, it couldn’t keep up with the audience expectation.
In the year 2015, Delhi court stayed the release of the film alleging that it hurt religious sentiments. However, after much controversy, the film released this Friday.
Indian Express movie critic Shubra Gupta feels that the film is a missed opportunity. In her review, she wrote, “Sadly, Mohalla Assi is not much of a film. It’s just a collection of choppy scenes, making it seem that it was censored heavily. It’s been in the making for five or six years, and you can see later add-ons: Deol is earnest, but not really convincing as an Assi dweller. The other actors are underutilised (Shukla), or made to declaim loudly, not speak to each other. So sad, because Mohalla Assi had such potential. It could have been a cautionary film of its time, and for its time.”