Back in 2014, I went to watch the first-day-first-show for ‘Happy New Year’ at a single-screen movie hall in Kolkata called ‘Menoka’. This particular place is a well-known destination for Shahrukh Khan fans. On every SRK film release, hundreds of fans arrive on trucks with posters and life-size cutouts of the actor. There are flowers, garlands, dhol dhamaka and a celebration. It was no different for ‘Happy New Year’ either. Fans danced to the beats of the dhol, hung huge garlands on the movie poster, and even showered milk on a life-size cut out of the actor!
That day, I came to realise that Shahrukh Khan’s film release is not just any other film release. It’s a country-wide celebration.
Pre-pandemic and post-pandemic movie watching in theatres are two completely different things. Before 2020, going to the movies was a regular affair. From romantic dates to outings with friends, me-time to family time, going to the theatres and watching the latest releases was like a hobby for many people. But things changed drastically after the pandemic. People stopped going to theatres. Everything is available on OTT platforms at much cheaper rates. Big-hero pictures like ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ were becoming box office flops.
Until Shahrukh Khan arrived with ‘Pathaan’.
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All of a sudden, lakhs of people arrived at movie halls and stood in line from early in the morning to watch ‘Pathaan’. It’s like SRK brought back Bollywood from its grave. To see so many people geared up to watch his film, standing in long queues, and dancing inside the movie theatres is unlike anything we have seen in the past couple of years.
Have a look:
LATEST: People are already lining up at @_PVRCinemas for #Pathaan 7 AM show!!! 😍💥
The excitement is through the roof!!! 🔥🔥Book your tickets now: https://t.co/z4YLOG2NRI | https://t.co/lcsLnUSu9Y@iamsrk @yrf#ShahRukhKhan #YRF50 #PathaanReview pic.twitter.com/m9G903JxHw
— Shah Rukh Khan Universe Fan Club (@SRKUniverse) January 25, 2023
#Gaiety is SWAMPED with SRKians this morning for the first ever 9 am special show for #PATHAAN by #SRKUniverse! Don't you wish you were there? 😍😍
PATHAAN RELEASES TODAY
Book your tickets now: https://t.co/z4YLOG2NRI | https://t.co/lcsLnUSu9Y@iamsrk @yrf#ShahRukhKhan #YRF50 pic.twitter.com/0qegScHkY2
— Shah Rukh Khan Universe Fan Club (@SRKUniverse) January 25, 2023
BLOCKBUSTER MAUSAM AT #GAIETY!! 😍
Any @iamsrk release is a festival for SRKians and #Pathaan is no different! Full on celebrations have begun already!! 😍💥Book your tickets now: https://t.co/z4YLOG2NRI | https://t.co/lcsLnUSu9Y@iamsrk @yrf#ShahRukhKhan #YRF50 pic.twitter.com/1ZiZXXIsuQ
— Shah Rukh Khan Universe Fan Club (@SRKUniverse) January 25, 2023
Shah Rukh Khan delivers a career-best performance in the high-octane action film #Pathaan and he deserves this hooting#Pathan #pathanreviews #ShahRukhKhan𓀠 pic.twitter.com/6kutOp7w31
— shanu khan (@shanukhan013) January 25, 2023
#Pathan a Big Hit From @iamsrk#PathaanReview #Pathaan #PathanMoviereview #ShahRukhKhan𓀠 pic.twitter.com/SHWbUMk0q2
— Nazaket Rather (@RatherNazaket) January 25, 2023
Jaipur is going crazy #Pathaan #RajMandir @SRKUniverse @SRKFCJaipur pic.twitter.com/CI3BI2Yjrd
— RAJ BANSAL (@rajbansal9) January 25, 2023
Craze for #ShahRukhKhan is unbelievable.
His Fans celebrating the Movie #Pathan like festival.#PathaanReview #PathaanFirstDayFirstShow #SRK66 #SRKians @SRKUniverse @SRKFC_PUNE pic.twitter.com/40Vlb7EFs1— Himanshu Purohit (@Himansh256370) January 25, 2023
They said Star culture is gone, They didn't know #ShahRukhKhan was yet to come on-screen.@iamsrk savior of Bollywood.#Pathaan #PathaanReview pic.twitter.com/Fg75Aou2Ch
— JUST A FAN. (@iamsrkfan_brk) January 25, 2023
.@TeamSRKWarriors Kolkata enjoying the FDFS of #Pathaan at Menoka Cinema.
Love You Senior @iamsrk!!pic.twitter.com/tlKVeGkd3h
— Arijit (FAN Account) (@SRKsArijit) January 25, 2023
It’s festival-like atmosphere with all smiling faces, euphoria & pure love pouring from all quarters for #Pathaan. @iamsrk is back with a bang! It’s personal & special for me like back from 90’s, love you my inspiration my hero my King,always! #ShahRukhKhan #SRK #ShahRukh #Pathan pic.twitter.com/H0xjVTuPM8
— Vishal Ranjan Mishra (@mishravishal) January 25, 2023
SRK is back, people! 😀