Director and writer Abu Aleeha believes that the success of a film lies in picking the right genre. He points out that horror comedy, which is gaining huge popularity worldwide, especially in Bollywood, is a winning choice for capturing audiences and hitting box office targets. Abu Aleeha also made a horror comedy film ‘Kataksha’, earning 19.3 million rupees at the box office.
The conversation started when the CEO of 422 Murad Kazmi asked him for advice in choosing a film genre.
The Taxali Gate writer said, “I suggested horror comedy, which made him laugh. He teased me, saying I was one of the few who had attempted it, and asked about the outcome. I admitted that either we didn’t execute it well or audiences weren’t ready for cinema post-Covid. However, I emphasized that horror comedy is a globally popular genre that doesn’t require a large cast or elaborate production design.”
Abu Aleeha continued, saying “With compelling characters, you can captivate audiences for two hours in a single location. The success of Stree 2, which will soon cross 300 crores, and Munjya, which earned over 100 crores two months ago, proves this point.”
He concluded, “My advice is to create a film that audiences want to see, rather than what’s easily producible.”
Here is a look at the box office results of some well-known horror-comedies:
Indian Movies
Stree – INR 180 crores
Bhool Bhulaiya- INR 266.88 crore.
Munjya – 132 crore at the box office.
Pakistani Films
Rangreza (2017) – PKR 2 crores.
Koi Tujh Sa Kahan (2014) – PKR 1 crore.