Mughal-e-Azam tops the list of highest-grossing Indian Films, adjusted for inflation
New Delhi: Over six decades after its release, Mughal-e-Azam remains a cinematic giant in Indian cinema. When adjusted for inflation, the 1960 epic directed by K Asif has earned an astounding ₹4000 crore, surpassing modern blockbusters like Dangal, Baahubali, and RRR.
The film sold over 15 crore tickets worldwide, which is three times the number of tickets sold by recent hits like RRR or Jawan. With an average cinema ticket price in 2023 at ₹130, and double that amount in big chains like PVR INOX, films today earn exponentially more, despite lower ticket sales compared to earlier decades.
By comparison, Sholay, which has earned ₹30 crore since its release in 1975, would gross ₹3090 crore today, making it the second highest-grossing film on the list. Other notable films that earned over ₹2000 crore when adjusted for inflation include Mother India, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, and Awara.
Sources for this calculation include Box Office India, old news archives, and financial publications like Forbes, The Hindu, Mint, and Business Standard. The inflation rates and historical exchange rate changes of currencies like the dollar, pound, and rouble were also considered to provide an accurate estimation of these films' adjusted earnings.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
