Hum Saath - Saath Hain is a blockbuster while Hum Aapke Hain Koun is an all time blockbuster. The question arises the moment we start comparing the two films.
Every film cannot match the success of Hum Aapke Hain Koun . It was just like, “capturing lightning in a bottle.” If you consider Taal and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam as big hits then Hum Saath Saath Hain was much bigger. It was the biggest hit of 1999.
Some people term it as a flop as it did not had a long run like HAHK but there is a reason behind it and that is the distribution criteria of the two films.
HAHK was released initially with just 35 prints and later the prints were increased. The main motive was to get audience back to theatres as films used to be released on video cassettes and people had the option to see it after 21 days.
When Hum Saath - Saath Hain released in 1999, cable piracy was at its peak. It was an easy option to watch the film the next day itself on pirated CD. Therefore the film was released with some 400 odd prints (when films used to release with avg 250 prints). There were many theatres screening Hum Saath Saath Hain. The idea was clear. It was to make easy availability of tickets for the viewers and wind up in a short span of time.
Releasing it with higher number of prints and cashing in a short span of time was the motive. The film released on 5th November 1999 and after having a constant successful run for nearly two months, it was aired on satellite channel on 1st Jan 2000. This was a deliberate move to tackle piracy. The film was a big hit but every film cannot be Hum Aapke Hain Koun. Sholay and Hum Aapke Hain Koun had a gap of 19 years.
Today films are released worldwide with record breaking number of screens and therefore churning crores of rupees. Few exceptions to the above statement.
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