A ₹30 Lakh Film That Made Only ₹56 in Its First Show, Then Rivaled ‘Sholay’ While Makers Went Bankrupt

Over five decades ago, a low-budget film made for just ₹30 lakh created waves at the box office, famously giving Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘Sholay’ a run for its money. Despite its phenomenal success, the makers reportedly went bankrupt.

From a Humble Start to a Blockbuster

Released in 1975, this film was produced under extreme financial constraints. The producers had staked everything they owned, including personal assets, to bring the project to life. Initially, the film seemed destined to fail. In Mumbai theaters, it reportedly earned only ₹56 in the first show, ₹64 in the second, and ₹100 in the third. Film experts quickly labeled it a flop.

Audiences Flock to Cinemas

Suddenly, word of mouth worked wonders. Audiences began flocking to theaters, and the crowds grew day by day. Directed by Vijay Sharma, the film ‘Jai Santoshi Maa’ featured Anita Guha as the titular deity. It ran in cinemas for an astonishing 50 weeks. Fans’ devotion was evident, as every Friday, theaters distributed sweets and chickpeas as offerings in honor of the goddess.

Record-Breaking Box Office Run

An interview with the team revealed that demand for such films in Bandra, Mumbai, was low at the time, and filmmakers often struggled to earn profits. Yet, ‘Jai Santoshi Maa’ performed spectacularly for 50 weeks, drawing an estimated 45 million viewers—making it one of the most-watched films in Indian cinema history.

Made for just ₹30 lakh, the film reportedly earned around ₹5 crore. Despite this massive success, the producers initially saw no profit because distributors were hesitant to release it. Eventually, Kedarnath Agarwal and Sandeep Sethi handled its distribution.

Producers Left Bankrupt

The film’s producer, Satram Rohra, reportedly did not receive a single rupee from its success. Allegedly, Kedarnath’s associates committed fraud, claiming all the revenue, leaving both Satram and Kedarnath without any earnings.

Women Played a Key Role in Its Success

The film’s massive popularity was largely due to female audiences, who thronged cinemas to see it. Overnight, it became a blockbuster. In fact, it became the second highest-grossing film of 1975, rivaling Ramesh Sippy’s ‘Sholay’, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra.

Memorable Supporting Cast

The movie also featured Amar Rishi as Narad, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, whose role intertwined two parallel storylines, blending tales of humans and gods.

‘Jai Santoshi Maa’ remains a landmark in Indian cinema, showing how devotion, word of mouth, and storytelling can turn even a low-budget film into a legendary blockbuster.