The 340 minute long cat and mouse game of director Sukumar’s two films has ended. Pushpa 2: RulesA climactic scene ambiguously ends the arc, urging the audience to prepare themselves to leave, only to be forced back to their seats 40 minutes later. The extended climax of the Allu Arjun-starrer was meant to be an argument for a third Pushpa The film, is a very throwaway episode that leaves you with a bad taste – it’s a cool shower moment in the otherwise ‘wildfire’ of the film.
This is a new trend adopted by commercial filmmakers of the All India Movement – ​​franchising for better monetization or to secure a working formula for the future. Most big-ticket movies these days either end with a cliffhanger, depriving the audience of the satisfaction of a complete product, or a surprise climactic cameo to end on a high note and make way for the sequel. Let’s add. Suriya’s CanguvaThis was undoubtedly an untested effort in Tamil, but the makers were quick to jump on this bandwagon, with a surprise cameo by Karthi and a hook to keep us waiting for the second part. With a disappointing reception at the box office, what a Canguva Sequel realized?
A scene from ‘Kanguva’ Photo Credit: Prime Video
One story, two films
Amid the flood of sequels, a deeper issue plaguing big-star filmmaking in India has – ironically – been popularized Pushpa: Rise – There is a trend of dividing the story of a film into two parts to justify the sequel. Remember when we used to put out a DVD for each half of a movie? Now, each of those parts has been expanded to form a film in itself with songs and action sequences.
in upendra kgf-copy possessionWriter-director R Chandru’s interconnected narrative tells the story of how an Air Force pilot becomes the target of a gangster as well as a powerful Maharaja. The author takes enough time to establish the world and its characters, introduces a conflict late, and just as they culminate in an exciting moment, it ends with a surprise cameo from Shivarajkumar and Sundeep Kiccha.
One can blame SS Rajamouli’s ‘Why Did Kattappa Kill Baahubali’ for this trend, but there is a difference between efforts written and conceived as two-film projects – likeSapt Sagardache AloeOr Ponniyin Selvan Or Salaar – and the films, originally planned as one, were unnecessarily split for purely commercial reasons. In Ponniyin SelvanThe concern was whether the length of the two films was enough to fit Kalki’s story. with brother-in-lawHowever, it has become clear that the formula is not working; Koratala uses a climax similar to Shiva Kattappa-Baahubali, but if you’re wondering why it didn’t stick, the answer lies in how much the film’s story felt stretched out. given PushpaIts USP lies in its exaggerated staging and larger-than-life language, one could argue that Sukumar had to give more space to his Chandan kingpin hero. Even if so, some other matters leave no room for any argument.
Shankar’s indian 2 It seems like a blatant attempt to make money from half the story. The film is based on Senapathy’s comeback, which is started by four YouTubers who expose their corrupt parents under his guidance. We get four scenes each to establish the families, four to mark their outcomes, a killing spree with little explanation, and a bizarre #GoBackIndian Scene. The climax involves a 30-minute long chase sequence, ending with a cliffhanger promising more in the third installment. Unnecessary songs and action set pieces have been added for garnish. The 160-minute film could have easily been cut down to 90 minutes, which begs the question: why would we have to pay full price for an incomplete story?
Kamal Haasan in ‘Indian 2’ Photo Credit: Netflix
Plague of cliffhangers and cameos
Audiences now hold their breath until the end of a big-ticket film, wishing for it to be a satisfying standalone feature. If cliffhangers have become the talk of the town, surprise cameos in the climax are no longer surprising. One has to wonder whether such an endeavor is worth the risk, should the first film flop at the box office. In case of possession Or CanguvaThe cameos may have garnered some applause in theaters or sparked some momentary excitement at the box office, but what happens to these new characters when the sequels are released? A film that needs a star cameo or a cliffhanger to draw the audience back into its world exposes itself as a poor product.
Saving an idea for the future is what takes a filmmaker like Venkat Prabhu to the end greatest of all timeWith a fantastical, genre-bending twist and the announcement of a sequel, knowing full well that it may never succeed given Vijay’s decision to retire from films. To secure a sequel, take a cue from Prashanth Neel. kgf 2ends with Rocky sinking into the depths of the ocean, but not without hinting kgf 3There are no gimmicks – and Rocky is gone forever – and kgf The films boast enough lore to justify the bandwidth. Neil, avoiding hacking it for a story, takes a page from the story we thought we knew all about and makes it a prequel.
Lokesh Kanagaraj in case of star cameo VikramStarring Kamal Haasan, it deserves all the praise. The impact that Suriya’s brilliant cameo as Rolex had on the audience led to many other creators emulating it. Due to Santhanam’s fear of this mysterious figure, the shadow of Rolex could be felt everywhere VikramNaturally setting up his entry. However, one can’t say the same about how Lokesh handled Haasan’s cameo in Vijay’s climax leoDespite the second half including moments from Vikram’s world, the cameos seemed contrived and forgettable.
The climate is headed towards a sequel, as was the case with the first one. Pushpa 2: RulesIt also points to the lack of confidence among filmmakers. Won’t the audience flock to the screens if they know that Pushp Raj is returning with his beard-and-mustache swag? A surprise announcement has added to the mystery of how the film will take the story forward. Remember the frenzy when Ridley Scott announced gladiator 2Or when you knew that Sunny Deol was coming back mutiny,
A scene from ‘Pushpa 2’ Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
How to redeem past glory?
Scott’s sequel is also a great demonstration of how you can tap into the glory of the past, which is lacking in many modern greats. Eyebrows were raised when Scott announced gladiator 2It wasn’t that the filmmaker had lost his game; The question was on the story a the Gladiator Will take the sequel. The film may have been unsuccessful, but the attempt to spawn a new story on the son of Maximus Decimus Meridius was genuine and well received.
However, can one say the same about it? indian 2Interestingly, one need not look beyond Tamil cinema for inspiration. Just last year, Karthik Subbaraj had silenced his detractors with his mesmerizing performance Jigarthanda Double Xwhich was different from 2014 Jigarthanda ensuring that it remains consistent with the topic in tone and treatment.
Paul Mescal in a scene from “Gladiator II”. , Photo Credit: Aidan Monaghan
Now it’s time to create an IP for the long term
The issues associated with this trend also point to the lack of know-how among commercial South Indian filmmakers to make their intellectual property into long-term assets – a major reason for insincere attempts to cash in on established IP. Hollywood’s mantra of IP creation can largely be attributed to two well-known strategies: a) exploitation of other formats and mediums, and b) quality selling of movie IP.
Hollywood studios like Marvel and Warner Bros. have long been using the long and short formats to create spin-offs and mediums like comic books, novels, and animation to immortalize their characters in the minds of audiences. This is why a fan would buy an Iron Man mask or stranger things-Themed t-shirts, even after decades; Collectables have always been a strong market for buyers. In recent years, every film has come with a fan-targeted website that allows users to spend more hours pondering the world of the film. The value of iconography and merchandising only increases in a world of ephemeral intangible media. Just last year, barbenheimer The event gave rise to a sea of ​​merchandise, underscoring the importance of tangible souvenirs. Popcorn buckets are still a trend in America. How many of these pan-Indian films managed to sell quality memorabilia? For all the attractive clothes and accessories worn by Pushpa Raj, the makers could have focused on creating some noteworthy memorabilia.
Pan-Indian films typically focus on the momentary consequences of this forgettable world, creating an impact that only another sequel film can rekindle. Consolidating IP secures ideas for the future, gives creators a chance to connect with audiences’ nostalgia, and drives additional business.
Making successful sequels is not unheard of in India. Bollywood has its fair share maze, mutiny, chaos And housefulMalayalam cinema has tasted success CBI series, peach franchise, the Drishyam movies, and Hariharnagar Movies. When dandupalya Films and sequels Gaalipata, plain dressAnd love mocktails Did a good job in Kannada, audiences are eager to watch it Kantara Sequel. Despite his flaws, DJ Tillu And journey 2 While it got good response in Telugu Kill Seems to be a fan-favorite. Tamil writers can learn a lot from the many debacles (Sami Square, mari 2, Sandakozhi 2, Pichaikkaran 2, Velaila Pattadhari 2and so on) and success stories (Chennai 28 IIThe Singam series, Aranmanai 4,
Maybe it’s time to move on from sequels, half-films and climactic cameos. The bigger picture requires strategy, not gimmicks. Forced franchising is neither flower nor fire.
published – December 10, 2024 04:33 PM IST
