Tollywood bracing for Sequels Sensation. This year marks a notable surge in the release of sequels in Tollywood, signaling a shift from the previous perception that Part 2 carried a negative connotation. The landscape has evolved, with directors and producers embracing the idea of leveraging a single storyline into two successful ventures.
While the trend gained significant traction after the success of Baahubali, it originally surfaced with Varma's 'Money' produced under Siva Nageswara Rao's direction. Despite the initial success of the first installment, subsequent sequels failed to meet expectations, resulting in a temporary hiatus in such endeavors. However, Rajamouli's triumph with Baahubali rejuvenated the trend, setting the stage for others to follow suit, starting with KGF.
A glance at the current landscape reveals an impressive lineup of sequels: Pushpa 2 The Rule, Tillu Square, Double Smart, Salaar Part 2 Shauryanga Parvam, Devara, Gudachari 2, Hit 3 The Third Case, etc. Additionally, Animal Park, KGF 3, Brahmastra 2, and Bhartiyadudu 2, originally made in other languages, have garnered immense popularity in the Telugu audience. While Devil and Saindhav are in the scripting stage, doubts persist about their eventual screening. Notably, proposals for sequels to Chiranjeevi's Vishwambhara and Pawan Kalyan's Oji are in the works.
This trend shows no signs of slowing down. Star heroes, at the story finalization stage, are actively discussing the potential for Part 2 with directors and writers. The buzz suggests that the Mahesh Babu-Rajamouli combo's upcoming Pan World movie may not suffice with just one part, considering the substantial budget of a thousand crores and Mahesh's commitment spanning three years. The project's details are eagerly awaited upon its announcement. Tollywood is mirroring the trends of Bollywood and Kollywood, with Mani Ratnam acknowledging inspiration from Jakkanna in opting for Ponniyin Selvan. The sequel trend is undeniably reshaping the dynamics of storytelling in the Telugu film industry.