Folklore films are of two types. We come across kings, kingdoms, conspiracies, political strategies, battle fields, war sequences etc. in the first type. Ace director Rajamouli's 'Baahubali' series falls into the first type of folklore entertainers. Way back in 1950s and 60s, movies such as Rajamakutam, Marmayogi, Kanchukota, Badipotu, Gopaludu Bhupaludu were made of this genre. Superstar Krishna's 'Simhasanam' also comes into this category of films.
But then, there is another type in folklore which was never tried by Rajamouli and other directors for the past two decades. We happen to see wizards, witchery, black magic, magic wands, demons and alluring damsels of heaven in this type. Movies such as Pathala Bhairavi, Keelugurram, Guruvunu Minchina Sishyudu, Jwaladweepa Rahasyam, Sahasra Sirascheda Apoorva Chintamani fall into this category of films.Natasimham Nandamuri Balakrishna's 'Bhairawa Dweepam' was the last folklore film of such kind and it went on blockbuster then.
Whatever the type, folklore films have tremendous success rate in Telugu film history. Last four movies of big heroes 'Simhasanam', 'Bhairava Dweepam', 'Baahubali 1' and 'Baahubali 2' stood as blockbusters.
Unfortunately, most of our filmmakers and heroes are least interested in doing folklore entertainers in spite of knowing the fact that those films have tremendous success rate. In fact, well wishers of filmmakers have been advising them to make such films but they hesitated due to various inhibitions. Wish that 'Baahubali 2's success prompts them working out on such projects.