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From Dostana 2 to Fukrey 3, 8 sequels expected in 2021; Experts on will they bring audiences back to theatres?
As major releases were stalled in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, filmmakers, exhibitors and distributors are looking at 2021 with much hope. Will these sequels play catalyst in luring the viewers back to cinema halls? Read on to find out the expert opinions
Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and its subsequent lockdown, many movies couldn’t release in the theatres last year. This naturally was a huge loss for the filmmakers, exhibitors and distributors. However, with things gradually getting back to normal, stakeholders in the film industry are looking at 2021 with a lot of hope. Big films like Akshay Kumar’s Sooryavanshi, Salman Khan’s Radhe and Ranveer Singh’s ‘83 are expected to set the cash registers ringing at the box office. However, there is more force for help, and that is the sequels.
They have usually been a hot favourite with the viewers. Whether it’s the Munna Bhai franchise or the Golmaal series, audiences have always flocked to the theatres to binge on them. Interestingly, in 2021 eight sequels are expected to hit the theatres. Beginning with Badhaai Do, there is Dostana 2, Satyameva Jayate 2, Fukrey 3, Bunty Aur Babli 2, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, Hungama 2 and Heropanti 2. Pinkvilla reached out to filmmakers and trade experts to understand if sequels can prove to be a catalyst that can lure the audience back to the theatres in 2021.
Exhibitor Akshaye Rathi sees a lot of potential in these follow-ups. “What a sequel brings is a degree of familiarity with the audience. Success of a first edition in the franchise obviously gives more momentum to the second one, so these sequels have that advantage. It goes without saying that they are all very anticipated films and I truly hope they do really well. After what the pandemic has done to the industry last year, we need more and more films to succeed and sequels have that upper hand. I hope they all boost the business for the entire industry,” says Akshaye who has his favourites too. 
“Satyameva Jayate 2 is very exciting as director Milap Zaveri is someone who has always rooted for a theatrical experience. It’s a film that has the potential to bring a lot of people back to the single screens too. Similarly Dostana 2 is also very exciting. I had personally enjoyed the first part and it would be interesting to see what happens to that franchise in the future. Bunty Aur Babli first was a huge musical success and I hope that the next edition can capitalise on the popularity of part 1,” adds Akshaye.
However, film analyst and distributor Raj Bansal has a different perspective to this. He is doubtful if all these sequels will be able to attract the audience to the theatres. “You know, earlier sequels were made with hit films like Munna Bhai, Dhoom or Golmaal. These franchise films were successful because the first part was a big hit. However, off late every Tom, Dick and Harry wants to make a sequel irrespective of whether the first film worked or not. A lot of them are trying to encash on this phenomena called ‘sequel’. My opinion is a sequel will never work unless the earlier film was a hit,” asserts Bansal who sees potential in Badhaai Do. “It will work because the first one was a 100 crore film and was made on a mediocre budget."
Earlier this year, John Abraham announced the release date of his film Satyameva Jayate 2 as May 14, 2021. It’s a sequel to his 2018 vigilante action film, Satyameva Jayate. It’s director Milap Zaveri says that sequels, especially the ‘massy commercial entertainers’ can get the audience back to the cinema halls. “I think, for at least a year and half there will be big screen extravaganzas which the audience will go back to the cinemas for. Hopefully Satyameva Jayate 2 will be one of those. Ek Villain 2 is also going to come next year, and of course there is Sooryavanshi too. I think these are the ones that the audience will go for in big numbers. The first part of Satyameva Jayate franchise had catered to the common man of India, and for Part 2 this time we have shot it on a humongous scale. The action, the scale and the drama I think is something that will cater to the multiplex audience as well. Corruption is a burning topic that every facet of the society will identify with. So yes, I genuinely believe that sequels will contribute in a huge way in the revival of cinemas,” Milap signs off.
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