Are Franchise films safe bet or a calculated risk

Now a days filmmakers are finding it easier to entertain movielovers turning hit films into successful franchises rather than comeup with a novel story.

Of late many films in Tollywood turned out to be either sequels or franchises. They feel this is the safe bet as the viewers already know the characters and the plot.

Apart from this, the cost of promotions comedown drastically.The franchise model is turning out tobe safe bet for the producers and the distributors. Earlier this trend was confined to Hollywood but now Indian cinema is following the same starting from Baahubali, KGF, Pushpa, Salaar, Kalki 2898AD, Stree and Dhurandhar.

However, franchises turnout tobe doube edged swords. The first part increase the expectations and if those are not met, it will be doomed. The first part success will bring people to the theatres but if the story is not new, and screenplay is not gripping, the second part will not only bomb but also the franchise brand will be impacted.

Franchise revolution is turning out tobe a challenge to the writers creativity. If only business makes producers and distributors go for franchise models, then creative thinking willbe impacted. Now the talk of Baahubali 3, Pushpa 3 and Dhurandhar 3 and Drishyam 4 is going on but only if the stories are novel and not forced, people will accept them.

---- Pramod Nandivada