Business of successful sequels calls for scope of logic

If Hollywood is full of sequels every year, in Hindi cinema, every hit film has sequels. In Tamil cinema, it all began with MGR. After the successful Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban (1973), MGR announced Kizhakku Africavil Raju as its sequel. The film never happened, but the concept remained in filmmakers’ minds. Finally, director SP.Muthuraman and writer-producer Panchu Arunachalam, introduced this concept, by bringing out Jappanil Kalyanaraman (1985) as a sequel to Kamal’s blockbuster Kalyanaraman (1979). 

However, the sequel failed commercially and the concept was kept in cold storage. It got revived with the film Naan Avan Illai-2 (2009), sequel to the superhit Naan Avan Illai (2007). Since then, there has been no looking back; Billa-2, Kanchana-2, Singam-2 (and Singam-3 ), Aranma nai-2, Pizza-2, Darling-2, Pasanga-2, Ko-2, Jithan-2, Chennai 28-II and so on.  However, only few sequels ( Baa hubali-2, Kanchana-2, Singam-2, Pasanga-2, Chennai:28-II ) found favour with the audience. That leads to the question of, “Why sequels?”

Instant recognition and business opportunity: A sequel gives instant recognition as audience remember the old hit film and brings in an assured business to producers. 

Logical Extension: When the lead character continues with his mission or the basic theme is retained, sequel becomes a logical extension of prequel e.g. Singam-2 & 3, Baahubali-2. 

Super Hero films: Mysskin’s Mugamoodi (2012) was planned to be continued in sequels. However, as it did not click, the sequel plan was dropped. But there is potential for every superhero film to be made as sequel (e.g. Aarambam, Thani Oruvan, Kabali, Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu ). 

Commercial reasons: There should be strong reasons to make a sequel and not just for money. Many bring out sequels for commercial reasons like Pizza-2, Darling-2, Jithan-2, Ko-2 . Because the first film worked, filmmakers named these films as sequels, but the audience did not buy their logic. One should not capitalise on a franchise by using the same name and make an entirely different movie. 

Secrets of Sequels: A sequel should not miss what people liked in prequel. The audience watch a sequel to see more of what they loved from the prequel. Exploit the impact of prequel and use that formula to make the sequel bigger. The sequel must contain at least some of the same main characters, if not all, from the original. It must also justify the absence of key characters of prequel. 

Sequel must offer something unique: Sequels need something unique to set them apart from other films. Uniqueness must be natural and well integrated into the screenplay. 

Sequel should follow a similar theme: A highly successful film title becomes a brand in the audience’s mind. Sequels should be thought of logically, wherein the new film follows a similar theme or characterisation. 

Time gap is important: The time gap between a prequel and its sequel should be appropriate, neither too long nor too short. Ideally, a sequel should come out two to three years after the prequel’s release. 

High concept films: Apart from a superhero or hero-centric films, only successful and high concept films with depth can continue as a sequel (e.g. Sathuranga Vettai, Thiruttu Payale , etc.). 

Open ended-mission continuing films: A sequel should be thought for films in which there is a mission to be continued or if the film has an open ending (e.g. Enthiran, Vishwa roopam,Vikram-Vedha, etc.). 

Plan for Part 3: Having decided to extend a successful film to a sequel, the theme must be developed in a manner to accommodate more in the series, as audience would look for it. Hence, raise the stake of the protagonist further in the sequel and develop it strongly, to continue in next part. 

A sequel is a very good business opportunity for a successful film. However, it must be taken up only when the film has logical scope for extension. Maragatha Nanayam, Ivan Thanthiran and VikramVedha offer scope among recent releases for sequels.