With Aranmanai 4 touted to determine the financial fate of Tamil cinema this summer there is a clear indication that the producers would release sequels rather than fresh content.
In today’s world, a movie’s shelf life is largely determined by how well it performs at the box office during its opening week, which makes sequels a safe bet.
The industry believes that for a sequel to succeed, it must have a connection to the original narrative and incorporate characters from the first instalment.
However, some critics believe that many sequels attempt to capitalise on the popularity of a previous film, rather than following a logical storyline, which results in a convoluted plot.
According to a few trackers that South First spoke with, the most anticipated titles of 2024 are either sequels or are part of well-known franchises such as Indian and Pushpa.
Meanwhile, a senior producer notes, “A movie should appeal to everyone, not just to a certain group of people. However, the industry is stuck in sequels.”