HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF
As a number of big-budget historical dramas get lined up, HT Café explores whether film-makers have gotten ‘inspired’ by Baahubali 2’s humongous success
When Amarendra Baahubali shows his military prowess and Devasena stuns as a warrior princess in SS Rajamouli’s epic war drama, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, they seemingly not only impressed audiences but also many film-makers. Therefore, don’t be surprised if you see a number of big-budget historical dramas being lined up across the board.
BLAST FROM THE PAST
In the latest instance, filmmaker Akbar Khan is making a film on the life of Genghis Khan, the emperor who founded the Mongol Empire. In fact, he admits that after the record-breaking response to Baahubali around the world, “it is the right time to make a historical film”. He says, “The film will have a mix of actors from India, China and Turkey, and I plan to go on floors by October.”
Also, in the pipeline is Malayalam superstar Mohanlal-starrer The Mahabharata that will be released in two parts and is to be made in English, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada besides being dubbed in other Indian and foreign languages. Rumour mills are abuzz that names such as Amitabh Bachchan, Nagarjuna Akkineni and Kamal Haasan are also being considered for the mammoth project.
HERD MENTALITY
That’s not all. Ramayana is set to be adapted into a live-action feature film as a Hindi, Telugu and Tamil trilingual. With an estimated budget of ` 500 crore, the film will be made in 3D and released as a three-part series. Coincidentally, a couple of such historical epics were announced even before Baahubali 2 hit the screens. So, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati is based on the 1303 siege of Rajasthan’s Chittor fort by emperor Alauddin Khilji and Rajput queen Padmavati, while Kangana Ranaut-starrer Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi is based on the life of Rani Laxmibai.
So, is it a case of herd mentality (to see films from the same genre being announced after Baahubali’s success)? “Yes, it’s a classic example of herd mentality,” says trade analyst Komal Nahta. “Mark my words, most of the films that have been announced, won’t even get made. Even if they get made, it’d be a bit pre-mature to say if any of them would come close to what Baahubali has done.”
BIG VISION
But film-makers disagree. Krish, who is directing Manikarnika, has witnessed “huge success” with his latest Telugu historical drama, Gautamiputra Satakarni. “After Baahubali 2, my film, too, did very well. And more than anything else, it helps directors a lot because such big hits make audiences as well as producers and studios push the bar higher. That way, we can follow our vision with full freedom,” says Gabbar is Back (2015) director.
Big hits make audiences as well as producers and studios push the bar higher...we can follow our vision with full freedom. KRISH, DIRECTOR
Interestingly, actors are excited about being part of such larger-than-life films. “It’s a very conscious decision to do a part (Alauddin Khilji), which is challenging and completely out of my comfort zone. I knew that it would be a maverick move and could be risky. But, I went with my instincts,” says Ranveer Singh, while Kangana feels that Laxmibai’s character is “very superhero-like”. She says, “Usually, my characters are flawed and human in terms of their abilities. But this one is extraordinary.”
NO CLICHÉS
Manikarnika director Krish admits that the first challenge in directing a historical, epic drama is to “avoid the clichés”. He says, “You have a responsibility to showcase a larger-than-life historical character but you have to make it dramatic for the audiences, while staying true to its essence.”
In the past too, films such as Mughal-E-Azam (1960), Taj Mahal (1963), Asoka (2001), Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005) and Jodhaa Akbar (2008) have been made with a varying rate of success. Trade analyst Komal Nahta says that audiences “love good films, engaging stories and quality entertainment, regardless of the genre”.
THE GRAND AFFAIR
“One has to be aware that just because a film of a particular genre has done well, it’s not necessary that the feat will be repeated,” says Nahta. At the same time, exhibitor-distributor, Akshaye Rathi adds that “attracting audiences to cinema halls has become such a herculean task that you need to offer them a grand experience to come to theatres”.
“So, the production value and grandeur has to be of the highest value,” says Rathi, adding that the humongous success of Baahubali 2 can be a “boon or a bane”. “Now that we are seeing a kind of herd mentality, it’s dangerous because makers will put in multiple crores (in their films) and go bankrupt. It’s not just about making an epic drama; there has to be a grand vision for a film along with the scale,” he says.
It’s a very conscious decision to do a part (Alauddin Khilji), which is challenging and completely out of my comfort zone. RANVEER SINGH, ACTOR