Success of Baahubali indicates need of more mass appealing stories that resonate across borders

If Indians love foreign films then the world too appreciates what the industry back home has to offer. The only rider is the content that is not appealing to a mass audience. However, things changed after the success of a film franchise that has been a game changer for Indian films. It was the Baahubali series that received a warm welcome from audiences both in India and abroad. Baahubali has also given the industry few valuable lessons on re-invention and shifting focus on themes that resonate across India and borders.

According to a FICCI-EY 2018 report, the success of the Baahubali series at the box office is a wake-up call for the segment. The need is for a spectacle which can open in as many screens as possible across languages and borders.

Baahubali took the Hollywood route of big budget franchises where the story, character and/or viewing experience is of paramount importance and the success of the movie in turn creates stars out of good actors.

The success of the series has certainly jolted the thinking of film makers across India and large projects have been announced. Two such big-ticket films that will see the light of day soon are Mahabharata and Ramayana.

According to media reports, Karnataka-born Bavaguthu Raghuram Shetty, among the richest Indians in West Asia, will be investing Rs 1,000 crore in this project. Based on MT Vasudevan Nair’s book, the film will be released in English, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada. The mythological drama, which will be made in two parts, is slated for 2020 release and will go on floors in 2018.

Industry experts are of the opinion that if film makers make universal content that appeals to an audience cutting across demographics, language barriers, regions, they can achieve Baahubali kind of success. And the business the franchise did in US and UK markets is a proof of this.

Not just the Hindi versions but even the original version of Baahubali drew fans to the theatres and not just for one or two days. The film had a long run with the audience paying top dollar for Imax screenings.

The second part of Baahubali minted Rs 14.95 crore across 66 Imax screens around the world in its opening weekend. Out of this, Rs 11.70 crore came from 45 Imax locations in North America, making it the highest ever opening in the format for a foreign language film.

The industry is in need of mass appealing stories/themes that traverse across language and regional barriers and drag the audiences from their comfy couches into cinemas.

While Indian producers are using every trick in the book to reach overseas audiences, it is the content that needs more attention. Indian films will have to rise above sumptuous romantic comedies or one-man dramas for a wider reach.