The Rise of Two-Part Films in Indian Cinema: From Ramayana to Kanguva

Indian cinema is increasingly embracing the two-part film format, with several recent and upcoming projects opting for this narrative structure. Movies like Pushpa (2021), Animal (2023), Salaar (2023), and Kalki 2898 AD have already proven the appeal of multi-part stories. Directors find that splitting a story into two parts offers ample opportunities to expand character arcs, enhance storytelling depth, and keep audiences engaged.

Why the Two-Part Format is Gaining Popularity

Directors and writers in the Indian film industry believe that dividing a film into two parts allows for greater creative freedom. Filmmaker Koratala Siva, whose upcoming film Devara will be released in two parts, explains that a story with multiple characters and a vast narrative often requires more than one film to do it justice. “As a writer, I’d love to narrate the story in one part. But if the story is too big and has too many characters, we need to tell it in parts,” he said.

The success of two-part films lies in their ability to explore a deeper range of emotions and events. Shankar, the director of Indian 2 and other sequels, highlighted how compressing the narrative for the sake of a single film would lose the essence of each scene. He stated, “If I compressed the whole thing just for the sake of making the film in one part, the soul of every scene would have been lost.”

The Risk and Reward of Multi-Part Films

While the two-part format offers creative advantages, it also carries risks. There have been instances where the second part of a multi-part film was shelved after the first part did not perform well at the box office. Films such as Bhoot: The Haunted Ship (2020), Attack: Part 1 (2022), and Ganapathy (2023) are examples where the story didn’t continue beyond the first instalment.

Trade expert Atul Mohan offers insight into this trend, noting that some filmmakers are clear about their vision for part two and are confident in their ability to make it work. He pointed to the success of KGF: Chapter 1 (2018), which earned about ₹50 crore in Hindi despite challenges, and predicted that sequels like Kalki 2898 AD and Pushpa 2 will do well. “Some makers are confident they won’t be able to wrap up an ambitious story in just one part,” he explained.

Case Study: Baahubali and the Power of the Cliffhanger

One of the most successful two-part film franchises in Indian cinema is Baahubali. The franchise was originally intended to be a single film, but the story’s immense scope led to the decision to split it into two parts. Writer V Vijayendra Prasad, who also worked on Baahubali, shared how the idea for the two-part format came about. Composer MM Keeravani suggested ending the first part on a cliffhanger, with Kattappa killing Baahubali, creating suspense for the audience. This strategy worked wonders, making the second part one of the most eagerly awaited films in Indian cinema history.

The Future of Two-Part Films in India

Upcoming films like Ramayana and Kanguva have already been announced as two-part ventures, signaling that the trend is here to stay. As Indian cinema grows in scale and ambition, the two-part format offers filmmakers a chance to tell more intricate, expansive stories that would be impossible to fully explore in a single film.

The two-part format allows for better character development, more intricate plotlines, and an engaging narrative structure that can keep audiences hooked across multiple releases. While risks are involved, the rewards of creating a successful, immersive world for the audience make it a compelling choice for many filmmakers.

Conclusion

The two-part format revolutionises Indian cinema, enabling directors and writers to tell grander, more intricate stories. As films like Devara, Ramayana, and Kanguva make waves, Indian cinema’s embrace of this storytelling method only continues to grow, promising an exciting future for audiences who crave more than just a single chapter in their favourite stories.