Filmmakers dig up gems from the past to light up theatres

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Gadar 2 were first seen during the pandemic, when reruns of mythological epics and classics dominated viewership, with even OTT platforms discovering a new audience in the 40-plus generation. While Gadar 2 comes over two decades after the first part, Farhan Akhtar will bring back Don more than a decade after the previous instalment.

Director Dibakar Banerjee has announced Love Sex Aur Dhokha 2, after a 13-year gap, while in the south, Kamal Hassan’s Indian 2 comes 27 years after the original. Entertainment industry experts point to the inherent draw of franchises and the fact that while the theatre-going population may have changed in these years, this is an opportunity to tap into older audiences and families.

Further, many of these films have continued to rate well on satellite television. Last year, Kartik Aaryan had starred in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 that arrived 15 years after the first part, earning over ₹185 crore at the box office.

“The advantage of sequels is that there is already an inbuilt audience that has seen and heard of the films, so the recall value is great. However, when they come or how much time they take to put together, are individual decisions because it has to make sense for the makers," Shariq Patel, chief business officer, Zee Studios, producers of Gadar 2, said.

In case of the period drama, the company saw several fans bringing families and while the 18-35 age group remains the target audience with maximum time, interest and disposable income, Patel said the biggest hits of Indian cinema have been mass-oriented and palatable across the board and the big numbers come in when older audiences troop in. The 20-year gap also worked for Gadar 2, Patel added, because the protagonist’s son, a child in the