Yash’s ‘KGF 2’ clocks 1 year, senior Tollywood actor hails larger-than-life heroism in South cinema

Yash starrer ‘KGF 2’ is celebrating its first anniversary today. While the makers dropped a ‘monster cut’ promo from the film to mark the special day fans are already saying they are waiting for ‘KGF 3’. Much has been said about the Prashanth Neel-directed action entertainer’s massive success in the last 12 months and now, Saswata Chatterjee who has been in this industry for years wants to attribute the recent success of South films like ‘Pushpa’ and ‘KGF Chapter 2’ to how they showcase heroism in a larger-than-life manner.

Saswata who has proved his mettle not just in Bengali cinema but Bollywood as well feels that South Indian cinema never neglected heroism. “In their films the heroism part has always remained strong. I think it is important because the way we make films now it seems we have forgotten it a little bit. A mind-blowing entry of a hero on the big screen can’t be replaced by anything. When he will walk dust will rise and audience won’t stop whistling. That’s the hero we have been missing for quite some time,” explains the seasoned actor.

He further adds that perhaps there is a lesson in here for everyone. Instead of remaking South films, we should put more focus on research to find out what makes these films tick. “If you see KGF 2 they have put more faith on the idea of a larger-than-life anti-hero belonging to humble beginnings who climbs to the top of the crime syndicate but at the same time never forgets his ethics. It's a theme with universal appeal,” added Saswata.

Interestingly, while ‘Pushpa’ shows Allu Arjun taking up the role of a sandalwood smuggler making it big, ‘KGF Chapter 2’ features Yash as a mafia henchman, who steadily rises to the top and overtakes a gold-smuggling empire. Saswata believes both the films’ plots somehow resembles the kind of films Amitabh Bachchan used to do in the 70s and 80s is films like ‘Deewar’, ‘Shakti’, and ‘Don’ to name a few. Even Yash has admitted that there are some similarities between the ‘KGF’ franchise and some of Amitabh Bachchan's superhit films.

Saswata signs off saying that it’s the hero and his heroism – that’s what the whole India wants to see. Meanwhile, Prashanth Neel is almost done with the shoot of his next film ‘Salaar’ with Prabhas. He has already announced his upcoming film with Jr NTR. Although an official announcement about ‘KGF 3’ is yet to be made there’s every possibility of the third installment given the huge popularity of ‘KGF 2’.

Rocking Star Yash aka Rocky Bhai managed to immortalize himself as the 'cultural icon' while director Neel and producer Vijay Kiragandur announced themselves in an emphatic way and the trio delivered a rarely-witnessed theatrical experience. Yes, ‘KGF 2’ had its share of criticism because of the hypermasculine-ish scenario but one can’t deny that the film, alongside films like ‘RRR’, ‘Pushpa’ led to a paradigm shift in this post-pandemic world of cinema.