In the current film industry, the Pan-India trend is prevailing. Recognized as star heroes, many are releasing their films at a national level, thereby significantly boosting their movie collections. At the same time, the trend of making sequels has been catching on, a practice that began with ‘Baahubali‘ and has now reached its peak with films like ‘Pushpa‘, ‘Salaar‘, ‘Hanuman‘, ‘Kalki 2898 AD‘, and ‘Devara‘ being planned as two-part movies. Powerstar Pawan Kalyan’s ‘Hari Hara Veera Mallu‘ is also expected to be released in two parts. However, it seems the duo of Jr NTR and Prashanth Neel is set to challenge this sequel trend. Let’s delve into the details.
As a Single Part…
After the blockbuster ‘Devara: Part 1’, the combination of Jr NTR and Prashanth Neel is known to be coming up with a film currently under the working title ‘NTR 31‘. Given Prashanth Neel’s penchant for sequels, as seen with his films ‘KGF‘ and the expected sequels for ‘Salaar’, it was anticipated that this new project would also be a multi-part saga. However, in a surprising move, ‘NTR 31’ is decided to be made as a single-part film. Prashanth Neel has decided to wrap up the story in just one part, and it’s also planned to be concise in terms of runtime.
Are Sequels Necessary?
Director S.S. Rajamouli laid the foundation for sequels with ‘Baahubali’. Since then, the Telugu film industry has seen a continuous stream of sequels. While it’s justified to plan sequels when the story is too extensive to fit into a single part, and while audiences have welcomed this trend, planning sequels just to capitalize on box office collections without a compelling story can backfire, as has been speculated to happen with ‘Devara’. Netizens have argued from day one that ‘Devara’ did not have enough substance to warrant a two-part film. The movie did well mainly because of Jr NTR’s one-man show and Anirudh’s music, but many in the audience felt that their money wasn’t well spent. Noticing this, the team behind ‘NTR 31’ has decided against taking the risk of a sequel.
A Check on Expectations
Usually, sequels are made for films that have been huge successes. By introducing a surprising link to the second part at the end of the first, directors raise high expectations for the sequel. This has been observed since ‘Baahubali’. However, complete satisfaction among audiences usually comes only after the full story is known, which nowadays seems to be stretched over two parts, making them wait months to see the conclusion. This prolonged anticipation can sometimes lead to significant viewer fatigue. Comments on the internet suggest that interest in waiting for second parts is waning among audiences. In light of this, Tarak and Prashanth Neel are being cautious with ‘NTR 31’.
Shooting Starts in November!
Pre-production for ‘NTR 31’ is currently underway, with the storyline nearly finalized. Rukmini Vasanth has been reportedly chosen to star opposite Tarak, as per strong buzz online. Moreover, regular shooting for the film is set to commence in November. Tarak is expected to join the shooting in January or February. Prashanth Neel aims to launch the movie by January 9, 2026, and plans to complete the film swiftly.
Against a Bangladeshi Backdrop…
The upcoming ‘NTR 31’, directed by Prashanth Neel and produced by Mythri Movie Makers and NTR Arts, is creating a stir in Tollywood as a periodic action drama. It’s rumored that the film, set in Bangladesh, revolves around a young man who lives as a farmer and becomes involved in unexpected events, fighting for the locals. Tarak’s character, as directed by Prashanth Neel, will be showcased in two different variations, promising a next-level performance compared to his previous roles.
After ‘War 2’ Hits the Sets
Tarak is known to be part of ‘War 2‘, a Bollywood film directed by Ayan Mukerji and starring Hrithik Roshan, where he plays a character with negative shades. He has already participated in the shooting of this film. After completing his commitments for ‘War 2’, Tarak plans to fully focus on ‘NTR 31’. If ‘War 2’ wraps up as scheduled, it will release on August 15 next year, after which Tarak will adjust his dates for Prashanth Neel.
