A New Kind of Strategy

In recent times, it's become quite common for filmmakers to tease a "Part 2" at the end of a movie. If the film turns out to be a hit, the sequel is made. If not, it quietly gets shelved. Many sequels have ended up in limbo this way. Sometimes, even without announcing a sequel upfront, producers declare one after the movie becomes successful — that’s one strategy. But now, a third kind of tactic has emerged: announcing a sequel just to give the impression that the movie is a hit.

That’s exactly what the producers of Jaat — Mythri Movie Makers — have done. Directed by Gopichand Malineni, Jaat was made to introduce the South Indian mass flavor to North Indian audiences. However, the film has not reached the expected box office range. Apart from the initial buzz and corporate bookings, the movie has been progressing slowly. To give it an extra push, the producers suddenly announced Jaat 2.

This announcement came as a bit of a surprise. Jaat is not a bad film, but it’s not a super hit either. Director Gopichand Malineni is already gearing up for a film with Balakrishna, and what he’ll do next is uncertain. So, announcing a sequel at this stage seems to be more of a weekend box office strategy than a genuine plan for a second part.