So, I've been watching Telugu (which happens to be my mother tongue) movies all my life. As a kid, I was fascinated (only till the break when I used to eat Potato chips and cry or sleep after I was done eating). Anyway, that doesn't matter now. The point is, I was enthralled by what was going on in front of me and I used to like every movie I saw. A movie was something to be liked. Not liking a movie wasn't even an option.
As I grew up, things started getting complicated. This thing called reality happened and I started getting more judgemental and critical. I couldn't help but notice a pattern in all these movies. They'd gotten predictable.
The hero.
Attributes: The guy who always saves the day. Is 6 feet tall and very handsome (or at least described to be because you can't be a HERO without that). Is so good at heart that he helps the poor and needy (usually when the heroine is watching him). Whatever he does leads to the villain's wrath and he sends his goons to finish the hero off. Thankfully, he was born with the fighting skills of a professional and doesn't need any formal training. He has a really depressing past. Loves the heroine, usually at first sight. Teases and harasses her as that is the only way to her heart. Always has his best friend beside him. The best friend isn't as strong and handsome as the hero. He is usually for comic relief. The hero sometimes comes with a sister. Sometimes, the best friend or the sister die in the past and so the hero has taken it upon himself to kill whoever as killed them. Not to forget the parents. They might also have died in the past or were cheated by the villain. Slapping the comedian! Now, that is his favorite hobby.
The heroine.
Attributes: The flawless beauty. All the guys are after her. She is usually a rich, spoiled brat. Also, in most cases the villain's daughter. The first person to be approached by the hero in his master plan to defeat the villain. As we all know, the first step in defeating the villain is making his daughter fall in love with you. She hates the hero's guts. But then in an unexpected turn of events it is revealed that she has always loved the hero and was just teasing him by acting uninterested. She usually has a gang of giggling girlies. All of them love the hero and coax her to fall in love with him. She falls out of love with the hero (usually in the second half of the film) when she comes to know that he was doing all of it to get to her father. But, the hero with his charm and pure love wins her heart back. Not seen much during the film but whenever she comes, there's a dream sequence song in some exotic foreign location with either snow or flowers matching the hero and heroine's clothes.
The villain
Attributes: The bad guy. Because no story can be complete without a guy trying to ruin the hero's otherwise perfect life. Gets mad with rage when he comes to know his daughter is in love with his enemy. Sends his goons to finish him off. The hero fights them all effortlessly. Little does the poor villain know, that all these fights and kicking asses is making the hero even more attractive to his daughter. Is usually a very intelligent person but suddenly loses all his brain power when the hero starts executing his master plan. Usually, in the second half it is revealed why the hero hates him so much. Tries to make his daughter fall out of love with the hero but it doesn't work. In the end, when all his goons are dead or seriously injured he personally fights the hero. In some cases, he realizes his mistake and apologizes to the hero (all it takes is a sorry) while, in some other cases he dies and everyone (including his very own daughter, because she had been informed by the hero how bad a man her father was) rejoices. Could there be a more pathetic life?
Those are the characters that matter. There are also characters like the comedians. The best friend comedian and the arrogant comedian. The arrogant comedian loses all his arrogance after a few slaps from the hero. There is the sad family of the hero, the sad mother of the heroine and the group of dancers who are seen only in dances that are shot locally (because duh! taking all of them abroad would cost a lot).
Add six songs three in the first half and three in the second, lots of fights, including a few scenes shot in slo-mo, a few sentimental scenes with the hero's family and his best friend and there, your Telugu blockbuster film is all ready to hit the audience (literally).
P.S.- I'm a fan of Telugu cinema. It is nice to see people appreciating different kind of movies these days but there are still a few things the directors and the actors haven't grown out of. I think it is absolutely necessary for them come out of it.
As I grew up, things started getting complicated. This thing called reality happened and I started getting more judgemental and critical. I couldn't help but notice a pattern in all these movies. They'd gotten predictable.
The hero.
Attributes: The guy who always saves the day. Is 6 feet tall and very handsome (or at least described to be because you can't be a HERO without that). Is so good at heart that he helps the poor and needy (usually when the heroine is watching him). Whatever he does leads to the villain's wrath and he sends his goons to finish the hero off. Thankfully, he was born with the fighting skills of a professional and doesn't need any formal training. He has a really depressing past. Loves the heroine, usually at first sight. Teases and harasses her as that is the only way to her heart. Always has his best friend beside him. The best friend isn't as strong and handsome as the hero. He is usually for comic relief. The hero sometimes comes with a sister. Sometimes, the best friend or the sister die in the past and so the hero has taken it upon himself to kill whoever as killed them. Not to forget the parents. They might also have died in the past or were cheated by the villain. Slapping the comedian! Now, that is his favorite hobby.
The heroine.
Attributes: The flawless beauty. All the guys are after her. She is usually a rich, spoiled brat. Also, in most cases the villain's daughter. The first person to be approached by the hero in his master plan to defeat the villain. As we all know, the first step in defeating the villain is making his daughter fall in love with you. She hates the hero's guts. But then in an unexpected turn of events it is revealed that she has always loved the hero and was just teasing him by acting uninterested. She usually has a gang of giggling girlies. All of them love the hero and coax her to fall in love with him. She falls out of love with the hero (usually in the second half of the film) when she comes to know that he was doing all of it to get to her father. But, the hero with his charm and pure love wins her heart back. Not seen much during the film but whenever she comes, there's a dream sequence song in some exotic foreign location with either snow or flowers matching the hero and heroine's clothes.
The villain
Attributes: The bad guy. Because no story can be complete without a guy trying to ruin the hero's otherwise perfect life. Gets mad with rage when he comes to know his daughter is in love with his enemy. Sends his goons to finish him off. The hero fights them all effortlessly. Little does the poor villain know, that all these fights and kicking asses is making the hero even more attractive to his daughter. Is usually a very intelligent person but suddenly loses all his brain power when the hero starts executing his master plan. Usually, in the second half it is revealed why the hero hates him so much. Tries to make his daughter fall out of love with the hero but it doesn't work. In the end, when all his goons are dead or seriously injured he personally fights the hero. In some cases, he realizes his mistake and apologizes to the hero (all it takes is a sorry) while, in some other cases he dies and everyone (including his very own daughter, because she had been informed by the hero how bad a man her father was) rejoices. Could there be a more pathetic life?
Those are the characters that matter. There are also characters like the comedians. The best friend comedian and the arrogant comedian. The arrogant comedian loses all his arrogance after a few slaps from the hero. There is the sad family of the hero, the sad mother of the heroine and the group of dancers who are seen only in dances that are shot locally (because duh! taking all of them abroad would cost a lot).
Add six songs three in the first half and three in the second, lots of fights, including a few scenes shot in slo-mo, a few sentimental scenes with the hero's family and his best friend and there, your Telugu blockbuster film is all ready to hit the audience (literally).
P.S.- I'm a fan of Telugu cinema. It is nice to see people appreciating different kind of movies these days but there are still a few things the directors and the actors haven't grown out of. I think it is absolutely necessary for them come out of it.
