Pan-Indian film

Pan-Indian film is a term related to Indian cinema that originated with Telugu cinema as a mainstream commercial film appealing to audiences across the country with a spread to world markets.[1][2] The movement gained popularity since 2015, post the success of Baahubali: The Beginning. The term "pan-Indian film" is used for a film that is simultaneously marketed and released in multiple languages – Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali and Malayalam.[3] Such films make an attempt to appeal to the audiences across the country, cutting across the linguistic and cultural barriers.[4]

Pan-Indian film
Years active2015–present
CountryIndia
Major figuresS. S. Rajamouli
Prashanth Neel
Sukumar
S. Shankar
InfluencedCinema of India

Background

Indian cinema is composed of various language film industries. Films are often remade in other languages, examples being Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana (2005, Telugu) and Chachi 420 (1997, Hindi). Films are also dubbed into other languages and released with localized titles either on the same release date or at a later date. Films such as Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Enthiran, were dubbed in other Indian languages and were released along with their original versions.[5]

According to The Times of India, the first pan-Indian film from Kannada cinema is Mahishasura Mardini released in 1959.[6] It was dubbed and released in seven other languages. But, no other film was released in more than four languages, since then.

Since 2010s, dubbing and telecasting of South Indian films (primarily Telugu and Tamil) in Hindi became a regular practice by which films from Telugu cinema and Tamil cinema gained popularity in the Hindi speaking regions.[7] Majority of these films were dubbed after few weeks or months of the original version release.[8] Similarly, Hindi films were frequently dubbed in Telugu and Tamil languages, but didn't gain as much popularity in Telugu and Tamil speaking regions as Telugu/Tamil films received, except a few like Dangal (2016), M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016).[9] Over the time, Kannada and Malayalam films were also being dubbed into other languages other than the original version.

Growth

"A pan-Indian film does not mean that actors from different languages come together. That's all part of it. A pan-Indian film means a story and emotion that connects to everyone irrespective of the language. While creating a story, I think 'If I switch off this dialogue portion, will the audience still connect to my movie?' Many times, the answer is a yes."

 — S. S. Rajamouli, the director of Baahubali duology[10][11]

In 2015, S. S. Rajamouli's duology of epic action films Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017), changed the face of Indian cinema.[12] The film was released in various languages across the world. Filmmakers started a new film movement, that is, rather than remaking the same film in various languages, they are dubbing the same film in various languages.[13] Srivatsan S of The Hindu wrote that Telugu cinema has excelled in marketing Pan-Indian films. It primarily employed two strategies – promoting the film outside their home territory and collaborating with other regional stars for more visibility.[14]

Kannada film K.G.F: Chapter 1 (2018) directed by Prashanth Neel also released in five languages, thereby becoming the first major Pan-Indian film from Kannada cinema.[15][16] Success of other films like 2.0 (2018), Saaho (2019), Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2019) made Pan-Indian films widespread to other major Indian film industries.[17][18] Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea (2021) is the first major Pan-Indian film from Malayalam cinema.[19]

Following the success of the Telugu films Pushpa: The Rise (2021) and RRR (2022), Rahul Devulapalli of The Week identified "Content, marketing, [and] indulgent overseas audience" have led to the rise of pan-Indian films from Telugu cinema.[20]

Pan-Indian films also employ actors from different language industry to increase their visibility and bring a universal appeal.[21][22] In an interview with Film Companion, filmmaker Karan Johar said: "Pan-India is a phenomenon we cannot diminish or dilute."[23]

Notable pan-Indian films
Year Film Director Original language(s) Ref.
2015 Baahubali: The BeginningS. S. Rajamouli Telugu
Tamil		 [24]
2017Baahubali 2: The Conclusion [25]
2018 2.0 S. Shankar Tamil [26]
K.G.F: Chapter 1Prashanth Neel Kannada [27]
2019 SaahoSujeeth Telugu
Hindi		 [28]
2021 Pushpa: The Rise Sukumar Telugu [28]
2022 Radhe Shyam Radha Krishna Kumar Telugu
Hindi		 [28]
RRRS. S. Rajamouli Telugu [29]
K.G.F: Chapter 2Prashanth Neel Kannada [29]
Brahmāstra: Part One – ShivaAyan Mukerji Hindi [30]
2023 Jawan Atlee Hindi [31]
Leo Lokesh Kanagaraj Tamil [32]

Criticism

In an interview with Deadline Hollywood, actor Jr. NTR expressed his disapproval for the term: "I hate referring to it as 'pan-Indian', it sounds like a frying pan. We just mean it is a film that can travel into all the Indian languages".[33] Speaking with PTI, Dulquer Salmaan said: "The word pan-India really irks me. I just don't like hearing it. I love that there is so much exchange of talent happening in cinema, it's great, but we are one country. I don't think anyone says pan-America."[34] Prabhas, who played the protagonist of Baahubali series, opined that the industry should make "Indian" films instead of "pan-Indian" films.[35] Actor Siddharth echoed the same. He felt the term pan-Indian was a "very disrespectful word" as its use was limited to non-Hindi films.[36] Writer-actor Adivi Sesh felt that "the word is somewhat abused," and used like a euphemism for dubbed film.[37]

Tracking portal Box Office India stated that the term "pan India" means nothing in Hindi film circuits and it is only Hollywood films that cater to all of India.[38] Bharti Dubey and Hemachandra Ethamukkala of The Times of India stated that the pan-Indian films have mostly been action films and criticised the perceived violence in such films.[39] Writing for The Swaddle, Rohitha Naraharisetty feels pan-Indian films glorify toxic masculinity and the "angry young man" archetype, while suffering from underdeveloped and heavily objectified female characters.[40]

See also

References
  1. "The secret of the pan-Indian success of films from the south: Balancing the local and universal". The Indian Express. 3 August 2022. Archived from the original on 7 August 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  2. Mehrotra, Suchin (19 September 2019). "What Does It Take To Make A Pan-India Movie?". Film Companion. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  3. "'Pan-India' films make a comeback". Telangana Today. 17 April 2021. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  4. Hrishikesh, Sharanya; Sebastian, Meryl (20 April 2022). "KGF 2, RRR, Pushpa: The southern Indian films winning on Bollywood's turf". BBC News. Archived from the original on 22 April 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  5. "'Enthiran' rewrote South's place in Indian cinema". Deccan Herald. 10 October 2020. Archived from the original on 22 April 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  6. "Did you know? The very first pan-Indian Kannada film is this 1959 classic starring Dr. Rajkumar". The Times of India. 3 February 2021. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  7. Shrikrishna, Aditya (15 May 2022). "Understanding the new 'pan-Indian' film". Frontline. Archived from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  8. "Top 30 South Indian Movies Dubbed in Hindi". FilmTimes. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  9. "MS Dhoni biopic to release in 4,500 screens across 60 countries". The Indian Express. 25 September 2016. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
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  14. S, Srivatsan (7 January 2022). "The 'pan-Indian' strategy of Telugu cinema". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
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