Film Update: 9 Reasons Why A Film Like KGF Works

You cannot miss Yash’s swagger either in his dialogue or in his personality. ‘KGF’ is deeply entrenched in the motif of swag and its strength lies in it.

New Delhi: ‘KGF: Chapter 2’s release is just a few hours away. Fan clubs on social media cannot keep their calm. Different trends and observations are being made as publications post live updates about the film’s pre-release fever. 

‘KGF 2’ features Yash, Raveenda Tandon, Sanjay Dutt, Prakash Raj and Shrinidhi Shetty. As second installment to the super-hit ‘KGF’, which released in 2018, the Chapter 2 will tell the story of how Rocky battles it out against the Prime Minister, his greatest foe Adheera and others whom he has betrayed for control over Narachi Limestone Corporation.

‘KGF: Chapter 2’ will clash with Vijay’s ‘Beast’( which released on 13th April). All eyes are on the film’s performance which some predict might outdo even Rajamouli’s ‘RRR’.

So why does a film like ‘KGF’ become the phenomenon it has? Here are  9 reasons why we think a film like ‘KGF’ works.

1. Details

From action sequences like Garuda’s death sequence #1, in which he does not die, to Garuda’s death sequence #2, in which he dies, ‘KGF’ is a film that revels in details. From how to get weapons, execute a plan and its aftermath, director Prashanth Neel is a thorough director. The interconnecting parallels and lines between characters is like a move within a Marquez novel but with a Godfather touch.

2. Pace

Despite discrepancies between various sequences and the difference in the first and the second half, the pace of ‘KGF’ is what gets to the people. In this day and age of instant gratification, the makers of ‘KGF’ are well aware of the tactics to keep audiences engaged. 

For instance, the opening sequence of ‘KGF: Chapter 1’. The first 15 minutes of the film just fly by. It's like the director cutting to the chase, to the real opening sequence of Yash fighting off goons to keep Inayat Khaleel at bay.

3. Swag

You cannot miss Yash’s swagger either in his dialogue or in his personality. ‘KGF’ is deeply entrenched in the motif of swag and its strength lies in it. This is also one of the primary reasons why the film worked so well.

4. Mass Entertainer

While Hindi films are struggling to be mass-entertainers now more than ever, films from the South, the likes of ‘Pushpa’, ‘RRR’ and ‘KGF’ for example, are solid prototypes of modern-day mass entertainers. They are multiple-genre friendly, do the music, action, dialogue and plot just the way it appeals to people across demographics.

 5. One-Man Show

One of the reasons why South films work so well — while Hindi films are experimenting and trying to be more inclusive and politically correct — is because of their heroes.

The hero of ‘KGF’, like all the massy entertainers that work, is an angry young man with blind ambition. He fights his way against all odds to reach the top, has few friends, and possesses a typical understanding of masculinity. In most of these films, barring ‘RRR’ (which had two men) it's always a one-man show.

On the other hand, women always make a cameo appearance in such films. But, why is the cinema to blame? Does it not reflect society at large?

6. Action and Violence

The Theater of Cruelty suggests a level of violence in drama that instead of its glorification the audience rejects it. However, as seen in art forms like movies, demi-god heroes perform levels of action that people become fans of. And, ‘KGF’ is no exception.

Note: Action films from the South have a kind of loyal fan base that merits a study.

7. Ideology

Stories becoming live, fiction becoming reality and a working-class hero becoming a king by sheer might. ‘KGF’ taps into the emotions, everyday reality of struggling lives of that part of people who have a hero that speaks for himself, works for himself without any fear and knowledge of ingrained class-barriers in every walk of life. Yash/ Rocky in that respect, is a one-in-a-million messiah people rest their hopes on.

“KGF is a story about a mother who has suffered a lot in her life and wants her son to not live like her. She wants him to be rich at least when he dies. That is a relatable point for the whole of the country. Only 1 percent of people who are privileged, only they may not relate to it.”- Yash in an interview.

8. Visual Storytelling

‘KGF’ has a rich colour palette. Its tonality changes with the psychological states of its hero. In the pre-enlightenment stage, i.e. when Yash is fighting for his own personal ambition, the colors are red, black and starkly bright to highlight his personal brand. Post-enlightenment, at the Narachi Limestone Cooperation when Rocky begins to fight for people around him, the color palette becomes earthy and brown.

9. The Yash Factor

Believe it or not, like it or not, ‘KGF’ is a film that stays with you long after it's over. One of the primary reasons why that happens is because of the way Yash portrays his character Rocky in the film. Perhaps, a homegrown name would have been better than the obvious references that are associated with the character name ‘Rocky’ in cinema. 

Having said that, the name Rocky does not affect the brand name of ‘KGF’ in any way. It has in fact created a niche loyal fanship for Yash and the film. And, that is a commendable feat even as the film crosses language and cultural barriers.

'KGF: Chapter 2' releases tomorrow, 14th April 2022.