While spin-offs have been around for a long time, superhero franchises and fantasy series have recently popularized the idea of giving fan-favorite characters their own spotlight, especially in OTT Spin-off plots featuring these characters, who would otherwise have minimal screen time in big-budget blockbusters, allow creators to not only satisfy the audience but also utilize world-building. Some of the popular examples of spin-off series, which already have several seasons in the works, include Gen V (The Boys), House of the Dragon (Game of Thrones) and The Rings of Power (The Lord of the Rings).
While such spin-off productions, be it in the form of films or shows, are all the rage in the West among creators, the trend is yet to gain traction in India. To understand more, we spoke to some Indian creators and actors to get their take on its surprising absence in India, along with its pros and cons.
Read also: HBO releases the first trailer for Game of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
Keeping the mystery
A project involves a specific number of characters, each with a unique role to play. For the actor Gulshan Devaiahwho plays Chaar Cut Atmaram in the series Guns and gulaabsThere is no need for everyone’s story to be highlighted in a separate spin-off as that might take away from the original plot. “I have no idea why we are not doing spin-offs, but I am not sure if it is a good trend to follow. For me, I would say there should not be any spin-off for Atmaram. Some characters lose their charm if there is no mystery in them,” shares Devaiah.
Pressure of the original plot
Actor Sharib Hashmi, who plays JK in The family man Hashmi, who has worked on the series, shares a similar sentiment and believes that spin-offs should not be made just to keep the original project relevant. “They should only be made if there is a broad scope and they should not be seen as a mere opportunity to make money or stay relevant.” However, Hashmi is not entirely against the idea. He continues, “I would be very happy if my character had a spin-off, but only if there is a good story. Look at Better Call Saul (Breaking Bad), which had a brilliant story and is as good as the original.”
Read also: From Shilpa Shetty to Sidharth Malhotra: Celebrities who made their OTT debut this year
Beginning after the end
While original plots may leave very little room for detours, for Kanishk Varma, director of Sanak (2021) and the third season of cricket-based thriller Inside Edge, a spin-off is a great way to dive into the universe whose original story has come to a certain end. “You have to know when to throw in the towel. You can’t keep dragging a story along. That’s why spin-offs are a great idea to come back to. You get a chance to come back to a series and work on something you wanted to do in a particular season of the show.”
Need for a change
While spin-offs are lacking in India, writer Kanika Dhillon, who has been behind the story of Hasseen Dillruba (2021) and the latest installment, Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba, is of the opinion that we will soon catch up. “We have already noticed the culture of sequels across multiple universes, which is prevalent in Hollywood. So, I am sure that spin-offs will become a common thing here too, especially since people give a lot of love to thrillers.” [side] characters,” he shares.
Abhishek Banerjee, whose character Hathoda Tyagi from the Paatal Lok series earned him critical acclaim, adds, “Many characters have potential [for a spin-off] After they become a hit with the public, I think the public will definitely want that change.”
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the post for any purpose.
We respect the intellectual property rights of content creators. If you are the owner of any material featured on our website and have concerns about its use, please contact us. We are committed to addressing any copyright issues promptly and will remove any material within 2 days of receiving a request from the rightful owner.