Anthology films are certainly in business!! The inability to come up with the big-budget longer versions of series in recent times, wherein the Nation struggles to get to terms with the Covid-19 pandemic spread has been a blessing in disguise for the shorter concepts that can be shot in quick time!!
It will not be wrong if we say that the closure of theaters on a global level and the stoppage of shoots from happening owing to the pandemic spread have literally resulted in the emergence and growth of this new genre of anthology films.
So what is an anthology film?
An anthology film is the coming together of several short films which are connected with a bigger single theme, premise, or in terms of a major turning point.
Have we got the big players keen on grabbing initiative with this new trend?
Of course, yes!!
From leading Directors like Karan Johar, Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar, to Gautham Menon, Vignesh Sivan, Sudha Kongara, Karthik Subbaraj, all have accepted this new phenomenon in the OTT medium called Anthology.
We have had giant OTT services like Netflix and Amazon Prime getting a stronghold on the subjects and concepts that could do well as part of an anthology.
The beauty of an anthology is that one needs to weave a story, giving all the nuances of its plot complexity, and arriving at a befitting conclusion and climax in say, 30-40 minutes.
So how easy is this? In an era where we have so overwhelmingly embraced the seasonal formats of series on the web that have the ability in the plots to go on and on and give the viewers the desired shocking twists and drama needed to get back to the same series every time new season is brought on, anthology comes as the total opposite of it!!
One needs to be competent enough to tell a short story. This concept actually challenges the writers and creators even more. Coming up with an anthology concept is a beauty of its own, and this in itself puts to test the art of filmmaking.
One notable aspect in these anthology films that have streamed till now is that every story in the anthology is made by different directors. So there is a bouquet of sensibility and story imagination on offer in one anthology. The manner in which every director and writer tackles the concept comes with a difference. While this is good for the sake of variety, it can also spoil the whole meal put on offer. One sore story in the bouquet offered can literally ruin the success story for the other makers too.
Also, most of the anthology films that we have been seen till now, have had the underlying concept and genre being the serious and intense ones or the romantic-based flawed stories. The bigger plots have been repetitive to an extent, and there is a need to experiment more and bring in a variety of other genres in place which will make the viewing light-hearted too. Many of the stories that are part of the anthology films seen so far have been so very heavy on the heart. Flawed characters make for a great presence in such anthology films is a general observation. So there is always room to bring in diversity in terms of concepts and genres to this new trend of filmmaking.
Coming to the list of anthology films that have been on offer, Netflix has had Lust Stories, Paava Kadhaigal (Tamil), Ajeeb Daastaans, Ray. Amazon Prime has had its share of success with Unpaused, Aanum Pennum (Malayalam), Putham Pudhu Kaalai (Tamil). Have an eye on this list and this will certainly grow!! In quick time, we will also have other OTT players buying this concept of the anthology and experimenting big time.
The very recent anthology launches have come from Voot Select, which is part of the one-of-its-kind direct-to-OTTfilm festivals. Shuruaat Ka Twist, Love In Times Of Corona are anthology films that have caught up with fame in a big way.
Yes, this surely is a trend to watch out for!! But has anthology films seen enough success in India? Well, as of now, it has been a case of a bunch of good as well as sour grapes, is what we would say!!
Also, the bigger question of whether this trend will have enough takers when the Nation gets rid of the pandemic needs to be answered. Will such anthology films be made when the cash counters start to buzz again at the theaters, and also at the counters of the major OTT players, is a million-dollar question!!
But as of now, we see a lot of buzz and movement that has been happening with Netflix, Amazon Prime, and even other players coming up with announcements for more and more anthology films.
Certainly, a trend to look out for!! But for the concept to click and continue to entertain fans, makers need to really think out-of-the-box and come up with gems!!
We hope we have the talented bunch to deliver big!!