2024 has been an unpredictable year for South Indian cinema. Films that had little or no publicity campaigns, relying only on word of mouth, broke records. Meanwhile, films with high anticipation – because of their ensemble cast, famous filmmakers, or huge budgets – tend to disappoint audiences. Small budget films with compelling stories won the crown and represented their respective industries at the national and global level. Films like Premalu, Manjumel Boys, Kaa, Vaazhai, and Miyazhagan, which released with lackluster buzz, became huge commercial successes. However, on the other hand, some big budget films did not live up to expectations.

As 2024 approaches, let’s take a look at the list of films that generated huge expectations, but failed to perform.

Indian 2: The disappointing sequel

Twenty-eight years ago, directors Shankar and Kamal Haasan gave Tamil cinema a cult classic Indian film. To this day, the film remains a touchstone, particularly on corruption. Nearly three decades later, Kamal Haasan and Shankar aimed to bring back the iconic commander to fight corruption not only in Tamil Nadu, but across India.

Despite enthusiasm about the return of Indians Thatha (Grandfather,, Indian 2 failed to live up to its promiseThe film felt like a three-hour WhatsApp forward about corruption in various sectors. Although the script had an interesting idea, the tired dialogues and weak story quickly killed it. The film is full of quirky moments, such as the inclusion of a YouTube parody group called ‘Barking Dogs’. Kamal Haasan’s performance, despite being serious, felt out of place, especially with the dubbing choices, which disappointed the audience. The only real thrill came from the teaser of Indian 3, shown in the end credits.

Here is the trailer:

Kanguva: Ambitious but messy imagination

Director Siva’s Kanguva promises an epic, but unfortunately failed To hand over. The film presented a fictional world with five clans, spanning two timelines and addressed themes such as betrayal, forgiveness, and prophecy. Although technically impressive, Kanguva suffered from a disorganized screenplay that sidelined its high moments. The parallel timelines, one set in the present with Francis (Suriya) as a bounty hunter, and the other set in the past with the character Kanguva (Suriya) as a tribal prince, fail to merge effectively. doing.

While the action sequences were stunning to watch, the inconsistent pacing and weak character development made it difficult for the film to hold its own. Suriya’s earnest acting could not save the entangled plot, and Bobby Deol’s underutilized role as the hero had little impact. Additionally, the film’s overly loud sound, in terms of both dialogue and background score, became a major point of controversy.

Here is the trailer:

Double iSmart: A sequel that missed the target

Double iSmart, the highly anticipated follow-up For iSmart Shankar, this was a big disappointment. Director Puri Jagannadh, who aimed to capitalize on the success of the first film, failed to deliver a coherent story. The film’s absurd humor, heavy-handed dialogue, and repetitive plot points were unnerving. The story centers around the character Shankar (Ram Pothineni), whose memory is altered in a complex manner to aid an international drug cartel.

While Pothineni’s performance remained strong, the rest of the film faltered. Sanjay Dutt’s gangster character seemed uninspired and the comedy sequences, especially the poor portrayal by Ali, detracted from the plot. Ultimately, Double iSmart begs the question: was a sequel really necessary, or was it just an attempt to capitalize on the success of the original?

Here is the trailer:

Malaikottai Valiban: The beautiful but confusing epic

Lijo was Mohanlal’s Malaikottai Vaaliban directed by Jose Pellissery Expect to be a visual feastBut ultimately fell short. The film, about an undefeated warrior named Valiban, had great moments, especially in its action sequences and stunning cinematography. However, the film’s uneven pace and lack of a coherent screenplay left much to be desired.

The first half felt stagnant, with Valiban moving from one villain to another without any real story progression. While the pace picked up in the second half, there was still a struggle to connect the dots between events. The film’s over-reliance on superhero-like action sequences diminished its impact. Mohanlal’s performance was solid, and Danish Sait stood out in his role as the rival. But the film’s confusion in mixing historical and action elements left the audience with more questions than answers.

Here is the trailer:

Guntur Karam: missed opportunity

When Mahesh Babu collaborated with director Trivikram Srinivas Mass Masala Entertainer, Guntur KaramExpectations were sky high. Known for his successful collaborations in the past, this film was a crowd pleaser. However, despite its high production values ​​and star-studded cast, the film did not live up to expectations. The film’s reliance on formulaic tropes and predictable plot points failed to strike a chord with audiences, and it did not live up to the legacy of its previous successes.

Here is the trailer:

These films, which were supposed to prove to be game-changers in 2024, ultimately left audiences wanting more, proving that anticipation alone cannot guarantee success at the box office.