Puri Jagannadh’s iSmart Shankar was a massive hit, thanks to Ram Pothineni’s energetic performance, glamorous heroines, and Mani Sharma’s outstanding songs and background music.
Now, Puri is back with its sequel, Double iSmart.
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Sequels are typically made to cash in on the success of their predecessors and exploit their recall value. Sometimes, sequels are produced due to audience demand to see beloved characters and stories continue on the big screen.
DJ Tillu was a huge hit in theaters, and its popularity grew even more over time through TV and OTT platforms. The characters, dialogues, and situations became part of pop culture and memes. The strong recall value of DJ Tillu made the production of Tillu Square an obvious decision.
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However, that factor isn’t there for Double iSmart.
Over time, the story and characters of iSmart Shankar have faded from public memory. The film lacks the lasting appeal and recall value of DJ Tillu.
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iSmart Shankar hasn’t aged too well, with many finding its comedy as cringe, misogynistic, and vulgar.
Ram’s character and performance were memorable, but their impact has diminished over the past five years. None of iSmart Shankar’s dialogues, characters, or scenes have made any impact in meme or pop culture, leaving no lasting legacy.
On the other hand, Double iSmart has all the elements that can work with the masses like an eccentric hero, skin show of the heroines, catchy songs, and Sanjay Dutt.
The question now is whether Double iSmart can replicate the success of the original. Only time will tell if the sequel can make a similar impact at the box office.
