What’s making anthology series the flavour of the season? Exceptional scripts for one thing…

Sheetal

Anthology series is today attracting writers, directors, actors and viewers alike. Writers are delivering exceptional scripts, prolific directors are collaborating with each other and mega actors are devoting their time for these short-format bigger-impact stories, woven with a common thread. We bring the trend and the trendsetters as they talk about anthologies becoming the breath of fresh air in the binge town…

Rediscovering romance

Amazon Prime Video original anthology series Modern Love (IMDb rating 8.0/10) of 2019 was so successful that it was renewed for Season 2 almost immediately. Stories from New York Times column, which explore relationships by the same name, this anthology released its second instalment recently.

The Indianised version of the same modern take on forever existing love for love stories got us hooked to Feels Like Ishq, which was directed by six directors for six stand-alone episodes connected with love.

The shorter-format coupled with the theme of love, it got the immediate attention of youngsters.

The sameness & inequalities

There are many ways of engaging with the viewers and questioning where your sensibilities and emotions lie is one of them. Pataal Lok actor Jaideep Ahlawat, who had tasted the success of Ajeeb Daastaans (6.7/10), also acted in Prashant Nair’s anthology series, Tryst with Destiny (6.8/10). It beautifully captured the social-economic inequalities that exist in society just like Pataal Lok but in a subtler way and with four distinct stories.

It released on November 5 on Sony Liv and was the only Indian film at the Tribeca Film Festival 2020 where it won the Best Screenplay Award. Not to forget Abhishek Banerjee becoming the face of oppressed and downtrodden with his appearance in not one but three anthologies, Unpaused (7/10), Ajeeb Daastaans and Ankahi Kahaniya (5.6/10).

Great men, greater products

Picking Satyajit Ray’s works for a subject and bringing gems of the industry onboard, the results are bound to be great. This is what made Netflix’s anthology series Ray (7.2/10) a success, which had satire to psychological thriller under one umbrella. And then, there’s Solos starring Morgan Freeman, Constance Wu and Ann Hathaway to name a few which was interconnected in stories but still an anthology which wasn’t everybody’s cup of tea. One of the reasons anthologies are doable for popular actors is because of the fewer days of shoot schedule. As there is no demand for a sequel as each segment is complete in itself is another reason why many big names have attached themselves to this genre.

From Manoj Bajpayee playing a kleptomaniac in Ray to Jaideep Ahlawat in a loveless marriage in Majnu in Ajeeb Daastaans to The White Tiger fame Adarsh Gourav doing a big budget Hollywood anthology, Extrapolations, which will be released on Apple TV, it’s no longer a rare affair. Nor to be taken for granted!

Among Hollywood stars, Kit Harrington and Ann Hathaway have been making a regular appearance in anthologies as the former actor was in Solos and is short listed for Extrapolations which will be an anthology based on climate change.

Pandemic point

The pandemic gave us more anthologies. Because of the restrictions on long shooting schedules, short stories seemed to be the only solution. Anthologies were being made earlier also. Bombay Talkies came out in 2013 and Lust Stories in 2018. It’s creative genius as audience can watch works by ace directors in one go. Also, there are many ideas which cannot be translated into full-fledged films. Exploring those ideas and executing collaborative projects is the new normal. As an actor the only difference I feel while working in an anthology is that by the time I set in, the project is complete.— Abhishek Banerjee, Actor

No strings attached

As a writer I think there are various stories that cannot be made into a series or a film but they are too good not to show the world. Those are best suited for anthologies. Also, with anthologies, there’s no pressure for sequels and each time a fresh perspective can be added. Take for example Modern Love and Walking Dead anthologies. I have presented one idea for an anthology to producers and waiting for their response. Among the recent releases, I liked Ajeeb Daastaans. — Sukhmani J. Sadana, Actress and writer

Horror zone

AMC has announced Walking Dead anthology series called Tales of The Walking Dead. The show will have six episodes featuring new and exhisting characters. Bandai Namco has officially announced the fourth and final chapter in their Dark Pictures Anthology series of horror games—The Devil in Me. Serving teen horror anthology on a platter is Disney+Hotstar’s Just Beyond which released in October.

Region matters

Regional filmmakers are not far behind when it comes to anthologies. Tamil anthology Paava Kadhaigal (8.1/10) with a stellar ensemble cast got rave reviews. Netflix’s Malayalam anthology based on MT Vasudevan Nair’s short stories is in the making. It has stars like Fahadh Faasil, Mohanlal and Mammootty.

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