Not Dhoom, Hera Pheri or Baahubali, this is India cinema's first sequel

The trend of sequels and franchise films has quickly caught up in India. While many will remember Dhoom, Krrish, Hera Pheri and Baahubali as titles that kick-started the fashion of movie sequels in India, it would not be wrong to assert that Hollywood has taken the lead in making two or more parts of a film.

The concept of sequel works on brand building and recall value. Audiences, once familiar with a certain character, like to see them return with a different adventure or in a new setting. Commercially too, sequels and franchise films have been one of the biggest money-spinners at the box office.  

As Indian cinema prepares to step up its efforts on creating movie universes and franchises that establish a connection with the audience, we look back at the first sequel that was ever made in the country.

India's first sequel was an action film

Hunterwali Ki Beti (1943) is a Bollywood film, which is known as India's first sequel. It is a follow-up to the 1935 release Hunterwali. Both movies starred Australian-Indian actress and stuntwoman Mary Ann Evans alias Fearless Nadia. 

She is also credited with being the star of one of the earliest first female-led films in India. She is also known as the first actor to feature in a sequel.

What is Hunterwali about?

In Hunterwali, Princess Madhuri (Fearless Nadia) is shown to be belonging to the royal family. She falls in love with an ordinary person but her father is opposed to their union. Madhuri then assumes the role of a vigilante and turns "protector of the poor and punisher of evildoers". Hunterwali then goes around performing stunts like jumping over a moving carriage and then defeating 20 soldiers in one sweep with swashbuckling whipping style.

Hunterwali is a black-and-white film with a runtime of 164 minutes. The costume of Hunterwali became hugely popular and after 8 years, the actress returned in her whip-wielding avatar once again. This marked India's first sequel.