Check Out The Trailer For KRRISH 3, Bollywood's First Superhero Franchise

The film stars Hrithik Roshan, who also anchored the first two films (more on that later), as well as newly minted international celebrity Priyanka Chopra (Walt Disney's Planes, as well as a new pop album on the US charts), Vivek Oberoi, and Kangna Ranaut. The film has staked its claim on the typically very competitive Diwali holiday this year, which should clear out any other major releases that had been eyeballing the November date. 

The only other major film making a play for Diwali is Rajnikanth's comeback film, Kochadaiyaan, which will definitely have the South Indian market locked up for at least a few weeks. However, Rajni's film is still hovering over November looking for a suitable date, and numerous production delays may push it back even further.

One important point of confusion with Krrish 3 has been the title, since there was no Krrish 2. The story is in its third part, even though it wasn't initially intended to become what it is. It began as a simple sci-fi romantic comedy called Koi Mil Gaya (I've Found Someone), in which Roshan played a mentally disabled man-child who comes in contact with a cuddly blue alien and becomes a super genius in the process. 

The director, Hrithik's father Rakesh Roshan, then took the story on a very bizarre tangent by turning the man-child's son into a superhero named Krrish (short for Krishna). That film was not Koi Mil Gaya 2, but Krrish. So, it's sequel could have been Krrish 2, but instead the filmmakers have confusingly chosen to skip that title and more on to Krrish 3 since it is the third installment. A very strange and confusing move sure to have a lot of folks scratching their heads.

It is worth noting that while this is far from India's first superhero film, it does appear to be the first franchise with a superhero at its core. All of this without any kind of comic book or other source material to work from. I would imagine that makes it a bit freeing for the writers when it comes to adhering to canon, however, it also saps the saga of a history that has certainly helped the American superhero movie fad along its journey to billions of dollars.

Even though I enjoy Roshan as an actor and I even like Priyanka Chopra, I must say that I don't hold high hopes for this film. Previous big budget Indian superhero films have done well at the box office, but lack the kind of wit and relatability that have made the American films such great successes. I would love to be proved wrong, but this trailer lacks a human element that would make it a much easier sell for people like me. Take a look for yourself and see what you think.

Krrish 3 is scheduled to hit theaters on November 4.