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Writer's picturePrakathes Kumar

Q: Should my Protagonist always have a Character Arc?

Updated: Apr 8, 2021

A: No, not necessary.


Yes, You read it right. Although there is an unwritten screenwriting rule that says 'Your Protagonist should have a Character arc', you don't have to follow it all the time. Indeed there are movies in which Protagonists do not have a Character arc.


The keyword you should remember here is: 'Man on a Mission'.


There are stories in which the Protagonist is on a mission to make one or more character[s] realise a truth which the Protagonist himself knows already(either at the beginning or over course of the story). In a such case, the Protagonist need not have a Character arc.


 

e.g.

Chandramukhi(2005)

Here, the Protagonist Saravanan(played by Rajinikanth) already knows the truth about the legend of Chandramukhi(which he learnt over the course of the story). His mission is to make people realise there is no real ghost and thereby put an end to fear and superstitions that has been going around for almost two centuries.


 

Attarintiki Daaredi(2013)

Here, the Protagonist Gautham Nanda(played by Pawan Kalyan) already knows the truth(right from the beginning of the story) that his grandfather tried to commit suicide after his Aunt had fled home. His mission is to make his estranged Aunt realise what actually happened after she left home and make her reconcile with her Father.


 

Bigil(2019)

Here, the Protagonist Michael(played by Vijay) already knows players' strength and weakness(during the course of the story). His mission is to make them realize those and help them win the National Championship.


©ScriptsAsylum, 2020

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