The Telugu film industry is grappling with an avoidable drought at the box office. Since the success of Chiranjeevi’s Mana Shankara Vara Prasad in mid-January this year, the exhibition sector has faced a string of disappointments. It has since abandoned all hope of an eventful summer. Recent Telugu movie releases have struggled to find footing, leaving distributors and theatre owners in an unenviable position. The lack of a major blockbuster in Tollywood has created a void. Smaller films were never meant to undo the harm caused by the failure of two biggies (The Raja Saab and Ustaad Bhagat Singh) and the exit of two other major projects (Peddi and The Paradise), which vacated their April/May slots.
Exits and Mega Failures
The upcoming Tollywood summer calendar offers little immediate relief. Hopes were initially pinned on Peddi and The Paradise to revive the market. However, both high-profile projects have shifted their schedules; Peddi is now eyeing a June release, while The Paradise has moved to August. If the Ram Charan-starrer misses its early June slot, the dry spell could stretch into the monsoon season. The absence of anticipated hits like Ustaad Bhagat Singh and The Raja Saab has only intensified this sense of scarcity.
Across the Board, They Failed
The list of recent failures is growing. Biker proved to be an expensive affair for its producers. Other titles like Funky, Vishnu Vinyasam, and Mrithyunjay vanished from theatres shortly after their debut. Even the investigative crime thriller drama Euphoria and the recent comedies, Paapam Prathap and Thimmarajupalli TV, failed to resonate with even a niche segment. Dacoit managed to sustain itself to an extent, but it ultimately fizzled at the box office. Earlier, Couple Friendly saw only modest collections.
Can Satya and Samantha End the Spell?
Attention now shifts to the month of May. The industry is looking to supporting actor-turned-lead actor Satya’s action-spoof, Jetlee, and Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s spy-drama Maa Inti Bangaram to break the curse. Jetlee carries decent expectations due to its unique genre. Maa Inti Bangaram could spring a necessary surprise if it successfully balances family emotions with action. Time will tell!
Also Read: Watch Video: Peddi Pehelwan Glimpse: Ram Charan Flaunts Six Pack Abs
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: filmfare.com
