The much-hyped sports drama Peddi opened to sensational numbers, collecting over Rs 60 crore share across the Telugu states on its first day. However, the film reportedly witnessed a noticeable drop on day two, earning around Rs 26 crore share. Despite the decline, the Ram Charan-starrer has already crossed Rs 85 crore share in the Telugu states and remains on course for a strong first weekend. Yet, the film still has a long way to go to recover its estimated Rs 140 crore theatrical business and definitely triggered mixed response.
Producer Lagadapati Sridhar acknowledges the dip but believes the film’s strengths remain intact. “Ram Charan worked extremely hard for the role. He transformed himself physically to convincingly portray a wrestler, cricketer and runner. Eventually, the film has turned out to be a one-man show driven by his performance,” says Sridhar.
At the same time, he admits that the film has generated mixed reactions among audiences. “Perhaps Gen Z viewers found it difficult to connect with the pain, suffering and struggles of tribal communities depicted in a fictional period setting inspired by the 1980s and 1990s. On the other hand, middle-aged and older audiences are visiting theatres in large numbers because of their trust in the Mega family and their appreciation for emotionally driven stories,” he explains.
According to him, Ram Charan delivered a powerful performance, but the film’s narrative may not have fully capitalized on the actor’s strengths. “Ram Charan is a racing horse, but he may not have been given the ideal track to gallop towards a massive victory. Having said that, collections are still improving in several centres,” he notes.
Sridhar believes star power alone cannot guarantee success. “There has to be strong chemistry between a star’s charisma and the story. Depending solely on stardom is risky. The tribal backdrop and tragic narrative had certain shortcomings that prevented some sections of the audience from emotionally connecting with the film,” he says.
He further observes that period dramas and tragic stories may not always appeal to younger viewers. “Today’s generation prefers stories set in contemporary times. If filmmakers choose a period backdrop, it needs to be rooted in real-life events or inspired by well-known historical incidents. Otherwise, retaining audience interest becomes challenging,” he points out.
The producer also feels the attempt to balance the film’s intense emotions with glamour elements did not entirely work. “Since the story is loaded with pain and hardship, the director may have felt that glamour through Janhvi Kapoor’s character would provide relief. However, it didn’t blend seamlessly with the narrative. Ram Charan and Janhvi looked modern and stylish, while several other characters appeared disconnected from that world despite extensive prosthetic work. That lack of consistency may have contributed to the mixed reports,” he explains.
“Similarly, the hero’s final transformation was largely conveyed through montage sequences and lacked the dramatic build-up needed to elevate the emotional payoff,” he adds.
Meanwhile, Ram Charan actively promoted the film in North India, hoping to make a strong impact in the Hindi market. However, the response has been relatively modest so far, with the film reportedly collecting around Rs 6 crore in Hindi-speaking regions and still counting. “Buchi Babu Sana remained committed to his emotional and tragic narrative. While that approach may resonate strongly with Telugu audiences, it limits the film’s appeal beyond regional boundaries. The story lacks the universal elements required to attract a wider national and international audience,” Sridhar concludes.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
