If Talk Is Negative, Film Will Die On Day-1 Itself

Almost five big Telugu films and three dubbed movies are likely to compete at the Sankranthi 2024 box office of the Telugu states. Already producers and distributors are holding meetings to make sure that some of the films will drop from race, such that others will get a good number of theatres. But here comes an observation of trade pundits, that came true to many a times earlier.

On any other day, with only a few films locking horns at the box office, there is a chance of even an average and below-average movie surviving at the box office for a week or so. This is because there will be no new movies available for distributors and exhibitors until the next Friday. But during Sankranthi times, if three biggies are released on the same day, and if one of them fails, no doubt the exhibitors are most likely to replace that film with a superhit movie. During Sankranthi season, most of the local distributors and exhibitors want to make more money, but nothing else.

In 2001, during the Sankranthi season, there was a clash at the box office among three big films: Megastar’s “Mrugaraju,” Balayya’s “Narasimha Naidu,” and Venky’s “Devi Putrudu.” Unfortunately, “Mrugaraju” received a negative response on its first day (Jan 11th), leading it to be removed from many theatres from the 3rd day itself. It was replaced by “Narasimha Naidu” in some places and “Devi Putrudu” in others on January 14th. However, “Devi Putrudu” also faced challenges, and eventually, “Narasimha Naidu” gained more theaters.

Interestingly, Mahesh Babu, an upcoming star at that time, chose not to release his film “Murari” during the Pongal season, as it was crowded with big heroes’ films. Instead, “Murari” was released in the third week of February, on the 17th. Initially, the film received an average response, but over time, it became a blockbuster.

To put things in a nutshell, the Sankranthi release is not only the most profitable one if a film gets blockbuster talk, but it is also a risky one if the movie gets negative talk. The film dies on Day 1 itself if the talk is negative and there will not be even a consolation prize afterwards.