BO Talk: Disappointing Turn Out At Theatres

Four movies, namely Allari Naresh’s Aa Okkati Adakku, Suhaas’ Prasanna Vadanam, Varalakshmi Sarathkumar’s Sabari, and Raashi-Tamannaah’s Baak (the Telugu-dubbed version of Aaranmanai 4), premiered in theatres across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana yesterday. However, none of these films managed to captivate either audiences or critics.

Aa Okkati Adakku, benefiting from Allari Naresh’s popularity and the recognition of its title, saw a moderate opening the other day with ₹1.5+ crores gross. On the contrary, Prasanna Vadanam, Baak, and Sabari struggled to draw viewers, with trade analysts predicting a grim outlook for their box office performance.

First and foremost is the oppressive heatwave gripping the region, discouraging many from venturing out to theatres. The concurrent IPL season has also absorbed the attention of sports enthusiasts, further diminishing cinema footfall. Moreover, the ongoing buzz around the general elections has added to the diversion of potential moviegoers.

This disappointing turnout at theatres seems to validate the decision of filmmakers who opted to withhold bigger-budget releases in May. As the theatres grapple with empty seats, we have to see what the weekend will be like. With Prasanna Vadanam getting good buzz, and others a below-average talk, we have to see what happens with collections.