Akhanda 2 Falling Behind in Promotions

The sequel to Nandamuri Balakrishna’s 2021 blockbuster Akhanda is on its way. Titled Akhanda 2: Thaandavam, the film is set for a pan-India release on December 5, marking Balakrishna’s first nationwide outing. The first installment gained popularity across languages after its digital release, building strong anticipation for part two. However, the promotional campaign seems to be moving slower than expected.

On Thursday, the makers released a countdown poster marking 50 days to release, using an already released poster. With less than two months left, fans expected more promotional material by now. So far, only one teaser, featuring a single sequence has been released. Music played a key role in the success of Akhanda, with Thaman’s album turning into a chartbuster. But no songs from Akhanda 2 have been unveiled yet. Even fans are disappointed with the lack of proper promotions.

Promotions play a major role in driving openings, especially for franchise films. The recent case of Kantara Chapter 1 is a reminder, its limited promotions affected its initial box office despite strong potential. Trade analysts believe stronger visibility could have pushed its numbers closer to the 1000-crore mark.

Akhanda 2 risks facing a similar issue if the team doesn’t step up soon. While the makers are reportedly giving equal attention to the Hindi version to tap into the northern market, that effort needs to reflect in nationwide promotions. Adding to the challenge, Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar, directed by Uri filmmaker Aditya Dhar, is also hitting screens on the same day.

With Diwali approaching, this is the right time for Akhanda 2 to kickstart a strong promotional campaign across India to ensure solid openings.

Akhanda 2 Thaandavam stars Nandamuri Balakrishna, Samyukta Menon, and Aadi Pinisetty. It is written and directed by Boyapati Sreenu, produced by Raam Achanta and Gopi Achanta under 14 Reels Plus, presented by M. Tejaswini Nandamuri, with music by Thaman S.