Watch: “Reviews Don’t Kill a Film”

Many actors speak about promotions, collections and social media buzz these days. But senior actor Vadde Naveen had a different take altogether. During a recent interaction for his upcoming film Transfer Trimurthulu, he stated that no amount of marketing can save a film if the content fails to connect with audiences.

The actor said cinema today faces competition from everywhere. From mobile phones to IPL and OTT platforms, audiences have countless entertainment options. That is why filmmakers must give people a strong reason to step into theatres.

Interestingly, he believes reviews and social media reactions spread much faster than before, but the ultimate deciding factor remains word of mouth. According to him, a genuinely good film will always find its audience sooner or later.

Reflecting on the current trend, he noted that viewers no longer enjoy outdated storytelling patterns. Separate comedy tracks and predictable scenes are losing relevance. Audiences now expect freshness and engagement throughout the film.

The actor also stressed that screenplay has become more important than ever. He feels films should remain unpredictable and exciting, especially after the interval, to keep viewers invested until the end.

After going through a long phase of uninspiring projects, he chose to wait for the right script rather than do films just for the sake of staying busy. His latest project, he says, is built around that very belief in strong content and audience engagement.