Mixed Q1 results in T-wood 2020 began well, but the coronavirus has put paid to hopes of a bright follow-through
The end of March also marks the end of the first quarter of the year, and at this point of reckoning, it would be safe to say that Tollywood has seen positive results.
JOYFUL JANUARY
The year 2020 started off on a great note for Tollywood! The Allu Arjun-starrer Ala Vaikuntapuramlo and Mahesh Babu’s Sarileru Neekevvaru were released for the Sankranti festival.
And much to the film industry’s delight, both films d i d extremely well at the box office. In fact, Allu Arjun’s family drama registered industry record.
“Ït was a great start to the year and I think Sankranti is such a big festival that it can accommodate up to four big releases. But the success of both Allu Arjun and Mahesh’s films has once again proved that at the end of the day, it’s content that matters”, says writer Gopi Mohan.
The posters and trailer of Ravi Teja’s Disco Raja raised audience expectations but the movie directed by Vi Anand and released on January 24 was a huge disappointment. It tanked at the box office and extended the actor’s dull period.
But what went wrong with the film? “Although the makers projected it as Sci-Fi thriller, it did justice neither to the Sci-Fi nor the retro drama genre”, feels Jalapathi Gudelli, a film critic.
Naga Shaurya’s Ashwathama and another small film, Choosi Choodangaane, failed to make a noise at the box office too. Though Shaurya’s film was marred by the heavy dose of violence, the actor’s makeover from a lover boy image to the rugged look won brownie points. an
MIDDLING FEBRUARY
Jaanu, starring Sharwanand and Samantha, was lauded for its cinematography, but the film bombed at the box office. Amid huge anticipation, Vijay Deverakonda’s World Famous Lover hit the screens on Valentine’s Day. However, the romantic entertainer directed by Kranthi Madhav ended up as a dud. It has been criticised for its uninteresting narration. “The idea of a writer imagining himself in the shoes of the protagonist in his story sounds good on paper. But it requires something special to successfully transform the idea on screen. The subject and the narration were far too complicated for the audience to connect with”, says a film critic.
It was at this point that the Nithiin-starrer Bheeshma has released. It received positive reviews from critics and set the box office on fire in terms of collections. The romantic entertainer was lauded for honest writing, humour and colloquial dialogues.
“The fact that there were repeat audiences (Above) Allu Arjun and Pooja Hegde in Ala Vaikuntapuramlo (Below) Mahesh Babu and Vijayashanti in Sarileru Neekevvaru goes to show how much the film was enjoyed”, says director Venky Kudumula, adding that the fact that the film had an underlying message amid the comic element worked big time.
Similarly, experiential films like Raahu, Pressure Cooker and Palasa 1978 made a good impact.
“Not all films are made for commercial success; there are several films made to address some issues in society. And Pressure Cooker was one such film. It dealt with the contemporary issue of parents compelling their children to pursue dollar dreams. We received several appreciative messages for backing such a content-based film,” shares producer Abhishek Nama, who bagged the film’s theatrical rights.
The Vishwak Sen-starrer Hit was — well, a hit! Produced by Nani, the Sailesh Kolanu directorial was lauded for its gripping narration and intense portrayal of the protagonist.
WASHOUT MARCH
As Even as we bid March farewell, new film releases like Orey Bujjiga and Rojullo Preminchadam Ela have been postponed due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
And with the possibility of the ongoing lockout period, scheduled to end on April 15, being extended, this could possibly be one of the worst summers for Tollywood.
“Be it big or small films, the theatres have higher occupancy during summers because of the soaring mercury levels. But this time, things are looking horrible. It’ll be a huge loss to filmmakers, exhibitors and distributors since these people can make money from the box office only if films are released,” explains a trade analyst. He says the loss can be estimated only after things get back to normal. (L-R) Vijay Deverakonda and Izabelle from World Famous Lover , Sharwanand and Samantha in Jaanu and Nithiin and Rashmika Mandanna from Bheeshma
Be it big or small films, the theatres have higher occupancy during summers because of the soaring mercury levels. But this time, things are looking horrible. It’ll be a huge loss to filmmakers, exhibitors and distributors since these people can make money from the box office only if films are released”, explains a trade analyst. He says the loss can be estimated only after things get back to normal.