Previewing Success
The trend of seeking critical reviews from select target audiences and coursecorrecting is catching on in Tollywood
A bunch of modern filmmakers have found a new route to success. A month or two prior to releasing their films, they screen the movies to representatives of target audiences, and seek their creative inputs. These suggestions are later incorporated into the movies, increasing their chances of being winners.
Explaining the process of screening, producer Raj Kandukuri, who tasted success with hits like Pellichoopulu and Mental Madhilo, says, “If it is a youth-centric movie, I’ll have more people from the 16-30 age-group among the 30-odd viewers at the screening. If it is a family entertainer, I invite housewives and even grandpas to give their suggestions.”
Acknowledging that the practice of ‘sneak peek’ is well-established in Hollywood, he says it is slowly gaining ground in the Tollywood.
“Only a handful of filmmakers are trying this route to crack the success formula. Instead of feeling dejected after a poor box office result, it’s better to cross-check with various sections of potential audiences and strike a chord with the masses,” he says.
Bekkam Venugopal, another producer who has been delivering hit films, says, he has hosted sneak peeks of his films, like Prema Ishq Kaadal, Cinema Chupistha Mama, Nenu Local and Husharu. “I am going to screen my film Paagal starring Vishwak Sen for youngsters between 16-25 — college students and others,” he adds.
Venugopal finds that young minds are sharp in judging movies and come up with intelligent, logical solutions overlooked by makers. Sharing details about gathering inputs and making corrections, he says, “We ask students to drop their written opinions in a box. We then collect the slips and go by the majority opinion. We have used the suggestions to trim the duration of the film, re-shoot bits and also chop indecent dialogues.”
Actress Poorna says she has been taking her friends, including techies and young students, to previews. “IT professionals watch movies once-in-a-while, so their opinions are worth gold. I also take my niece or nephew, since they judge the movie with an open mind. This is better in comparison to filmi-crowds who arrive with preconceived notions and carry baggage of do’s and don’ts,” points out Poorna, who wishes to have more previews for her upcoming movie Sindhura.
“It’s a female-centric movie covering the journey of a village girl into the urban world and focusses on the aspirations of young girls. I wish more girls and boys watch the movie and come up with relevant suggestions prior to the release. But I leave the decision of hosting sneak peeks to the producers of the film as they are the right ones to take a call,” she concludes.