Amid the persistent challenges faced by theaters in the Telugu states, survival remains a relentless battle. The struggle extends beyond simply weathering the ongoing pandemic; it encompasses the arduous task of covering essential expenses like rent. The recent wave of movie postponements has dealt a severe blow, leaving theaters in a precarious position, with barren weekends devoid of notable Telugu releases. Instead, the lone cinematic offering was a Tamil dubbed film, "Mark Antony," which made its debut on September 15th.
Compounding the theaters' woes, Vishal's latest film failed to make a significant impact in the Telugu states, and preceding releases haven't fared much better. These collective disappointments have cast a dark cloud over the prospects of theater owners, who find it increasingly challenging to meet their rent obligations. Unfortunately, this grim situation is set to persist for yet another week, with no noteworthy releases scheduled for the upcoming weekend.
In this rather bleak scenario, a glimmer of hope emerges for theater owners in the form of "Saptha Sagaralu Daati," a Kannada dubbed film. While the film garnered favorable reviews in its original Kannada version, its appeal may be confined to a specific audience. The multiplex crowds might embrace the film if it resonates with its intended demographic and receives positive word-of-mouth. "Saptha Sagaralu Daati" hit the screens on September 22, providing a modest ray of optimism.
"It is to be noted that audience are not ready to watch any and every film that is releasing in the theaters. It is only star heroes who can attract them to the theaters and that is also possible only if those films garner a positive talk on the first and second day. Otherwise, there needs to be massive hype for the project right from the beginning. So it is very important for distributors and exhibitors to carefully choose what they want to release," said, Krishna, manager at V Celluloids.
Additionally, "7G Brindavan Colony" hit the screens September 22nd, offering a classic option for cinema enthusiasts. However, the scarcity of Telugu releases this weekend remains a concerning trend.
Looking ahead, the subsequent weekend holds some promise with the release of three films— "Skanda," "Chandramukhi 2," and "Peddha Kapu -1." It's a missed opportunity that one of these films couldn't have filled the current weekend void, potentially assisting theaters in their quest to generate revenue during these trying times.
As the saga of uncertainty continues for Telugu theaters, their resilience remains a testament to the enduring love for cinema and the indomitable spirit of those who keep the silver screen dreams alive.
