Amidst the chaos and uncertainty in Andhra Pradesh over Telangana, the Telugu film industry or Tollywoood has reason to cheer as Pawan Kalyan-starrer Attarintiki Daaredi has tasted success. The film industry has for long been waiting for a commercially successful project.
A tweet by S. S. Rajamouli, who directed the Rs 100-crore movie Magadheera , reflects the positive mood. “More than anything else, AD ( Attarintiki Daaredi ) paved the way for the release of films in these difficult times. This is a big relief for the entire industry,” he tweeted.
Going by the ausience’s response, trade buzz is that the film will join the Rs 100-crore club. If it crosses the Rs 100-crore mark, it will be the third film after
The two-day bandh in Seemandhara region, however, affected collections. Violent protests in Vizianagaram, an important market for the film industry, too have hit revenues.
However, the Nizam area, which comprises Telangana districts, emerged as the biggest grosser for the film as violence had completely subsided after the Central Cabinet approved the move to form the separate State of Telangana.
Actor-businessman Nagarjuna had said the film industry had become a soft target (for protestors).
Families of some top actors have political interests too. Balakrishna and Junior NTR (TDP) and Pawan Kalyan, Ramcharan and Arjun (kin of Union Minister K. Chiranjeevi) belong to this category. As a result, a number of film projects have been hit.
Attarintiki Daaredi had to wait for three months after the producer was ready with the prints. So was the fate of Evadu (Ramcharan). Both were to hit screens in a span of a week in August. But they had to postpone the move as the Congress Working Committee gave its nod to bifurcation, triggering widespread protests in Seemandhra.
Now that Pawan Kalyan has shown the way, producers of Evadu and some other big films are reportedly gearing up to cash in on Dasara season.