This Friday, multiple films tested their luck at the box office. However, the struggles continue for Tollywood, as the new releases are off to an underwhelming start. This February season has been very disappointing for the industry, and the latest releases haven’t brought any major relief, with none emerging as money spinners.
Hey Balwanth:
This is the only notable film released this week. Starring Suhas and Shivani Nagaram in the lead roles, the comedy entertainer was heavily promoted, with the makers consistently focusing on the protagonist’s father’s business in the film. Initially, there was not much buzz for this flick, but it gained momentum after Vamsi Nandipati and Bunny Vas took up distribution and opted for aggressive promotions.
Though the film had pre-release buzz, the same did not convert into ticket sales, and it remains to be seen if the film can bounce back over the weekend. The first half received decent applause for its comedy quotient, while the second half was criticized for derailing the fun and shifting focus to drama that didn’t click.
Nawab Cafe:
Starring Shiva Kandukuri and Teju Ashwini in the lead roles, Nawab Cafe tells the story of a youngster who takes up his family business, which carries a legacy of over four centuries. The movie received largely disappointing reviews from critics and is going unnoticed at the box office. It has been criticized for its boring moments and dull screenplay.
Bookie:
This is the Telugu-dubbed version of the Tamil movie Pookie. Ajay Dhishan, nephew of Vijay Antony, and R. K. Dhanusha (debut) played the lead roles in this film, which also features Sunil and Manchu Lakshmi in key roles. There is little awareness among cinephiles about this romantic drama, and on top of that, it received underwhelming reviews, leaving it with fewer chances of making any impact at the box office.
Taapsee Pannu’s courtroom drama Assi also hit the big screens yesterday, but the film is off to a low opening, collecting around Rs. 1 crore nett in India. The movie needs to register strong growth today and tomorrow to post a respectable weekend figure.