Last Friday, five movies tested their luck at the Tollywood box office: Maa Inti Bangaaram, Deewana, Transfer Trimurthulu, Vanda Devullu, and Balan: The Boy. Out of them, Samantha’s Maa Inti Bangaaram emerged as the sole winner. The family action drama earned over Rs. 40 crores gross during its first weekend.
Initially, Akhil Akkineni’s Lenin was announced for release on June 26, but the makers later postponed the film to July 10. This gave space for at least two small films to arrive on June 26, but the industry had other plans. Instead of opting for a crowded window, moving the release to another week would have definitely increased visibility for small films.
Normally, when a big star’s film receives decent or good reports, it is likely that the movies released alongside it get sidelined. This is exactly what has happened now, as audiences have largely preferred Maa Inti Bangaaram, ignoring others.
Among the other releases, Balan: The Boy and Deewana received good reviews, but the timing of their release definitely affected the collections. Had these films arrived on June 26, the situation would have been much better than it is currently. As of now, not even a single Telugu film is scheduled for release this coming Friday.
Small films need breathing space to draw the audience’s attention, and there is a good chance they will click if they are released separately rather than in direct competition. Hopefully, filmmakers will make better release-planning decisions going forward.