In contemporary times, a film facing negative or mixed reviews on its opening day often experiences a significant drop in audience attendance from the following day, as viewers opt for the convenience of streaming services. However, this trend takes an interesting turn during the festive Sankranti season. Regardless of the initial reception, people eagerly embrace the tradition of watching movies on Bhogi, Sankranti, and Kanuma days. This unique phenomenon has piqued the interest of filmmakers, prompting them to release their creations during the Sankranti season.
A recent example is Mahesh Babu‘s ‘Guntur Karam,’ which, despite a lukewarm response on its first day, surprised both audiences and industry experts by standing strong at the box office. This unexpected success suggests a promising outlook for the film, potentially achieving an average to above-average result in its full run. The magic of the Sankranti season seems to play a crucial role, reminiscent of past instances where even movies with negative or mixed reviews managed to thrive during this festive period. Let’s explore some of these noteworthy cases from the past.
Following the successful collaboration of Mahesh Babu and Puri Jagannath in ‘Pokiri‘ in 2012, their subsequent film received mixed reviews on its opening day. Some critics expressed disappointment, noting that it did not reach the heights set by ‘Pokiri.’ However, leveraging the advantageous Sankranti season, the film managed to achieve success at the box office.
Released in 2013, this film featured Ramcharan in a double role and was directed by VV Vinayak. The movie received mixed reviews on its opening day, but it found success at the box office, thanks to the favorable Sankranti season and the director’s track record of delivering hits during this festive period.
Despite being a dubbed film with director Shankar at the helm, the Telugu audience had high expectations. However, the movie faced negative reviews on its initial day. Nevertheless, the Sankranti season played a pivotal role, turning the tables and contributing to its financial success. In the end, the film achieved an average status.
Marking NTR‘s 25th film, this Sukumar-directed movie premiered on Sankranti in 2016. Initial reviews on the opening day leaned towards the negative, yet it turned out to be a lucrative venture at the box office, making it NTR’s first film to surpass a Rs 50 crore share. Ultimately, the film settled with an average outcome.
Directed by Satish Vegesna and featuring Sharwanand, this film debuted during the Sankranthi season of 2017, initially garnering mixed reviews on its opening day. Yet, as the Sankranti festivities unfolded, the film gained significant traction at the box office, ultimately achieving blockbuster status.
In 2018, director K.S. Ravikumar presented a Sankranti gift with Nandamuri Balakrishna as the lead in this film. Despite initial negative talk on its opening day, the movie capitalized on the festive spirit of Sankranti and emerged as a successful venture at the box office.
Unveiled as a Sankranti gift in 2020, this film sparked mixed reactions on its initial day. Leveraging the combined appeal of Mahesh Babu, director Anil Ravipudi, and the festive Sankranthi season, it ultimately secured blockbuster status.
Featuring Tamil superstar Vijay, this film, even in its dubbed form for Telugu audiences, generated considerable anticipation. With Lokesh Kanagaraj at the helm, and taking advantage of the Sankranti season, the movie surprisingly turned into a blockbuster in Telugu, overcoming initial negative talk.
Directed by Kishore Tirumala, this film showcased Ram in a dual role and hit the screens during Sankranthi 2021, initially receiving negative reviews on its opening day. Despite the unfavorable talk, the movie proved to be a success at the box office, underscoring the significant impact of the Sankranti season on its overall performance.
Unveiled as a Sankranthi offering in 2023, the film “Veera Simha Reddy” sparked varied reviews on its initial day. Despite the mixed talk, the movie achieved success at the box office. It’s worth noting that the convergence of the Sankranti season and Balakrishna’s impressive form played a crucial role in the film’s overall success.
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