Excerpt: As the Sankranthi festival approaches in 2024, South Indian cinema is gearing up for an unprecedented spectacle. The release calendar is packed. From superstar cameos to highly anticipated Telugu releases, it’s a cinematic frenzy like never before
Rajinikanth’s next movie, Lal Salaam, is all set to release during Pongal 2024. Even though Rajinikanth only has a cameo in it, the film is being promoted as his. Directed by Aishwarya Rajinikanth, the Telugu version, Lal Salaam, is joining a long list of films competing for box office success during the upcoming Sankranthi festival. Among these films, Mahesh Babu’s highly anticipated Guntur Kaaram is the most prominent. Additionally, movies like Prashant Varma’s Hanuman, Vijay Deverakonda’s project with Parasuram, and Ravi Teja’s action-packed Eagle are also confirmed for a Sankranthi release.
Venkatesh’s Saindhav, initially scheduled for Christmas, is now targeting the Sankranthi season. Sivakarthikeyan’s dubbed film Alien has also recently announced its Sankranthi release date. Adding to the list, another dubbed film, Lal Salaam,is further complicating the crowded situation. There are also discussions about the dubbed version of Sundar C’s horror comedy, Aranmanai 4, releasing around the same time.
However, the main concern is how all these dubbed films and Telugu movies will secure enough screens and showtimes during the packed Sankranthi 2024 lineup. Distributors and exhibitors face a significant challenge in accommodating all these films. If they manage to secure screens, there will be intense competition among releases, potentially affecting box office collections for both dubbed films and Telugu movies, as some theaters may prioritize Alien and Lal Salaam.
Despite following the blockbuster Jailer, Lal Salaam isn’t generating much excitement among moviegoers. Aishwarya Rajinikanth’s relatively less impressive directing history and Rajinikanth’s look as Moideen Bhai in the film have failed to create anticipation.
