Chitralahari, an average film in Sai Dharam Tej’s journey, quietly made its way into the theaters, lacking the usual buzz. Despite this, the movie managed to find success at the box office, thanks to positive word of mouth. For Sai Dharam Tej, it marked a significant comeback after a string of disappointments.
While Chitralahari received a positive response, it fell short of being a blockbuster. Yet, the latest buzz suggests that Mythri Movie Makers and director Kishore Tirumala, the helmer of the original film, are contemplating a sequel. This decision has raised eyebrows, considering the average performance of the first installment.
Sai Dharam Tej, on the other hand, took a hiatus and planned to collaborate with Sampath Nandi for a new project. However, financial challenges have surfaced for the film, with the OTT business not yielding expected results. The production team is now working on budget revisions, and if unsuccessful, the project might face cancellation.
Critics and fans alike are questioning the rationale behind planning a sequel to an average film when there are potential candidates like Tirumala Kishore’s previous successes such as ‘Nenu Sailaja.’ Sai Dharam Tej himself has a track record of super hits like ‘Supreme,’ ‘Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham,’ and ‘Virupaksha’ that could be explored for sequels.
Meanwhile, Chitralahari released in 2021 featured Sai Dharam Tej, Kalyani Priyadarshan, and Nivetha Pethuraj in lead roles, with Sunil, Vennela Kishore, and Posani Krishna Murali in key supporting roles.
