Despite a golden long weekend with holidays like Independence Day and Varalakshmi Vratam, Tollywood didn’t make the most of it. With no major blockbuster releases, even anticipated films like Double iSmart, Mr. Bachchan and Thangalaan underperformed, while the small film Aay could only achieve average collections.
The recent long weekend in August was a perfect chance for Tollywood to shine with major releases. The extended holiday starting with Independence Day on Thursday followed by Varalakshmi Vratam, on Saturday and Sunday offered an ideal setting for big box-office hits. However, this potential went largely untapped, leading to a disappointing outcome for the industry.
Tollywood fans were eagerly awaiting heavyweights like Double iSmart, Mr. Bachchan, and Thangalaan. Yet, none of these films managed to create the expected impact. Double iSmart, a sequel to a blockbuster carried high expectations but didn’t deliver the magic of its predecessor. Mr. Bachchan despite starring Ravi Teja in Harish Shankar’s direction also failed to generate a strong buzz, while Vikram’s Thangalaan, a period drama with a rich visual appeal couldn’t pull crowds as anticipated.
Given the long weekend, Tollywood could have reaped massive profits with strategic releases, but the scheduling and content didn’t live up to audience expectations. This lack of major hits left the box office with only average collections. Even smaller films like Aay, which were banking on the holiday crowd, saw only moderate success. Aay had an emotional and relatable storyline but couldn’t compete with the lackluster response overall.
The long weekend could have been a blockbuster bonanza if the industry had released big-ticket films with good content. The absence of good content films meant that theaters remained underutilized, and the festive atmosphere was lost. Audiences who were ready to celebrate the holidays with engaging cinema instead found themselves with few exciting options, leading to an overall weak turnout.
