What’s it about films from the South that they are generating so much heat before release? And what’s it about the big Bollywood films that they remain ice-cold till their day of release? For the Hindi film-going audience, South stars are definitely not as sought-after as our Bollywood stars. Then what explains this anomaly?
Some might argue that South stars have become household names, thanks to their popularity on satellite channels and YouTube, more so during the long lockdowns when people saw their films. That might be true but only partially. Even if they became household names, it can’t take away from the Bollywood stars, right? And frankly, it is all very fine to say that they have become household names, in hindsight. Did anyone ever predict that Pushpa: The Rise Part 1 would do so well, before the film released? Why just before the release, did any reviewer or critic even hint in his/her review that the Allu Arjun starrer would turn out to be a super-hit? Frankly, Film Information‘s was, perhaps, the only review which predicted huge box-office success for the film, on the day of its release. So, the theory that South stars are already very popular and, therefore, their films are generating heat and excitement doesn’t hold completely true.
Film Information‘s was, perhaps, the only review which predicted huge box-office success for the film, on the day of its release.
That apart, why do films like Samrat Prithviraj, Shamshera, Jugjugg Jeeyo, Ek Villain Returns and Anek not take initials commensurate with their face value, star cast, budgets, banners, etc.?
Frankly, it is the connect of the films with the audience that decides whether a film will or won’t take a flying start. Unfortunately, neither the trailers of the recent releases nor their music has been able to make that connect with the paying public for anyone to expect that they would take flying starts. Surprisingly, some South films are making that connect. No, as mentioned above, it is not just because their stars are household names. If it were only this, then Akshay Kumar, Ranbir Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Kiara Advani, John Abraham, Arjun Kapoor, Disha Patani, Tara Sutaria, Ayushmann Khurrana and several others are all also household names.
Unfortunately, neither the trailers of the recent releases nor their music has been able to make that connect with the paying public for anyone to expect that they would take flying starts.
The truth is that what the films of Bollywood stars didn’t do, films of some South stars have been able to do — their trailers have struck a chord in people’s hearts.
A forthcoming South film which is likely to open very big is Liger, starring Vijay Deverakonda. The film’s trailer has already cast its magic on the audience. People are cheering for Vijay as if they have already seen him in 20-odd films. But the truth is that Liger will be Deverakonda’s first all-India release. It’s the trailer of Liger which has made Vijay so endearing that people are awaiting its release more than, perhaps, they are looking forward to many forthcoming Hindi films. So next time, someone tells you that South films are ruling the roost only because South stars have made a place for themselves in the hearts of the audience all over India, smile and tell him, that’s only part of the reason. The other — and more important — part of the story is that the trailers of these films are doing the trick.
It may surprise many to know that the crowds at a mall in New Bombay today (31st July) to catch a glimpse of Vijay Deverakonda were so huge and, therefore, became so uncontrollable that the Liger event had to be stopped mid-way! It’s not just Deverakonda’s charisma but the film’s trailer which is at play. The tag line — Saala Crossbreed — that goes with the film’s title, has caught people’s fancy. Looking to the response of the public to the trailer, and now, looking to the response of the people of New Bombay to an event of the film, featuring the star in flesh and blood in their area, it can safely be predicted that Liger will take a start which will be the envy of many Hindi filmmakers.
It’s not just Deverakonda’s charisma but the film’s trailer which is at play.
So, connection with the paying public is key! And music, too. Before release, nothing else matters. N-O-T-H-I-N-G E-L-S-E!!