There were a lot of hopes that April would explode big time for Tollywood as there were a number of biggies lined up for release. But the month turned out to be another disappointment, with some of the films turning out to be huge disasters.
Nani’s Dasara was still running with good numbers when Ravi Teja’s Raavansura and Kiran Abbavaram’s Meter were released on April 7.
Raavanasura turned out to be an illogical thriller with no thrills. The film had a predictable plot with laughable twists and zero surprises. Ravi Teja’s performance in the negative role was somewhat ok. The film took an average opening but then fizzled out, becoming a huge flop.
Kiran Abbavaram’s last film, Vinaro Bhagyamu Vishnu Katha, was a below-average fare at the box office, and the young actor hoped that Meter would turn out to be a better box office bet. But the film was a washout right from the first show. There was not even a millimeter of substance in ‘Meter.’ Mythri Movie Makers must feel embarrassed to be associated with this project.
Samantha’s Shaakuntalam was released on April 14 after many delays. The film, directed by Gunasekhar, turned out to be a soulless epic with terrible VFX and boring narration. Samantha, who usually carries an entire film on her shoulders, gave a disappointing performance. The film opened poorly, and the negative word of mouth made sure it became the biggest disaster in Samantha’s career. It is reported that Dil Raju lost more than 20 crores.
Sai Dharam Tej’s Virupaksha, which was released on April 21, turned out to be a surprise success. The mysterious thriller went on to become a big hit not only in Telugu states but also in the US. The film received a lot of appreciation for its technical work, which made the experience memorable for the theatrical audience. The film is still running on good shares and has become the biggest grosser in Sai Dharam Tej’s career.
The last week of April saw the biggest jolt for the Telugu industry in the form of ‘Agent.’ The much-hyped Surender Reddy-directed action spy thriller starring Akhil Akkineni turned out to be a disaster ride. The logicless plot, the terrible songs & BGM, and the horrible climax made the film unbearable. The film didn’t reach even the minimum expectations of the audience. The film collected a share of a paltry Rs. 9 crores, making it one of the biggest disasters in the history of Tollywood. Producer Anil Sunkara had to come and give an apology for making this film.
Overall, except for Virupaksha, April turned out to be quite a nightmare for Tollywood producers and audiences.
