4 July, 2006
For all those Telugu film lovers who had a bad time last year watching dubbing films making it big in Telugu compared to straight films, the year 2006 offers a big respite. The first half of the year had been very fruitful with hands full of successes.
The good news is that the overseas market is booming and the Indian domestic market, mainly Karnataka, Orissa, Tamilnadu and Mumbai have brought in more revenue to the industry. Apart from the conventional business avenues, market is wide open in the form of internet rights, satellite and television rights for blockbusters are being snapped up at astronomical rates.
This year started on a happy note with 3 of the Sankranthi releases turning into blockbusters
Devadasu (11 January): Devadasu is the first direct Telugu film of year 2006. This film generated flop talk on day one and the collections went down in the following weeks. But after 5th week, this film rose like a phoenix and collections picked up slowly and steadily. In places like Ongole and Machipatnam where Devadasu was lifted due to bad collection was screened again due to public demand. In these centers too Devadasu went on to become a huge blockbuster. YVS Chowdary proved to be a true-spirited warrior by doing aggressive promotion for the film. YVS Chowdary’s taking, Chakri’s music, Ram’s debut and Ileana looks have become highlights of the film. This film threw YVS Chowdary into league of big stars. A few top heroes expressed their eagerness to act in the direction of YVS. Ileana became the overnight dream girl of Telugu audiences. Her remuneration skyrocketed into huge figure. Her demand is such in Telugu film industry today that heroes would not even looking into the script, if the producer comes up with confirmed dates of Ileana. Devadasu is just completed 175 days in 17 centers.
Style (12 January): Released on 12th of January, this film generated good talk and good collections. With Style, Lawrence proved that he is not a flash in pan as director. It is also a comeback film for Lawrence as hero. He tried as hero with ‘Speed Dancer’ around 8 years back but in vein. Fuelled by the success of Style, Lawrence has decided to cast himself as hero in his next directorial venture. Producer Lagadapati Sridhar scored success again with this meaningful film. This film is being dubbed and released in Tamil as ’Lakshya’ very soon. On trade aspect, Style fetched decent profits to the distributors and ran for 100 days in more than 30 centers.
Lakshmi (14 January): Mass director VV Vinayak directed the family hero Venkatesh for the first time. And the result is a blockbuster. This film generated instant hit talk from the word go and went on to collect over 20 crores. Venkatesh has got Sankranthi hit after a long gap in his career. With this hit, VV Vinayak’s remuneration went up beyond the reach of normal producers. At present, Vinayak is the highest paid director in Telugu film industry. Lakshmi ran for 100 days in 94 direct centers, which is the highest number in career of Venkatesh. With this inspiration, Venkatesh has decided not to miss upcoming Sankranthis. His next film is expected to hit the marquee for Sankranthi 2007. Lakshmi also made Nayana Tara the lucky mascot for Telugu film producers. All her three films in Telugu - Chandramukhi, Ghazani and Lakshmi - so far are super hits.
Ranam (10 February): Producer Pokuri Babu Rao changed his track from thought-provoking and social cause films to complete entertainer with Ranam film. This film does not offer any message and has lot of comedy. Gopichand who don’t want to burn out doing pucca mass films has chosen this film to as it gave him some scope for under-play. Choreographer Amma Rajasekhar made his debut as director with this film. Though started as an average film, Ranam went on to pick the momentum up and ran for 100 days in 24 direct centers.
Sri Ramadasu (30 March): The Telugu new year Ugadi got another good moment along with it in the form of Sri Ramadasu film. Made with the team of highly successful film Annamayya, Sri Ramadasu went on to become another huge hit in the career of Nagarjuna. Nagarjuna is undoubtedly the most versatile (at the same time successful) hero in Telugu film industry today. The way he has chosen films in the past five years only authenticate it. His films Santosham (love & family), Manmadhudu (romantic comedy), shivamani (love and mass), Nenunnanu (family), Mass (mass), Super (class & youth) and Sri Ramadasu (devotional) show the versatility of Nagarjuna. Getting successes while doing such radically different films need terrific judgment. Sri Ramadasu not only got appreciation from critics but also got blessings from the Thridandi chinaJiyar Swamiji, Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamy etc. Sri Ramadasu is all set to run for 100 days in 67 centers.
10th Class (7 April): Venkata Shyam Prasad who made award winning films like Swayam Varam and Chirunavvutho in the past did not get success off late. He established a new banner and produced ‘10th Class’ with all newcomers in the direction of debutant director Chandu. Made with a very limited budget, this film hit off well with college going crowds and became a hit. The distributors who bought this film at a throw-away prices made good money over it. The activists filed a petition in court objecting steamy scenes and objectionable episodes in the film. However, the high court gave a clean chit to the film. Fueled with this success, Shyam Prasad started another project and Chandu is directing another flick.
Pokiri (28 April): Mahesh Babu Pokiri is the biggest money spinner in Telugu film industry till date. Puri Jagan’s extraordinary characterization and Mahesh Babu’s tremendous histrionics generated the right chemistry for this film. Mahesh Babu is crowned as the latest superstar of Telugu cinema for converting this film into the biggest Telugu revenue grosser. Producers who gave a deaf ear Puri Jagan before Pokiri started making beelines outside his office after the release. Pokiri expanded the range of Telugu cinema in abroad. It collected a share of more than two crores in USA alone. In UK, this film amassed 12 lakhs share. In Australia and Singapore, Pokiri collected more than 10 lakhs share each. The Gulf collections are expected to be above 15 lakhs share.
Kithakithalu (5 May): EVV Satyanarayana did not have a resounding success after Chala Bagundi (2006). Kithakithalu film was made with a shoestring budget of over a crore with all comedians in Telugu film industry. The concept of creating humor out of relationship between skinny husband and obese wife worked out a big way for EVV. This film is poised to collect over 5 crores in long run by giving EVV more hope to come up with many more comedy flicks.
Godavari (19 May): Sekhar Kammula worked over one and half years to make this film with Godavari backdrop. Godavari film generated extraordinary reviews and good mouth talk. This film also shown Sumanth’s finest acting abilities. Godavari is doing well in all class centers. Godavari is the biggest revenue grosser among small films in USA. This film collected a gross of 1 crore in 3 weeks of release in USA. This film would have been a bigger hit if they made it in limited budget in less number of working days.
Vikramarkudu (23 June): SS Rajamouli never seem to be getting tired of delivering hit films. SS Rajamouli who got a bad name for spendthrift filmmaking made sure that the producer has got table profit with this film. As per our sources, producer ML Kumar Chowdary made a table profit around 2 crores before the release of film. This film collected a share of over 5 crores in the first week and is going steady in the second week. Ravi Teja proved himself again as a great mass entertainer.
USA scene: The market is USA is slightly different from that of market in AP. The following films made good money for the distributors -
1. Pokiri (Record breaking film)2. Sri Ramadasu (Good profits)3. Godavari (biggest revenue earner among small films)4. Happy (decent profits)5. Chukkallo Chandrudu (minimum guarantee)
For all those Telugu film lovers who had a bad time last year watching dubbing films making it big in Telugu compared to straight films, the year 2006 offers a big respite. The first half of the year had been very fruitful with hands full of successes.
The good news is that the overseas market is booming and the Indian domestic market, mainly Karnataka, Orissa, Tamilnadu and Mumbai have brought in more revenue to the industry. Apart from the conventional business avenues, market is wide open in the form of internet rights, satellite and television rights for blockbusters are being snapped up at astronomical rates.
This year started on a happy note with 3 of the Sankranthi releases turning into blockbusters
Devadasu (11 January): Devadasu is the first direct Telugu film of year 2006. This film generated flop talk on day one and the collections went down in the following weeks. But after 5th week, this film rose like a phoenix and collections picked up slowly and steadily. In places like Ongole and Machipatnam where Devadasu was lifted due to bad collection was screened again due to public demand. In these centers too Devadasu went on to become a huge blockbuster. YVS Chowdary proved to be a true-spirited warrior by doing aggressive promotion for the film. YVS Chowdary’s taking, Chakri’s music, Ram’s debut and Ileana looks have become highlights of the film. This film threw YVS Chowdary into league of big stars. A few top heroes expressed their eagerness to act in the direction of YVS. Ileana became the overnight dream girl of Telugu audiences. Her remuneration skyrocketed into huge figure. Her demand is such in Telugu film industry today that heroes would not even looking into the script, if the producer comes up with confirmed dates of Ileana. Devadasu is just completed 175 days in 17 centers.
Style (12 January): Released on 12th of January, this film generated good talk and good collections. With Style, Lawrence proved that he is not a flash in pan as director. It is also a comeback film for Lawrence as hero. He tried as hero with ‘Speed Dancer’ around 8 years back but in vein. Fuelled by the success of Style, Lawrence has decided to cast himself as hero in his next directorial venture. Producer Lagadapati Sridhar scored success again with this meaningful film. This film is being dubbed and released in Tamil as ’Lakshya’ very soon. On trade aspect, Style fetched decent profits to the distributors and ran for 100 days in more than 30 centers.
Lakshmi (14 January): Mass director VV Vinayak directed the family hero Venkatesh for the first time. And the result is a blockbuster. This film generated instant hit talk from the word go and went on to collect over 20 crores. Venkatesh has got Sankranthi hit after a long gap in his career. With this hit, VV Vinayak’s remuneration went up beyond the reach of normal producers. At present, Vinayak is the highest paid director in Telugu film industry. Lakshmi ran for 100 days in 94 direct centers, which is the highest number in career of Venkatesh. With this inspiration, Venkatesh has decided not to miss upcoming Sankranthis. His next film is expected to hit the marquee for Sankranthi 2007. Lakshmi also made Nayana Tara the lucky mascot for Telugu film producers. All her three films in Telugu - Chandramukhi, Ghazani and Lakshmi - so far are super hits.
Ranam (10 February): Producer Pokuri Babu Rao changed his track from thought-provoking and social cause films to complete entertainer with Ranam film. This film does not offer any message and has lot of comedy. Gopichand who don’t want to burn out doing pucca mass films has chosen this film to as it gave him some scope for under-play. Choreographer Amma Rajasekhar made his debut as director with this film. Though started as an average film, Ranam went on to pick the momentum up and ran for 100 days in 24 direct centers.
Sri Ramadasu (30 March): The Telugu new year Ugadi got another good moment along with it in the form of Sri Ramadasu film. Made with the team of highly successful film Annamayya, Sri Ramadasu went on to become another huge hit in the career of Nagarjuna. Nagarjuna is undoubtedly the most versatile (at the same time successful) hero in Telugu film industry today. The way he has chosen films in the past five years only authenticate it. His films Santosham (love & family), Manmadhudu (romantic comedy), shivamani (love and mass), Nenunnanu (family), Mass (mass), Super (class & youth) and Sri Ramadasu (devotional) show the versatility of Nagarjuna. Getting successes while doing such radically different films need terrific judgment. Sri Ramadasu not only got appreciation from critics but also got blessings from the Thridandi chinaJiyar Swamiji, Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamy etc. Sri Ramadasu is all set to run for 100 days in 67 centers.
10th Class (7 April): Venkata Shyam Prasad who made award winning films like Swayam Varam and Chirunavvutho in the past did not get success off late. He established a new banner and produced ‘10th Class’ with all newcomers in the direction of debutant director Chandu. Made with a very limited budget, this film hit off well with college going crowds and became a hit. The distributors who bought this film at a throw-away prices made good money over it. The activists filed a petition in court objecting steamy scenes and objectionable episodes in the film. However, the high court gave a clean chit to the film. Fueled with this success, Shyam Prasad started another project and Chandu is directing another flick.
Pokiri (28 April): Mahesh Babu Pokiri is the biggest money spinner in Telugu film industry till date. Puri Jagan’s extraordinary characterization and Mahesh Babu’s tremendous histrionics generated the right chemistry for this film. Mahesh Babu is crowned as the latest superstar of Telugu cinema for converting this film into the biggest Telugu revenue grosser. Producers who gave a deaf ear Puri Jagan before Pokiri started making beelines outside his office after the release. Pokiri expanded the range of Telugu cinema in abroad. It collected a share of more than two crores in USA alone. In UK, this film amassed 12 lakhs share. In Australia and Singapore, Pokiri collected more than 10 lakhs share each. The Gulf collections are expected to be above 15 lakhs share.
Kithakithalu (5 May): EVV Satyanarayana did not have a resounding success after Chala Bagundi (2006). Kithakithalu film was made with a shoestring budget of over a crore with all comedians in Telugu film industry. The concept of creating humor out of relationship between skinny husband and obese wife worked out a big way for EVV. This film is poised to collect over 5 crores in long run by giving EVV more hope to come up with many more comedy flicks.
Godavari (19 May): Sekhar Kammula worked over one and half years to make this film with Godavari backdrop. Godavari film generated extraordinary reviews and good mouth talk. This film also shown Sumanth’s finest acting abilities. Godavari is doing well in all class centers. Godavari is the biggest revenue grosser among small films in USA. This film collected a gross of 1 crore in 3 weeks of release in USA. This film would have been a bigger hit if they made it in limited budget in less number of working days.
Vikramarkudu (23 June): SS Rajamouli never seem to be getting tired of delivering hit films. SS Rajamouli who got a bad name for spendthrift filmmaking made sure that the producer has got table profit with this film. As per our sources, producer ML Kumar Chowdary made a table profit around 2 crores before the release of film. This film collected a share of over 5 crores in the first week and is going steady in the second week. Ravi Teja proved himself again as a great mass entertainer.
USA scene: The market is USA is slightly different from that of market in AP. The following films made good money for the distributors -
1. Pokiri (Record breaking film)2. Sri Ramadasu (Good profits)3. Godavari (biggest revenue earner among small films)4. Happy (decent profits)5. Chukkallo Chandrudu (minimum guarantee)
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