Post-COVID, Indian film audiences, especially Telugu audiences, have largely lost interest in watching remakes in theatres, as the original versions are already easily available on OTT platforms. Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi, the Telugu remake of the Malayalam hit Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey, has suffered a disastrous run at the box office.
The Tharun Bhascker and Eesha Rebba starrer failed to attract even basic audience interest and could not collect ₹1 crore gross during its entire opening weekend. The film went into losses within the first weekend itself, clearly highlighting how risky remakes have become today.
Since the original film is already streaming on Hotstar with subtitles, audiences saw little reason to watch Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi, a remake in theatres. Adding to the problem, mixed reviews further damaged the film’s box-office prospects.
Telugu audiences, in particular, have shown a sharp decline in interest in remake films after 2020. While remakes were once popular, the rapid growth of OTT platforms and easy access to original content with subtitles have significantly changed audience preferences