Tollywood theatre owners are facing one of the toughest phases in recent memory. After the Sankranthi releases, exhibitors are witnessing a complete bloodbath at the box office, with theatres running on heavy deficits across multiple centers.
Forget breakeven targets — several recent releases aren’t even managing to collect minimum theatre rents. The situation has become alarming for distributors and exhibitors alike, as occupancy levels remain extremely low.
Recent Telugu Releases Fail to Pull Crowds
Films that were expected to perform reasonably well have failed to deliver at the box office:
- Om Shanti Shantihi
- Euphoria
- Funky
- Hey Balwanth
Even Couple Friendly, which performed relatively better in Hyderabad, couldn’t sustain momentum in other centers. Outside prime urban markets, collections remain weak, adding further pressure on theatre owners.
The Telugu box office trend in recent weeks shows declining occupancy and poor performance across B and C centers.
Theatres Struggling to Recover Costs
Exhibitors are struggling to recover basic operational expenses — electricity, maintenance, and staffing costs. With back-to-back underperforming films, theatre margins are shrinking drastically.
The post-Sankranthi period has turned particularly difficult. Without strong content-driven hits, theatres continue facing revenue deficits.
Can Sree Vishnu Bring Relief?
At this crucial stage, Sree Vishnu is expected to provide relief to struggling exhibitors with two upcoming releases:
| Film | Release Date |
|---|---|
| Vishnu Vinyasam | 27th February |
| Mrithyunjay | 6th March |
Sree Vishnu entertainers generally have decent pulling power among audiences. If both films manage to entertain and generate positive word-of-mouth, theatres may finally see improved occupancies after weeks of losses.