It is still 23 days ahead of release for Pawan Kalyan’s OG. Yet reports claim that $750,000 collection is already made for premiere show advance bookings in the USA. That means about 26,500 of tickets have already been sold.
But is this believable? Many doubt it. Critics call it nothing more than a publicity stunt, pointing out that in the US, tickets are never really “sold out” completely in theatres simply keep adding more shows based on demand. Even a day before release, fans can usually buy tickets for any big film with ease.
Adding to the skepticism, the student community, the backbone of Telugu film audiences in the US, is struggling financially due to curtailed part-time job opportunities following ICE restrictions.
In such a situation, who would really spend $25–30, on advance tickets? Even well settled Telugu families think twice before paying that much.
A distributor from the US bluntly remarked, “It’s clear the mass bookings are being driven by the makers themselves to create hype and hoopla, hoping to reflect it back in India. No film in history has seen such advance sales. Be it OG, or Devara or any other recent films of any hero, if this sort of numbers are seen, it shoul dbe understood as publicity driven".
He also mentioned, "If OG premeire collections are genuine and if they say it is due to Pawan Kalyan's stardom, why didn't such collections happen for Hari Hara Veera Mallu, Bheemla Nayak or Vakeel Saab.”
At the end of the day, there’s nothing wrong with aggressive marketing. But credibility matters. These gimmicks may secure strong openings, but beyond that, the film’s fate will depend entirely on its content and audience connect.
