This Valentine’s Day is set to witness a dull start at the box office. Although three notable films – Funky, Couple Friendly, and Seetha Payanam – are releasing this weekend, the buzz is surprisingly low.
Among them, Vishwaksen’s Funky carries relatively bigger names, including a well-known director and producer. Yet, the film is registering almost negligible advance bookings.
Unlike the other two releases, Funky is a crucial project for both the hero and the director.
Director KV Anudeep, who shot to fame with the blockbuster "Jathi Ratnalu", stumbled with his second outing.
His debut film "Pitta Goda" had also gone largely unnoticed. Now, with his fourth film, he needs to prove that he is not a one-film wonder. A strong success is essential for him to regain credibility and be taken seriously in the industry.
For Vishwaksen, the stakes are equally high. Though he established himself as a promising young star in Telugu cinema, his market hasn’t grown in recent times.
His last two films underperformed at the box office, and even his OTT prospects have weakened. He now needs a solid hit to bounce back and stabilize his position.
Producer Naga Vamsi is known for making confident statements at public events, but strong openings have not consistently backed those claims.
The current advance booking trend of this film reflects that gap. He, too, needs a clear success to silence doubts.In short, Funky is more than just another release.
It is a real test for the director, the hero, and the producer alike.
