This week has turned out to be a strange one for movie releases. While film teams are going all out with promotions, a massive cyclone is sweeping in, leaving both major releases on edge.
The re-release of Baahubali: The Epic; a combined cut of Baahubali 1 and Baahubali 2; hit theatres today.
The bookings were decent for the opening day, but advance sales for the coming days are far below expectations.
Since this is a re-release, the film’s performance over the weekend is crucial; and that’s exactly when the cyclone is expected to hit.
Meanwhile, the other big film, Mass Jathara, is facing its own troubles.
The team scheduled premieres for Thursday evening and a full release from Friday, but the response has been dull. Advance bookings for Saturday are even worse, with almost no buzz in several regions.
Adding to the tension, the Montha cyclone has already wreaked havoc across several parts of Andhra Pradesh and has now begun showing its impact in Telangana.
Heavy rains and winds are expected across Telangana today, raising doubts about how many people will actually turn up at theatres. Occupancy, already weak, looks set to drop further due to the storm.
In fact, several single-screen theatres in Andhra Pradesh have already shut down because of the cyclone; and may remain closed today and tomorrow as well.
