Andhra King Taluka has received decent reviews and a fairly positive response from those who watched it. However, the box office numbers are not yet reflecting that momentum. The production house has not released official opening figures. Theatre occupancy over the first two days has remained average to below par. Usually, when a film gets this kind of talk, the weekend picks up fast and ticket demand increases. But in this case, that sudden growth has not happened yet.
Collections in Hyderabad and in multiplex belts have started improving slowly. However, the pace is not as fast as fans expected. Because of that, Saturday evening, night shows and Sunday box office performance are extremely crucial. If the film gains strong momentum today and tomorrow, it may settle well in the long run. If that does not happen, it might struggle to reach breakeven.
There is also added pressure because Akhanda 2 arrives next week. Its hype is expected to take over the market from Thursday evening itself. If Akhanda 2 gets a blockbuster response, it will directly affect the films currently running in theatres, including Andhra King Taluka. Even the producer admitted that Ram Pothineni and Bhagyashri travelling to the United States for promotions during the first two days may have affected collections in India.
Trade sources say the film needs under Rs. 30 crores to break even. If it manages to collect at least half of that by Sunday night, the team can relax a little. The good news is that the film is currently the first choice for family audiences this weekend. Multiplex shows have shown upward movement and single screens are stabilising slowly.
Another factor affecting the film’s theatrical footfall is the wave of exciting OTT releases like The Family Man 3, Stranger Things 5, and several new films and web series. Audiences today have many options. Unless a movie generates extraordinary word of mouth, many viewers prefer staying home and streaming instead of going to theatres for a film that is just about decent.
Ram is expected to return to Hyderabad soon. If the trend improves, he may begin a success tour to boost the film further.
For now, everything depends on how the film performs by Sunday night. The next 24 hours will decide whether Andhra King Taluka becomes a steady success or loses momentum before Akhanda 2 arrives.
