This Diwali, filmmakers had high hopes for packed theatres, with multiple releases lined up to cash in on the festive spirit. However, box office performance so far has been disappointing, as Dude, K-Ramp, Telusu Kada, and Mithra Mandali all opened to dull responses.
Industry insiders and theatre owners expected heavy footfall, banking on the festive weekend and young star power. But slow advance bookings hinted early that audience excitement might be missing this time.
Mithra Mandali had fast-filling premieres, but social media chatter suggested that many tickets were distributed for free through promotional campaigns. Negative word-of-mouth after the premieres further hurt the film, leading to weak day-one numbers. It now remains to be seen if the festive period can revive its collections.
Dude managed slightly better occupancy, but still fell short of Mythri Movies’ expectations. Reviews have been mixed, with some calling it above average while others found it lacking freshness.
Siddhu Jonnalagadda’s Telusu Kada also failed to attract strong crowds, registering dull openings across key centres. Similarly, Kiran Abbavaram’s K-Ramp struggled to translate its online buzz into actual ticket sales despite aggressive promotions.
A key reason for the weak turnout is audience fatigue. Recent blockbusters like OG and Kantara Chapter 1 have already dominated screens for weeks with premium pricing, leaving audiences hesitant to spend on new releases without major stars or strong word-of-mouth.
While producers went all out with marketing and interviews, most of these Diwali releases could not convince viewers that they offered something fresh. The coming week will decide which film, if any, manages to gain momentum through positive talk.
For now, though, this Diwali weekend looks far from the box-office explosion the industry had hoped for.
