Director Gunasekhar’s film Euphoria slowed down significantly at the box office even before entering its second weekend. Although the director put in some decent efforts during the making and also on the promotion front, the film failed to reach audiences.
The film did not generate any hype, which led to poor openings, and the content did not connect widely, so it could not grow in terms of collections. Gunasekhar attempted to present a serious social issue in a very raw and realistic way, but that approach backfired.
While a small section of critics and social activists praised the intention behind it, that appreciation did not translate into collections. Even though the film did not face major competition from other releases, Euphoria struggled to convert that advantage into box office revenue.
Recently, Gunasekhar explained that some viewers felt disturbed and gave them the feeling of watching a horror film. Gunasekhar stated that he believed such a serious social issue would not emotionally connect with audiences unless it was shown with this level of intensity.
Director’s intention may be genuine. However, what Gunasekhar assumed as a positive creative choice ended up becoming a negative experience for the audience who watched the film in theaters. The way sensitive elements, such as rape reconstruction scenes, were presented clearly made people uncomfortable. Scenes showing a son attempting an extremely disturbing act against his mother and the harsh, inhuman conditions inside prisons were depicted very graphically.
While these scenes created fear and shock, they also made viewers hesitant to recommend the film to others and therefore the film’s reach was affected. Ultimately, the over-the-top realism that was supposed to create lasting impact ended up killing Euphoria’s box office performance.
