The release of Nani-Srikanth Odela’s The Paradise is now just a week away. The censor formalities are complete, and the film is all set to get an Adults-only certificate. The team reportedly has only around five days to finish the final copy work and deliver the film to theatres. Post-production is moving at a fast pace, while Nani is busy with the promotional campaign.
The film has already created strong buzz. Two songs have become big hits, which has also helped the film do strong theatrical business. But this is where the real pressure begins.
The Paradise reportedly needs around Rs. 200 crores gross from the Telugu states for the buyers to be safe. Ticket price hikes will help the film generate higher revenue, but only if the audience keeps coming in big numbers beyond the opening day.
A Day 1 houseful is one thing. Getting three or four consecutive days of packed theatres is completely different. If the film starts with high ticket prices and then drops to low occupancies, the calculations can change quickly. The reported A certificate and heavy violence could make things even tougher, as family audiences may stay away. That leaves the film heavily dependent on youth and fans.
This makes the first day talk extremely important. If The Paradise gets unanimous positive word of mouth, the high-ticket prices and strong opening can give it the momentum needed to chase the massive target. But if the response is divided, the film could face a much tougher battle from Day 2 itself.
This has been a recurring issue with some of Nani’s films. His appreciation and market have grown, but buyers have not always found it easy to recover their investments. Hi Nanna was different because Nani himself handled the Telugu states release. Dasara was an overall success, but according to trade reports, many buyers were not happy with the returns. Similar concerns were raised around Saripodhaa Sanivaaram and HIT 3.
This time, a good film and market growth are not enough. The buyers have to make money with The Paradise. If they do, Nani’s growing market gets genuine validation. If they don’t, decent box office collections or limited appreciation will not be enough to reach breakeven.
