In 2022, two South Indian films, featuring unfamiliar faces for North Indian audiences, emerged as unexpected blockbusters: “Kantara” and “Karthikeya 2.” Despite their slow starts, these movies stunned the industry with their phenomenal success.
“Karthikeya 2” initially earned a modest 7 Lakhs on its first day in Hindi, but through strong word of mouth, it eventually surpassed 30 crores in net collections, a phenomenal achievement in the Hindi market.
Similarly, “Kantara” started with a moderate 2.5 crore opening in Hindi but ultimately crossed the 100 crore mark by the end of its run.
Films with spiritual or devotional themes, celebrating Hindu culture and Sanatana Dharma, are gaining immense popularity in the Hindi markets. This is the reason why everyone thought Adipurush could collect 2000 crores but the director ruined it with cartoonish and poor execution.
In a landscape where Bollywood rarely produces such films, there is a huge anticipation for movies from the South that showcase Hindu gods and Sanatan Sanskriti.
Now, Prasanth Varma’s “Hanu Man” appears poised to cash in on this trend. If the portrayal of Lord Hanu Man and the engaging storyline resonate well with the audience, “Hanu Man” could replicate the success of those two films in the North.
Hanu Man, with its focus on spiritual values, narrates the tale of the fictional village ‘Anjanadri’ and its superhero. If Varma successfully captures the essence of Lord Hanu Man, the film holds the promise of becoming another triumph for Telugu cinema in the Hindi belts.
