These days, making a big-budget film is a huge challenge in itself, and ensuring a smooth theatrical release is another nightmare altogether. That is exactly what T. G. Vishwa Prasad (People Media Factory) the producer of Prabhas’s film The Raja Saab is going through.
After investing hundreds of crores, he is now at the mercy of government approvals, with bookings still not open as of 8 p.m., even though paid premieres are scheduled to begin around 9 p.m. IST tonight. There are frequent unofficial updates about approvals, but whether they come through or not, the damage is already done.
The purpose of paid premieres is to recover a big chunk portion of the budget, but with delays and uncertainty, that plan is already a gone case. Imagine if the film opens to average or below-average talk, especially with the festive mood yet to kick in tomorrow. The first shows could face serious challenges, making it a producer’s worst nightmare.
Blame the system, blame the timing, or even blame the planning -but for now, The Raja Saab needs nothing more than solid audience response to sail through the box office this Sankranti. For the sake of the cast, crew, and everyone involved, the hope is that the film performs well. Anything less will leave a lasting memory for the producer, director Maruti, and the entire team.
