Cringe to Running in Underwear: Tollywood PR

Tollywood film promotions have recently become cringeworthy. Now some are turning outright offensive. In the rush to create some awareness and buzz, several actors and directors have started making meaningless and wild statements. They are doing this instead of allowing their films to speak for themselves. Telugu audiences are now openly slamming these tactics.

Recently senior actor Rajendra Prasad made a bold statement during the promotions of Mass Jathara. He claimed that he would quit the industry if the film failed to shock the audience. The film flopped badly. Because he is a senior artist, people chose to take his comment lightly. If a contemporary actor had said the same thing, social media trolling would have been intense.

A fresh controversy began when Raju Weds Rambai director Saailu Kampati declared that he would run around Ameerpet in his underwear if his film received negative talk. The statement went viral for all the wrong reasons. A few weeks earlier, another director slapped himself with slippers after his movie failed. People condemned his behavior. They did not show sympathy. These incidents show how desperate some filmmakers have become for attention.

Such statements do more harm than good. Films succeed because of strong content, good word of mouth and positive reviews. They do not succeed because a director threatens to undress in public. Telugu audiences react instantly when a film is good. They fill theatres on the first day and spread positive talk. They even make small films successful. Little Hearts winning against Anushka’s biggie Ghaati is a perfect example.

Priyadarshi recently challenged viewers by saying they should not watch his next film if Mithra Mandali failed. Later he admitted that he should not have spoken like that. Many debut directors and actors fall into this trap. Their excitement and desire for audience attention in theaters often invite unnecessary negativity before the first show even begins.

Filmmakers should focus on delivering good cinema instead of making sensational claims. No great director ever used outrageous challenges during their early days to become successful. They proved themselves through consistent work and blockbuster films. They did not rely on viral stunts or publicity dramas.