Dasara falls on October 20 this year, and four Telugu films are targeting the festive season to attract audiences to theatres.
The releases begin on Thursday, with two big-ticket films leading the race and two smaller films hoping to benefit from the holiday mood.
Superstar Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 is the first major release of the weekend. The film has already crossed one million ticket sales on BookMyShow and is also registering encouraging trends in overseas markets.
However, advance bookings for the Telugu version in Hyderabad have been relatively low, although other areas are showing better trends.
The other big release is Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna’s Ranabaali, which arrives in theatres on October 16.
It is their first film release after their marriage, adding to the curiosity surrounding the project. Vijay Deverakonda appears confident about the film, but advance bookings and audience interest have so far been modest.
The team will be hoping that positive word of mouth after release helps the film pick up at the box office.
Alongside these two biggies, two smaller films are also looking to make the most of the Dasara holiday season.
Crazy Kalyanam, starring Akhil Raj of Raju Weds Rambai fame, Anupama Parameswaran and Tharun Bhascker, is set to release this Friday.
The film’s trailer has generated some interest, and the makers will be hoping that its content helps it find an audience despite the competition.
Garividi Lakshmi, meanwhile, tells the story of a Burra Katha exponent in Andhra Pradesh. Starring Anandhi and produced by People Media Factory, the film is scheduled to arrive in theatres on Saturday.
The makers are banking on the film’s content to attract audiences, even with two major releases competing for attention.
With two big films and two smaller productions arriving during the festive period, the Dasara weekend will offer audiences a varied theatrical lineup.
The box-office performance of all four films will depend on how well they connect with viewers after release.