Can Jr NTR Revive Telugu Cinema's Fortunes in North India? "Devara" Aims to Break the Jinx
While Telugu cinema has enjoyed immense success with pan-India hits like "RRR" and "Pushpa," recent releases have failed to capture the hearts of Hindi-speaking audiences. Now, all eyes are on Jr NTR, whose upcoming film "Devara" is poised to be a game-changer in the North Indian market.
Following the phenomenal success of "RRR," Jr NTR has garnered significant pan-India appeal. His upcoming action-adventure film, "Devara," has generated considerable buzz with a strong cast including Saif Ali Khan and Janhvi Kapoor, familiar faces to Bollywood viewers.
Producer Vishnu Induri, who has experience in the Hindi film industry, believes "Devara" has all the elements to succeed: "Definitely, Jr NTR has gained pan-India appeal after 'RRR,' and now he is returning to Hindi film viewers with an action adventure and has triggered enough pre-release hype," he states. "Devara is a larger-than-life movie which appeals to a larger section of audience besides boasting of Bollywood actors like Saif Ali Khan and Janhvi Kapoor who are familiar with Hindi viewers. It is a perfect mix of pan-India theme and casting and could strike a chord with masses across India."
However, recent releases like "Saripodhaa Sanivaaram," "Double iSmart," "Tiger Nageswara Rao," "Skanda," "Virupaksha," and "Das Ki Damki" failed to resonate with Hindi audiences, raising concerns about the waning popularity of Telugu-dubbed films in the North. Producers have invested heavily in promotions, even spending up to Rs 4 crores in Mumbai alone, but the results have been disappointing.
"Big actors like Nani, Ram Pothineni, and Ravi Teja spent some time in Mumbai and promoted their respective films but the audience thumbed it down since there was no novelty in their routine action movies," observes a Hindi film distributor. He emphasizes that a film needs a strong release in at least 100 theaters across key states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, UP, and Bihar to make a significant impact.
Ace director Prashanth Varma, whose film "HanuMan" resonated well with Hindi audiences, provides insight: "I don’t want to comment about other films, but honestly, we don’t know which film would work with Hindi audience. Maybe an interesting trailer or teaser could attract viewers. It is always a challenge to woo non-Telugu viewers and hence we need to keep trying to expand our viewership base."
He believes "HanuMan" succeeded due to its supernatural element, mythological superhero theme, and the popularity of Lord Hanuman, factors that helped it gain a wide audience.
With "Devara," Jr NTR has a chance to not only revive interest in Telugu cinema in North India but also establish himself as a true pan-India star. Whether he succeeds in breaking the jinx remains to be seen, but his ambition and the film's potential are undeniable.