Telugu cinema is probably the only industry in the country to have bounced back in full swing after the pandemic situation. Krack, Red, Uppena, Naandhi, Jathi Ratnalu have held themselves well in the box office, bringing joy to distributors and audiences alike. However, it looks like the second wave of the pandemic across various parts of the country may pose a check to the momentum of the industry.
Several parts of North India and select locations in South India are experiencing a sudden rise in cases. While state governments feel that a lockdown situation may not be practical after all, there’s every chance that crowd capacity may be reduced to 50% in theatres. In a worst-case scenario, theatres may be asked to shut again. A few films that earlier considered theatrical release may go back on their plans and even settle for OTT releases.
One of the measures to counter this threat of a second wave of the pandemic could probably be a massive vaccination drive across all age groups. With Tollywood having a busy calendar ahead, these are nervous times for producers who’ve planned theatrical releases. April and May are already filled with many big-star films – the next week may prove crucial for the industry where significant announcements would be made.