That’s The Big Challenge For RRR!

After magnum opus Baahubali, SS Rajamouli is coming up with multi-starrer RRR that stars Jr NTR and Ram Charan in the lead roles. While both Prabhas and Anushka Shetty were relatively unknown to Bollywood back then, Rajamouli has slight advantage this time around since he roped in Alia and Ajay Devgn who are popular in Hindi.

However, despite aggressively promoting RRR across the country, RRR Hindi version doesn’t have much craze in contrast to the Telugu version. The advance bookings are opened and the tickets of the Telugu film are selling like hotcakes.

In the Hindi belt, the advance bookings are relatively less. Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat there is lukewarm response in the advance bookings.

Why is the Hindi market so different from the Telugu market? In Hindi, largely the premise/background of the films draw attention and make noise. Be it 83, or Kashmir Files or Pushpa each has a background and set-up. Even in Baahubali, it was a period war film with folklore. The visuals and CG were the talking point even before the film’s release.

Whereas in the case of RRR, it has friendship and patriotic backgrounds. Both friendship and patriotic themes were done a dozen times. This is certainly challenging for Rajamouli. He is banking on the bromance of NTR and Ram Charan which is crucial for Hindi audiences to connect first.

While this is an instant hit in Tollywood since both are big stars and their bromance and bonhomie works, it is a litmus test for Rajamouli. The Kashmir Files is continuing its glorious run in cinemas.

Released as an underdog, Kashmir Files has shocked the trade. Now, it needs to be seen how RRR would fare at the marquee. Given that Rajamouli did aggressive promotions ranging from conventional interviews to the events and media interactions, the Hindi belt result is crucial for such a big-budget RRR film. Let’s wait and see.