Salaar, the highly anticipated action drama starring Prabhas, has failed to impress viewers on its first television premiere. The film garnered a TRP of only 6.52, which falls short of expectations compared to recent Telugu releases on the Star Maa channel.
Several other Telugu films that aired on Star Maa recently achieved higher TRPs in recent times. For instance, a flop film like Aadi Keshava scored a whopping 10.47, the highest in recent times. Naa Saami Ranga and Skanda, both secured TRPs exceeding 8, while Mangalavaaram and Bichagadu managed TRPs in the 7 range. Prashanth Neel’s previous television premieres of KGF Chapter 1 and KGF Chapter 2 also received 11.90 and 9.15 respectively. Salaaar’s TRP fell below the average of these films, indicating a lukewarm response from the television audience.
This comes as a surprise considering Prabhas’s massive fanbase and the film’s pre-release hype. Possible explanations for the low TRP could be mixed word-of-mouth following the theatrical release. Analysts also say that competition from other television premieres, or a shift in viewership patterns towards online streaming platforms, along with the IPL effect could be the reason for this low TRP surrounding Salaar.
While the television premiere’s performance doesn’t necessarily reflect the film’s overall success, it does raise questions about its long-term impact.