The Paradise Collections Dip Despite AP-TG and Political Controversy
The political debate extends to Telangana as well.
The Paradise, which opened to strong numbers in the Telugu states, is now witnessing a dip in collections, according to a leading distributor. The film has reportedly earned around Rs 48 crore share in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in its first four days, but still has a considerable distance to cover to reach its break-even point.
“The film has made around Rs 48 crore share in the two Telugu states, but it still has a long way to go to recover the investment,” says the distributor. The film was reportedly sold for around Rs 80 crore in the Telugu states.
According to trade estimates, The Paradise collected around Rs 24 crore on its first day, followed by Rs 9.43 crore on the second day, Rs 8.55 crore on the third day and around Rs 9 crore on the fourth day. While the opening was strong, the subsequent drop has become a concern for distributors.
The film has also been caught up in a political debate following the portrayal of a character resembling former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao. The character, presented as part of the film’s Telangana-rooted narrative, has become a talking point among sections of the audience.
Some strongly pro-Telangana voices on social media have argued that the film should be supported for its Telangana identity and representation. A section has also claimed that director Srikanth Odela is being targeted unfairly by critics from Andhra, while actor Nani is being treated differently because of his Andhra roots. These are social-media opinions and have not been established as facts.
Another section of viewers has debated whether the heroic portrayal of a KCR-like character has contributed to criticism from sections of Andhra-centric and pro-TDP audiences. Meanwhile, some YSRCP supporters have also expressed reservations about the film, with discussions linking their reaction to Nani’s earlier public criticism of the Andhra Pradesh government over cinema ticket pricing.
The political debate extends to Telangana as well. Some viewers have questioned whether the portrayal of a KCR-like figure as a saviour could appeal to Congress supporters, adding another layer to the discussion surrounding the film.
As a result, The Paradise is being discussed not only for its content and box-office performance but also through the lens of regional identity and political affiliations.
For distributors, however, the immediate concern remains the box office trend. With the film currently at around Rs 48 crore share in the Telugu states after four days, it needs sustained collections in the coming days to move closer to its reported break-even target.
Whether the political and regional debates surrounding The Paradise will have a lasting impact on its theatrical run remains to be seen.