Hyderabad: With the Rajinikanth-starrer 'Jailer' making £30 million in the two Telugu states, followed by Tamil star Vijay's £20 million collection with his recent release 'Leo,' it's evident that Tamil stars are gaining a strong foothold. Even 'Bichagadu 2' managed to secure £15 million, further confirming the influence of Tamil stars in Telugu cinema. However, Telugu film stars can't boast of a similar response in Tamil Nadu.
"Tamil audiences may not be as open-minded as their Telugu counterparts," remarks leading exhibitor-distributor Sunil Narang, adding, "Telugu audiences readily embrace movies from various languages, be it Tamil, Hindi, or even Malayalam, as long as the content impresses them. Unfortunately, we can't expect the same level of response from Tamil audiences for our films."
In fact, Tamil stars like Suriya, Karthi, Dhanush, and Vikram have successfully expanded their market in Telugu, with their market values ranging from £5 to £15 million. On the contrary, Telugu superstars such as Mahesh Babu, Allu Arjun, Ram Charan, and Jr. NTR can't claim a similarly solid market presence in Tamil Nadu.
"I am confident that things will improve for Telugu superstars in the days to come, given that most Telugu films are now becoming pan-Indian in their appeal. We warmly welcome Tamil stars in the two Telugu states for their performances and the novelty in their storytelling. We hope that Tamil audiences will also develop a liking for our films, as our stars have already won over audiences in North India," he points out.
Nevertheless, Sunil Narang acknowledges that the massive success of 'Baahubali,' 'RRR,' and 'Pushpa,' which collectively grossed over £220 million in Tamil Nadu, is an exception of sorts. "These films were in a league of their own and a rare exception. They were aggressively promoted, and the Tamil audience eagerly embraced the larger-than-life stories filled with action and romance. We wish that other Telugu stars can also carve out a space in Kollywood, as every star aspires to expand their fan base," he emphasizes.
Previously, Mahesh Babu's 'Bharat Ane Nenu' surpassed the £8 million mark in Tamil Nadu, but other stars like Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, and Ravi Teja couldn't replicate the same magic in the neighboring state."
