Over the last few years, release date postponements have become the norm in Telugu cinema. Big-budget movies will announce release dates and then push them closer to the time they actually hit theaters, keeping both audiences and the industry guessing. Speaking at the success meet of ‘Lenin,’ veteran actor Nagarjuna addressed the growing trend and urged filmmakers to complete their work much earlier. Drawing from his own experience, he said the industry needs to rethink its approach for the long-term benefit of Telugu cinema.
Nagarjuna says films should be ready at least two weeks before release
Speaking at the event, Nagarjuna admitted that he too had been part of the problem and stressed that the change should begin with everyone in the industry. “I am requesting technicians, directors and music composers. If we hand over the film to the post-production team at least two weeks before release, they can keep improving it until the very end. This is not about blaming anyone else. I am saying this about myself too because I worked on Lenin until the last minute,” he said as reported by Hindustan Times. Comparing the practice with international cinema, he added, “‘The Odyssey’ announced its release date a year in advance. Why aren’t we able to do that? And even when we announce a date, why do we end up postponing it?” Nagarjuna revealed that ‘Lenin’ was initially scheduled to release on June 26, but had to be delayed because post-production work was not completed on time.
Veteran actor recalls a different era of filmmaking
Reflecting on his earlier films, Nagarjuna said production schedules were far more organised in the past. “I remember watching the final release print of films like ‘Ninne Pelladata’ and ‘Annamayya’ almost a month before they reached theatres. My question is, why can’t we do that today? For the good of cinema and for the health of the industry, we must return to that discipline,” he said. His comments have sparked conversations within the Telugu film industry, where delayed releases have become increasingly frequent over the last few years.
‘Lenin’ gives Akhil Akkineni a much-needed box office success
Nagarjuna’s remarks came during the success celebrations of ‘Lenin,’ which marked Akhil Akkineni’s return to the big screen after a three-year gap. Directed by Murali Kishor Abburu, the action drama stars Akhil Akkineni and Bhagyashri Borse in the lead, with Ramki, Sivaji, Sunil, Brahmaji and Easwari Rao playing key roles. Despite receiving mixed reviews, the film has emerged as the biggest opener of Akhil’s career and has enjoyed a steady run at the box office, making the success meet a fitting occasion for Nagarjuna to share his thoughts on improving the industry’s filmmaking culture. Go to Source
