It’s really shocking to see almost neglible to nil audience response for 'mega' hero Varun Tej’s new release, Matka, in theaters.
The film is set to release tomorrow, and advance bookings opened three days prior, but there has been a noticeable lack of interest from the audience.
Except for a few blocked tickets by the film unit at Prasad Multiplex for the first two shows, the rest of the shows are showing empty seats. The situation is more horrifying in almost all theaters.
In the USA, the situation is even worse. Very few theaters have been given screenings, and advance bookings are nearly nonexistent. Across 40 locations with 61 shows, only 249 tickets have been sold just one day ahead of release, amounting to a dismal USD 3224, heading towards the lowest openings in Varun Tej's career.
This is truly alarming for the marketability of this 'mega' hero. Generally, mega fans strongly support the openings of their heroes, whether in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, or the USA. But this time, they seem to be completely absent.
What could be causing this shocking scenario?
Some argue that while there were promotional activities, there was no effective marketing for the film. Promotion alone, just before release, isn’t enough these days. Marketing must create awareness among audiences, making them excited for the film. If this is not achieved, the audience simply won’t show up.
Others believe this could be the actual box office potential of Varun Tej following a string of flops in his career.
Some speculate that the release of the big film Kanguva on the same day might have drawn away interest, though this is only part of the story. Matka also has a period setting with significant effort in production and performance, so this alone may not explain the poor response.
Another viewpoint is that young 'mega' heroes struggle to draw audiences to theaters without a well-known director or superhit songs to boost appeal. They require additional pulling factors, as the 'mega' tag alone is no longer sufficient.
Nevertheless, the film is releasing in just a few hours. If it receives strong positive feedback, there may be a positive impact at the box office. Otherwise, given the current situation, nothing appears to shield this film from a potential box office catastrophe.