Over the past 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 when they actually hit theaters, keeping both the audience and the industry guessing. Speaking at the success meeting ofLenin,’ veteran actor Nagarjuna addressed the growing trend and urged filmmakers to complete their work much earlier. Based on 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 change should start with everyone in the industry. “I am asking technicians, directors and music composers. If we hand over the film to the post-production team at least two weeks before the release, they can keep improving it till the end. This is not about blaming anyone else. I am also saying this about myself because I worked with Lenin till the last minute,” he said as reported by Hindustan Times.Comparing the practice to international cinema, he added: “‘The Odyssey’ announced its release date a year in advance. Why can’t we 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 as the post-production work was not completed on time.
The veteran actor remembers a different era of cinema
Reflecting on his previous films, Nagarjuna said that production schedules were much more organized in the past. “I remember seeing the final release of films like ‘Ninne Pelladata’ and ‘Annamayya’ almost a month before they hit the theatres. My question is, why can’t we do it today? For the sake of cinema and for the health of the industry, we must return to this discipline,” he said. His comments have sparked conversations within the Telugu film industry, where delayed releases have become increasingly common over the past few years.
‘Lenin’ gives To Akhil Akkineni a much needed blockbuster
Nagarjuna’s remarks came during the success celebrations of ‘Lenin’, which marked Akhil Akkineni’s return to the big screen after a gap of three years. Directed by Murali Kishor Abburu, the action drama stars Akhil Akkineni and Bhagyashri Borse, with Ramki, Sivaji, Sunil, Brahmaji and Easwari Rao playing key roles. Despite receiving mixed reviews, the film has become the biggest opener of Akhil’s career and has enjoyed a steady run at the box office, making the success a fitting occasion for Nagarjuna to share his thoughts on improving the industry’s film culture.