"Shaakuntalam," which stars Samantha, is set to be released worldwide in theatres on Friday.
However, Dil Raju, one of the film's producers, took the risk of holding premiere shows two weeks before the film's release. Furthermore, the film was already shown to a select group of the general public yesterday.
Those who saw the film at yesterday's special screening have started spreading negative remarks.
Typically, this type of publicity is used for low-budget films, as was the case with the recent release "Balagam."
Dil Raju took the risk of screening "Balagam" so early because the film's budget was less than Rs 3 crore, and they had already made a profit before the theatrical release due to OTT and satellite rights.
In contrast, "Shaakuntalam" is a high-budget pan-Indian project, and other than OTT rights, the film's satellite rights were not sold. As a result, the hype around the film is relatively low.
The real test of the film's success will come tomorrow (April 12) with the premiere show.
Journalists, critics, and others attending the show will share their thoughts on social media. If the film fails to meet expectations, the entire exercise will be futile, resulting in an irreversible loss.
However, Dil Raju, who is still basking in the success of "Balagam," is confident that his faith in the film will be realized. The question remains whether his confidence is justified or if it is bordering on arrogance.