This Sankranthi witnessed a fierce clash between two big films. Both of them had crazy combinations and attained great buzz prior to the release.
While one is Mahesh Babu's Sarileru Neekevvaru, the other one is Trivikram's Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo.
Anil Ravipudi accompanied Mahesh for Sarileru Neekevvaru and Allu Arjun accompanied Trivikram for Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo.
These films locked horns in a heated clash at the box office. While one is aimed at the masses, the other is blend of class and mass.
Both these films are having a good run at the box office. Just as everything seemed to be going fine, "Sankranthi winner" topic surfaced on social media and both sets of fans started indulging in heated verbal exchanges.
Both sets of fans started arguing that their respective film is doing well and the other one is banking on 'Fake' collections.
Amidst all the high drama, Anil Sunkara, who produced Sarileru Neekevvaru interacted with Greatandhra. Here are a few details that he had shared.
Hello, you seem to be really happy
Yes, I am
What's with the clash regarding the collections?
Should I start from the beginning
Nothing off the record, only speak if you would be okay if we publish it
We are not covering up anything and are making it clear that total collections are calculated with GST included. We released the poster before the seventh day, but the film did collect Rs 100 crores in 7 days.
You did not give an area wise breakdown, all you gave was one big figure
I will give you a detailed are wise breakdown with clear figures. The poster was released by all the distributors combinedly right?
You could have released a clear area wise card right?
We have been giving the same. Maybe, it wasn't reaching you.
Can you confirm that the collections of Sarileru Neekevvaru are not fake?
100%. There is no confusion or manipulation. You can take a look at the US circuit.
Leave the US market, everything is well-scrutinized there, thanks to the online ticketing system. But that's not the case here. Only you, the distributors, and exhibitors know the exact fugues.
I am sending you the exact same figures I have been receiving
You gave away Nizam rights for 31 crores and claiming that the film made Rs 29 crores already. If that is the case, the film should reap heavy profits.
Yes, Dil Raju will get heavy profits from Nizam and Vizag.
You gave the rights on NR basis, so even you should be receiving overflows right?
Yes, we will get big bucks from Dil Raju. We are estimating the film will collect Rs 35 crores in Nizam.
The film's collections in East are more than that of Guntur's. How is that possible?
As it is, we acquired East rights for Rs 6.4 crores. The film might gross Rs 30 crores, going by the current trend.
Are fixed hires included in these collections or not?
Yes, they are included
Are you adding fixed hires in day-to-day collections?
No, we will remove it. That is why the film is registering bigger numbers in East than Guntur. We added the fixed hires in Guntur on the first day itself. We were really confident about East and did not give away any fixed hires and the film is doing very well here.
Two films hit the theaters and both of them are hits. Both of them will cross the 100 crore mark. Then why indulge in box office figures and cards clash? On the top of that, both you and Chinnababu prefer to stay away from controversies. Where do you think the problem is?
There is no competition. But for some reason, they kept releasing promotional content of their film just after we were planning on releasing the songs from our audio album. Also, they planned a promotional event after we had planned one. We had planned to invite Chiranjeevi Garu for our event three months prior to it.
If you observe, we never started anything. They said their film is Sankranthi winner on the first day itself. Imagine how we would feel then.
Are you feeling bad that they are calling their film "Sankranthi winner"?
No. You should think how a commoner would react after they call their film Sankranthi winner. It is displayed on Greatandhra front page. It is possible that a common might think it is true. Why should someone do it?
What is the reason behind the film's stunning performance in Nizam?
There were numerous shows on the day 1 itself. The film made Rs 8 crores on day 1 and that helped a lot.
As far as I know, Maharshi made Rs 30 crores share.
No. It was said that the film collected Rs 30 crores. There is a talk that the film made Rs 28 crores.
I don't know about that. All I know is that the film collected Rs 30 crores.
Keeping that aside, there were never these many trolls on the fake figures. What is your take on that?
There was a competition right from the beginning. We intentionally released promos before releasing the songs. There are a few issues. Wouldn't we feel bad if they call their film as the winner. But we were very patient.
Should we compare both the films or see them as two individual films?
They like their film more and we like our film more. I would compare my film with Dookudu, but not with others.
Where did things go wrong in the overseas market?
The fact that one is a mass film and the other is a class one. Also there is the Trivikram factor. Even A Aa... film made $2.5 million in the USA. I released the film on my own and I thought it would be enough if it made $2 million. The film would have made $3 million if it wasn't for the current scenario.
It looks like Mahesh has a hit a rough patch in the USA for the first time?
No. It is tough for anyone if Rajamouli's film is competing with their film.
Are you saying Sarileru Neekevvaru would have performed better if there wasn't competition from that film?
Yes
If that is the case, are you the film could have fared better in the Telugu states if there wasn't any competition?
There wouldn't have been much of a difference. At best, their might have been a difference of Rs 50 lakh to 1 crore in respective areas. The audience had decided to watch both the films and that is a fact.
Do you think the fan-level fight is bigger or the hero-level fight?
There is no fight in any level.
You released a poster, saying your film collected Rs 100 crores and even they did the same. What is your take on that?
We have the guts, hence we are showing the figures. I don't know about their figures. My film will cross Bahubali 1 in East by tomorrow evening and you can verify it if you want to.
Can you give us the figures on behalf of AK Entertainments?
Sure. Ask our staff, they will give you the figures.