Nagarjuna Stunned As Ragada Re-release Turns Disaster

The rerelease fever in Tollywood once pulled crowds like a festival. Films such as Murari, Simhadri, Pokiri and Chennakesava Reddy filled theatres and minted money again. That success tempted producers to throw every old title back on screen. Slowly, even flop films got rereleased. The charm wore off, and the craze started sinking.

On Akkineni Nagarjuna’s birthday, Ragada returned in 4K to theatres in both Telugu states. Hopes were high that Akkineni fans would celebrate the comeback. But the response was cold. In Vizag’s main theatres like Sangam and Sarath, bookings touched only 25 percent. Even die-hard Nagarjuna fans stayed away. What was planned as a gift ended up as an embarrassment.

Trade circles now say the message is clear, audiences will not spend money unless the film has strong recall value. Social media also reminded us that Ragada was never a big hit during its first run, so expecting a miracle now was unrealistic. The poor turnout has put a question mark on the entire rerelease trend.

For the time being, industry voices suggest giving rereleases a break. Random titles thrown on screen will only hurt stars. The focus now shifts to the next experiment, Pawan Kalyan’s film is set for a three-day rerelease tomorrow. Whether it clicks or not, Ragada has shown that not every old film deserves a second life in theatres.