Big Films Killing Small Films For Their Ego?

Tollywood is currently going through a strange and confusing phase. Big films are getting announced with release dates, but when the time comes, none of them actually arrive in theatres. Because of this trend, the industry is now facing a situation where important festival and holiday release windows are going completely empty.

Recently, two big projects were announced for a March-end release. One was Peddi starring Ram Charan and directed by Buchi Babu Sana. The other was The Paradise, featuring Nani. As soon as these dates were announced, there were huge discussions on social media. Fans compared budgets, concepts, and star power. Many believed March-end would be one of the biggest box office clashes of the year.

However, reality turned out very different. Neither Peddi nor The Paradise is ready for release. Due to production delays, shooting schedules, and lack of clarity on post-production work, both films quietly moved away from the announced date. As a result, one of the best release windows of the year now has no major film at all.

What is worrying is that the same situation is repeating for Dussehra. Even when makers clearly know that their films cannot be completed on time, release dates are still being announced. The main reason seems to be blocking the slot so that other films do not occupy it. This strategy may look smart on paper, but it is causing losses to the industry as a whole.

Because of this uncertainty around Peddi and The Paradise, even small and medium-budget films are now hesitant to lock release dates. Producers are confused and afraid of sudden changes. This lack of clarity is leading to wasted opportunities, especially during festive seasons when footfalls are usually high.

In the past, Tollywood used to plan releases carefully and make full use of holidays. But now, only dates are being announced, not films. If this trend continues, theatres, distributors, and small filmmakers will suffer the most. The industry needs better planning, honest timelines, and realistic announcements to avoid empty release calendars in the future.