The film industry is currently grappling with a pressing question: are re-releases a gift or a curse? While some argue that re-releases provide a much-needed boost to theaters during periods of low new releases, others claim that they're having a devastating impact on smaller films. A recent example is the film Bhairavam, which struggled to attract audiences due to the re-release of Mahesh Babu's hit film Khaleja. As a result, Bhairavam underperformed in its first weekend.
The trend of re-releasing films is taking a toll on new releases, particularly those with smaller budgets. Actor Manoj Manchu, who starred in Bhairavam, expressed his concerns about re-releases, stating that they're taking over the weekends and essentially killing other films. He suggested that re-releasing films during weekdays would be more reasonable, given their existing fan base.
However, not everyone shares the same view, and opinions on the matter vary. The re-release trend is now getting out of line, with even medium-range hero films being re-released. This raises questions about the long-term viability of this trend and whether the film industry is truly benefiting from re-releases.
Trade experts have weighed in on the phenomenon, and their views differ on the success rate of re-releases. According to them, the success rate is not consistently high, which further fuels the debate about the impact of re-releases on the film industry. As the trend continues, it remains to be seen whether re-releases will become a staple of the industry or fade away over time.