Maoist Party Responds on Chhattisgarh Encounter

Tamil star Siva Karthikeyan’s last outing Amaran turned out to be a blockbuster, performing exceptionally well even in the Telugu states. Riding on that success, the makers of his upcoming action entertainer Madrasi are reportedly quoting a staggering ₹14 crore for the Telugu dubbing rights.

However, exhibitors feel the demand is unrealistic. “At best, it could fetch around ₹7 crore because Telugu audiences have become very selective,” noted a distributor, dismissing direct comparisons with Amaran. “That was a patriotic biopic of a brave soldier, which connected strongly with audiences. The powerful performances of Siva Karthikeyan and Sai Pallavi helped it gross ₹46 crore in Telugu states. But Madrasi is a commercial action film, which is a different ball game.”

Directed by hitmaker A.R. Murugadoss of Ghajini fame, Madrasi revolves around illegal arms trade and is packed with high-octane action, drama, and romance. The trailer highlights Siva Karthikeyan in an intense, ferocious avatar with a layered character, while Rukmini Vasanth plays a performance-driven role beyond just glamour.

Industry insiders suggest the high asking price may be inspired by the Telugu market dominance of Tamil stars like Rajinikanth, Vijay, Suriya, and Karthi, who command anywhere between ₹25–₹50 crore for their dubbed films. “The real test for Siva Karthikeyan lies in Madrasi. Its openings and box office run will determine whether he can establish himself as a strong double-digit market star in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana,” trade analysts say.