Every year, hundreds of films hit the screens across Telugu cinema and other Indian film industries. Yet, many struggle to sustain audience interest throughout their runtime. A frequent reason for this shortfall is what film enthusiasts call the “second half syndrome” — when a film’s first half captivates viewers, but the post-interval portions lose steam, leading to a dip in engagement.
For the first time, a leading actor has spoken candidly about this recurring issue — Siddhu Jonnalagadda. His latest release, Telusu Kada, directed by Neeraja Kona, opened in theatres on Friday to decent word-of-mouth. Although Siddhu largely avoided pre-release interviews, he interacted with a group of journalists after the film’s release and addressed the mixed audience reactions.
When asked about some viewers preferring the first half while others favored the second, Siddhu remarked that it’s actually a positive sign — as it shows that both halves are connecting with different audience groups.
He then delved into the structural challenge most Indian films face due to the mandatory intermission format.
“In Indian cinema, we have an intermission that pushes filmmakers to create a strong high point before the break,” Siddhu explained. “After that, they need to restart from scratch to regain the same momentum, which often causes a dip.”
In his trademark wit, Siddhu even quipped that intervals might have been introduced mainly to boost popcorn sales.
Sharing insights from a senior writer, he added that almost every film experiences some level of drop in energy in the second half — what truly matters is identifying where and why it happens.
Many moviegoers resonated with Siddhu’s perspective online, acknowledging that the interval break can sometimes disrupt narrative flow. However, they also noted that certain well-crafted films successfully maintain balance and intensity throughout — proving that the so-called “second half syndrome” can indeed be overcome with tight writing, smart pacing, and effective direction.
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