S.S. Rajamouli is undoubtedly a marketing and content genius and a pride of Indian cinema. However, one thing he seems to have realized over time is that his core audience remains primarily Telugu, while reception in other languages can be unpredictable.
The massive success of Baahubali across multiple languages made him a national icon, but that was a one-off phenomenon. His subsequent blockbuster, RRR, gained significant traction mainly in Telugu, while other languages did not respond as strongly as they did to Baahubali.
Now, with Varanasi, the title teaser launch was held exclusively in Hyderabad, indicating that Rajamouli may have recognized that his events draw massive crowds locally but not elsewhere. International and Bollywood media were invited, but it remains unclear what impact these interviews and promotions will have outside the Telugu-speaking audience.
Box-office numbers reinforce this reality. When Baahubali: The Epic was released, its performance in North America from non-Telugu South Indian audiences was disappointing: Tamil grossed only $2,000, Malayalam a mere $100, while Hindi collected $64,000. In contrast, Telugu audiences contributed a whopping $867,000. These figures highlight that Rajamouli’s core fan base is predominantly Telugu.
The success of Baahubali worked because of its universal appeal—a gripping story, strong emotions, and groundbreaking VFX for its time. However, audiences today are accustomed to advanced VFX and AI effects, meaning visual spectacle alone may no longer guarantee pan-India or international success.
Varanasi is a critical test for Rajamouli. The teaser suggests a style reminiscent of Kalki 2898 AD, but replicating the same approach risks audience fatigue. Fans are unlikely to respond with the same awe to a similar visual experience twice.
The challenge for Rajamouli lies in surpassing his own standards with each project. For Varanasi to succeed widely, it must be rooted in strong storytelling and emotional depth, not merely imaginative visuals. It will be fascinating to see whether Rajamouli can once again push the boundaries of Indian cinema while staying grounded in the elements that first earned him his loyal audience.
Recent Random Post:
Bigg Boss Telugu 9 | Day 84 Promo 3 | Elimination Day 💥 | Nagarjuna
Bigg Boss Telugu 9 | Day 84 Promo 3 | Elimination Day 💥 | Nagarjuna
