HHVM: 100 Crores for an Average movie?

The Telugu Film industry has had witnessed it’s share of blockbusters and failures, but every now and then, a superstar film appears that defies reason; commercially, at least. Meet HHVM (Hari Hara Veera Mallu), a movie largely criticised for its below-average storyline, lazy making, and very-common storytelling. And yet, despite scoring what most would deem a generous 1.5 rating, it has apparently breached ₹100 crores in collections. Why? Two words: Pawan Kalyan.

The Pawan Kalyan Magic

Let’s be realistic: HHVM is not a great film. Critics have cited its unbalanced screenplay, dumb action scenes, and lack of emotional depth. Even supporters acknowledge that it’s nothing close to the actor’s best performance. But none of those facts appear to matter. Pawan Kalyan’s name alone drew audiences into cinemas, reminding everyone once again that Tollywood stardom more often than not takes precedence over substance.

From a commercial perspective, it is nothing short of exciting. If a low-effort movie with no or minimal hype and poor content earns ₹100 crores solely on the strength of the lead actor, think of the potential. If Pawan Kalyan decides to do a movie with a budget of just ₹10 crores, incorporates ten well-designed elevation scenes, and delivers a fairly good story, it would easily rake in ₹100 crores or more at the box office. That is a 10x return on investment (ROI).

This is not a one-time freak occurrence; it is the rule in Telugu Film Industry (TFI). It has become a money cow, and particularly when super-stars are involved. Producers lose money very seldom, unless they deliberately go out of their way to overspend or mismanage.

While this may annoy anyone who believes in good cinema, there is no denying the pure might of stardom in Indian cinema. The success of HHVM, with all its glaring faults, is a case study of the way fan following and brand worth trump all cinematic sense. Content may be the king elsewhere; but in TFI, star power remains the king on the throne.

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