Tollywood First Half 2023: Samantha's Shaakuntalam To Ravanasura, A Look Back At Highly-Disappointing Films!

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The Tollywood film industry had an amazing run in the year 2023, so far. Several tens of movies ranging from small-budget ones to the biggest combinations ever, hit the screens every week.

The Telugu film industry has so far scored more than 13 clean super duper hits, within its first half. But there are also a few films that tanked at the box office. However, we are here talking about films that promised a great deal after being made on a massive budget, and yet failed to make an impact, if not a remarkable one.

Now that the first half of the year has completed and one of the biggest films, Prabhas' Adipurush going to hit the screens in a couple of days, let us look back at some of the films that carried so much hype but fell flat upon their theatrical release down here.

Among these are blockbuster flops which have been made with terrific combinations. An ensemble cast and crew have come together topped with a massive scale and budget.

Shaakuntalam

Samantha-starrer Shaakuntalam is one of the films that remained the biggest flop in the actress's career as well as left a big dent in the producers Dil Raju and Neelima Guna. For a periodic mythological fantasy saga, the budget usually is high. Given the fact that the makers wanted to make it at a pan-India level with an actress like Samantha, they shot up the budget to Rs 60 Crore. The movie couldn't even make about Rs 20 Crore at the box office once it hit the screens.

Agent

Akhil Akkineni's heavy-duty action entertainer Agent was a disaster at the box office. The movie is written by Vakkantham Vamsi and directed by Surender Reddy. It stars Malayalam superstar Mammootty and also Bollywood actor Dino Morea in the lead roles.

Ravanasura

Mass Raja Ravi Teja tried to score another hit just like his earlier film Dhamaka, which went on to earn more than Rs 100 Crore at the box office. The movie which was directed by Swamy Ra Ra fame Chandoo Mondeti, earned critical applause for Ravi Teja's characterization and performance, but the movie couldn't make more money.

Ranga Maarthanda

Ranga Maarthanda is Krishna Vamsi's recent film which is a remake of the Marathi film titled Natasamrat. The movie was expected to run successfully at the theatres for more than one reason, which includes Brahmanandam's comeback to the screen after a very long time.

Ramabanam

Macho star Gopichand believed that he could score a hattrick hit with a family entertainer in the form of Ramabanam, directed by Sriwass. The movie also stars Jagapathi Babu, Khushbu, and Dimple Hayathi in the lead roles. The movie tanked at the box office with the opening show.

Custody

Naga Chaitanya's cop action drama written and directed by Venkat Prabhu is a bilingual that miserably failed after its release.

Ugram

After a beautiful film like Naandhi, Allari Naresh again collaborated with the director and producers to make Ugram. This is also a cop action thriller that promised a variety of experiences through its intense trailer but due to a weak story point and lackluster

Along with these films, there are also several other small to medium-range films that promised great content through their trailers but couldn't live up to the expectations.

Sundeep Kishan's Michael, Butta Bomma, Nandamuri Kalyan Ram's Amigos, Santosh Sobhan's Sridevi Shobanbabu, Naga Shaurya's Phalana Abbayi Phalana Ammayi, Santosh Sobhan-BV Nandini Reddy's Anni Manchi Sakunamule, and VK Naresh-Pavitra Lokesh's Malli Pelli.