Just as the election trends in many of the big States that went to polls over the summer is slowly out, the early results in the summer clash is already out in Tollywood.
One of the early releases was Sri Ramadasu with Nagarjuna. The movie almost became a benchmark and it was a runaway victor. In a sense, its success seemed pre-ordained considering its subject and the hard work put in by its team. Nagarjuna and music director M M Keeravani walked away with most of the plaudits. And deservedly so.
Then there was a lull and then came the biggies of Mahesh Babu, Balakrishna, Prabhas and Pawan Kalyan. And in this high-octane clash, Mahesh Babu has decidedly been the winner.
His slick action flick, Pokiri is a runaway success. The opening was phenomenal for the film and it is sustaining. The film's dubbing rights is going for record amounts.
Veerabhadra also seems to be doing okay, but it is not the kind of huge success that Balakrishna would have wanted. But it has kept Balakrishna in the hunt.
Pournami has got a mixed verdict. Though Prabhas work and the film's effort to look different was appreciate, the theme of the movie seemed outlandish and too outre.
Bangaram seems to be limping already. The Pawan Kalyan starrer despite the hype has proved to be a dud. And now Pawan needs a big one to revive his career.
Meanwhile, among the smaller releases, Kita Kitalu the fun film from EVV stable has many takers and maybe one of the hits of the summer.