Big-budget movies to hit screens this summer

This summer, single-screen theatres and multiplexes will be abuzz with activity thanks to a series of big-budget movies lined up to entertain people during the next couple of months.

At least half a dozen movies such as ‘S/o Satyamurthy’ starring Allu Arjun and Samantha, Anushka Shetty starrer historic film ‘Rudramadevi’, noted film director Maniratnam’s ‘Ok Bangaram’, ‘Kick 2’ starring Ravi Teja and Rakul Preet Singh, Balakrishna’s ‘Lion’ along with other films will hit screens between April and May to ensure power-packed entertainment to viewers.

Film director S.S. Rajamouli’s film ‘Baahubali’ and Mahesh Babu’s starrer film which is touted to be a family entertainer will also be released soon. The title of Mahesh Babu’s film is yet to be finalised, according to sources in A.P. Film Chamber of Commerce (APFCC).

During Sankranti festival, the usual hustle and bustle at cinema halls was missing as only three movies, including two big budget films, were released. ‘Gopala Gopala’ starring Venkatesh and Pawan Kalyan and ‘I’, directed by Shankar followed by a few other movies hit the screens. But this summer, producers have chalked out action plans to release their films to cash in on the craze.

“As vacation for students begins within a few days, several producers are planning to release their films from mid April,” said APFCC Executive Member M. Ramesh.

More than 50 single-screen theatres and multiplexes will be catering to the needs of viewers by screening films slated to be released in summer. “We expect that theatres like Alankar, Raj Yuvraj, Jairam, Urvasi, Miraj and Apsara in Vijayawada would teem with crowds especially students who are eager to watch their icons in action,” said another executive member.

But theatre owners felt that the IPL matches would cast a shadow on daily collections. These matches were affecting first show (evening) and second show (night) collections as most matches start in the evening and continue till midnight, they added.