After a gap of more than three years, power star-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan’s film Vakeel Saab is hitting the silver screens on April 9.
Naturally, the stakes of the producers and film makers are very high, as it generated a lot of euphoria among Pawan’s fans.
But there is a serious threat looming large on the success of the film. And that is ever-growing number of Covid-19 cases.
Though the theatres in both the Telugu states have been given permission to run for full houses, they are not running to their capacity yet, as the people are still apprehensive.
Since Vakeel Saab is the first big ticket film to hit the screens after the outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic, it has to generate huge revenues to achieve the break-even.
So, the film makers are learnt to have approached the governments in both the states seeking permission to run six shows a day, instead of the present four shows. It means, theatres have to be opened early in the morning and run till late in the night.
One wonders whether the Jagan government in Andhra Pradesh would give permission for additional screening of Vakeel Saab, as Pawan Kalyan has been a bitter critic of the government.
Even on Saturday when the Jana Sena chief addressed a huge rally in Tirupati for the by-polls, he made sharp comments against the government.
“The final decision has to be taken by none other than the chief minister. It is learnt some top YSRC leaders, closer to the film makers, reportedly assured the latter that they would get the permission from Jagan for additional shows in theatres. An order to this effect is expected to be issued in a day or two,” sources said.
In Telangana, too, it might not be a big issue for Vakeel Saab makers, as Pawan has good equations with chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. In the recent MLC elections, too, Pawan extended support to the TRS candidate.
“So, KCR government might grant permission for additional shows in theatres,” sources said.
The only point of worry is that what would happen if both the governments reject permission for additional shows in view of steep rise in number of Covid-19 cases.
In the neighbouring Karnataka, the government cut down the occupancy in theatres to 50 per cent due to rising cases.
If the Telugu states, too, are forced to follow the rule, then Vakeel Saab would be in trouble!
