It is all over social media, especially among the mega fans and those who have a soft corner for director Shankar, lamenting that Game Changer has been rejected by the audience.
They criticize that audiences have changed, claiming people now only watch smuggler-themed films like Pushpa 2, violent films like Daaku Maharaaj, and movies like Sankranthiki Vastunnaam that rely on a child artiste who was made utter some vulgar lines. However, this complaint seems baseless and lacks common sense.
This phenomenon isn’t new. Even decades ago, mass-appealing films dominated the box office, while films with values struggled.
For instance, Gang Leader was a hit, but Rudraveena wasn’t. However, Game Changer cannot be compared to Rudraveena—it’s a purely commercial film with hero elevations and contrived villains, and weakly written script.
Ironically, the same mega fans once discouraged Chiranjeevi from acting in message-oriented films like Rudraveena. If they had supported him back then, he might have pursued more meaningful projects.
The fans’ complaints seem driven by jealousy over Pushpa 2, which broke collection records. While some argue the box office figures for Pushpa 2 are inflated, they seem plausible given the film’s massive buzz. In contrast, Game Changer has faced skepticism about its collections since day one.
Ultimately, if a film connects with the audience, nothing can stop it. The audience hasn’t changed; they’ve always been the same.
They made Shankarabharanam a hit four and half decades ago, supported small films like Balagam, and appreciated meaningful movies like Satyam Sundaram and 35- Chinna Katha Kaadu, in the present times.
Mega fans and sudden reformist critics should think twice before making baseless comments. If audiences connect with a film, it will succeed; if they don’t, no amount of effort can make it a hit. That’s the undeniable truth.
Usha Chowdhary
