Junior NTR, after making waves with his role in ‘RRR,’ has returned with his new Pan-India film, Devara. Directed by Koratala Siva, this high-action movie made a strong opening, grossing Rs 304 crore in its first weekend. While this figure is commendable, it fell short when compared to the box office success of Prabhas’ Kalki 2898 AD, which raked in Rs 555 crore globally during its opening weekend. So, where did Devara lag behind Kalki? Let’s break it down into five key reasons.
1. Lead Actor Stardom: Prabhas vs. Junior NTR
Prabhas became a Pan-India sensation with Baahubali, a film that set a new standard for South Indian cinema across the country. Since then, his stardom has soared, even though some of his later films didn’t perform as well. Despite this, Kalki 2898 AD had the star power and fanbase that came along with Prabhas’ name.
Junior NTR, though a big name in the South, is relatively newer to Pan-India fame compared to Prabhas. His name carries weight, but the nationwide craze that Prabhas enjoys gave Kalki an edge over Devara.
2. Female Lead: Deepika Padukone vs. Janhvi Kapoor
Another factor that worked in favor of Kalki was the presence of Deepika Padukone as the female lead. Deepika’s star power is enormous, with a long-standing presence in Bollywood spanning 17 years. Her role attracted more eyeballs from across India and even international audiences.
On the other hand, Devara featured Janhvi Kapoor as the lead actress. While Janhvi has made a mark in Bollywood, her experience and fanbase are relatively smaller, having started her career just six years ago. This difference in star appeal between the two actresses could have influenced audience interest and, eventually, the box office numbers.
3. Unique Storyline: Familiar South Film vs. Mythology-Based Concept
The storyline plays a crucial role in setting films apart. Devara follows a familiar South Indian action-drama theme, which, while entertaining, isn’t something the audience hasn’t seen before. Though the film featured spectacular action sequences, it did not bring anything new to the table in terms of plot.
On the other hand, Kalki 2898 AD tapped into Indian mythology, blending it with science fiction, creating a unique cinematic experience. The fresh concept of Kalki added a layer of intrigue and curiosity that helped draw a larger audience. This creative difference worked in favor of Kalki and helped it capture more attention.
4. Budget Disparity: A Factor for Scale and Reach
Devara had a reported production budget of Rs 300 crore, which is a significant amount, but it still pales in comparison to Kalki 2898 AD‘s massive Rs 600 crore budget. The larger budget for Kalki allowed for more expansive sets, visual effects, and higher production quality, which translated to a grander cinematic experience for audiences.
A bigger budget also helps in creating a more comprehensive marketing strategy, which brings us to the next point—promotion.
5. Promotion and Marketing Strategy: Creating the Buzz
One of the areas where Kalki 2898 AD clearly outshined Devara was in its promotional strategy. Kalki had a dedicated budget of Rs 40-60 crore just for promotions. The makers started building buzz around the film well before its release, regularly updating fans with behind-the-scenes content and teasers. They also released daily updates 25 days before the film’s premiere, keeping audiences constantly engaged.
In contrast, Devara did not have the same scale of promotional effort. The lack of an aggressive pre-release marketing campaign could have contributed to the comparatively lesser hype surrounding the film, affecting its overall performance at the box office.
Final Thoughts
While Devara certainly made an impact at the box office, it couldn’t quite replicate the magic of Kalki 2898 AD. The differences in star power, storyline uniqueness, budget, and marketing strategy played crucial roles in determining the success of these two films. With Kalki offering a grander experience, audiences were drawn to its novel concept and higher production values.
