Gaddar Telangana Film Awards: Here's who won big in Telangana
Credit: Mythri Movie Makers
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Mint
27 minutes ago
- Mint
From national campaigns to city tours, south Indian films up the promotional game for Hindi belt
From Patna to prime-time TV, South Indian films are no longer restricting their promotions to their home turf. Big-budget productions and even mid-scale films are aggressively chasing Hindi-speaking audiences with national campaigns, influencer-driven activations, and bilingual outreach, marking a sharp break from the once-localised publicity playbook. With the Hindi belt contributing a significant chunk of box office revenue through dubbed versions, Telugu and Tamil films are now pulling out all stops—from city tours and Hindi media pushes to interactive vlogs, games, and digital collectibles. The goal is clear: to build on the success of hits like RRR, KGF, Kantara, and Pushpa 2: The Rule. Released last December, Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2 set the tone by kickstarting promotions in markets like Patna, Bihar, before raking in over ₹830 crore from its Hindi version alone. A new promotional playbook 'There's a clear shift in how South Indian filmmakers and stars are approaching promotions today. Films like Thugs of Life signal a growing ambition to create nationwide appeal, with stars stepping up for city tours, national TV appearances, and cross-platform digital campaigns. This push is driven by the blockbuster success of crossover films like Pushpa, RRR, and Kantara, which proved that strategic promotions can significantly widen a film's reach and revenue," said Chaaya Baradhwaaj, founder and managing director, BC Web Wise, a digital marketing agency. Promotional strategies now go far beyond standard trailer drops and posters, Baradhwaaj added. Innovations include regional influencer tie-ups, vernacular meme marketing, AR (artificial reality) filters, gamified reels, and pre-release content drops on music and OTT platforms. Tamil films like Leo and Jailer successfully leveraged fan-generated content and regional brand tie-ins to fuel pre-release buzz. South Indian cinema is blending regional authenticity with pan-Indian ambition, said Bryan Louis, associate account director, White Rivers Media, an independent digital marketing agency. 'Digital innovation meets on-ground activities through interactive social media, live Q&As, and creative installations, all designed for broad appeal. High production values, influencer collaborations, and bilingual releases extend the impact further," Louis said. From local to national South Indian film teams are seriously levelling up their promotional game, and this reflects a growing awareness that the film's success isn't just about the content anymore—it's also about the perception you build pre-release, said Neelesh Pednekar, co-founder and head of digital media at Social Pill, a digital marketing agency. 'Earlier, promotions were largely local—press meets, regional interviews, maybe a trailer event. Now we're seeing planned national campaigns, city tours, influencer activations, high-energy launch events, and even Hindi-language media pushes," Pednekar added. Crowd-pulling pre-release events streamed live, actor vlogs, social media takeovers, and interactive games with fans—often boosted by YouTubers or influencers—have become common. Some productions are even experimenting with NFTs, digital collectibles, and early-access events for superfans, particularly in Telugu cinema. In some cases, co-branded ads featuring actors in character just ahead of release have also been tested. Why the shift? Experts point to the success of RRR, Pushpa, and KGF as proof of what's possible when South Indian films are marketed aggressively outside home states. Platforms like YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels have also created a level playing field, making language less of a barrier. Audiences are now more willing to watch films across languages—if the hype is strong enough. As a result, even mid-scale Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam films are investing in visibility from an early stage. When filmmakers know they have a story that cuts across geographies and a cast with growing national appeal, you don't aim for a regional release anymore, said Harikrishnan Pillai, CEO and co-founder, TheSmallBigIdea, a digital marketing agency. Moves like trailer events in states like Bihar for films like Pushpa, and actors like Unni Mukundan from Marco giving interviews in multiple languages, are part of this mindset, he added. 'Promotional budgets often range from ₹5 crore to ₹30 crore depending on the scale of the film, especially when national or international outreach is involved. Filmmakers view these investments as essential and critical to the film's success. Such investments can be viewed as high-risk spending, but the potential returns when it comes to box office collections, OTT rights, and brand associations are often justified," said Prof. Neha Yadav, Faculty of Marketing, FLAME University.
Hans India
41 minutes ago
- Hans India
Mythri Movie Makers Warn Against Prabhas-Hanu Film Set Leaks, Call It Cyber Crime
Production house Mythri Movie Makers has issued a stern warning on social media platform X after leaked pictures from the sets of Prabhas' upcoming film with director Hanu Raghavapudi began circulating online. The team expressed concern, stating that such leaks 'bring down the morale of the crew' and urged fans not to share any unauthorized content. 'Any account sharing such pictures will not only be reported and brought down but will be treated as a cyber crime and dealt with appropriately,' the makers warned in their official post. The yet-untitled film, tentatively known as #PrabhasHanu, is said to be a military-based drama (Fauji theme) and is currently under production with high expectations.
News18
7 hours ago
- News18
Prabhas's Look From Fauji Sets Leaked Online, Makers Issue Strict Warning
Film makers have issued a strict warning and also mentioned that legal actions will be taken against offenders. Prabhas is currently working on Hanu Raghavapudi's much-anticipated film Fauji. Well, the action has once again grabbed attention. A picture of the actor from the shooting location has leaked and is going viral on social media. The leaked photo has raised major concerns for the film's makers. They have issued a strict warning and also mentioned that legal actions will be taken against offenders. Taking to their X handle, Mythri Movie Makers wrote, 'We've observed that a lot of you are sharing a picture from the sets of #PrabhasHanu. We are striving to give you the best experience, and these leaks bring the morale of the team down. Any account sharing such pictures will not only be reported and brought down but will be treated as a cyber crime and dealt with appropriately." The action came after Prabhas's look went viral on social media. We've observed that a lot of you are sharing a picture from the sets of # are striving to give you the best experience, and these leaks bring the morale of the team down. Any account sharing such pictures will not only be reported and brought down but will be… — Mythri Movie Makers (@MythriOfficial) August 19, 2025 Fauji: In November last year, a bunch of photos from the sets of Fauji went viral online. The pictures – featuring vintage cars, old-school buses, and an overall retro vibe – made their way across social media. Adding to the intrigue were rumours that the shoot was taking place at Hyderabad's Alipore Jail, the same spot where Subhash Chandra Bose was imprisoned back in the 1930s. Fauji is one of the most interesting projects on Prabhas' slate. Word on the street is that the film is a grand war-time romantic drama set during World War 2. Think epic scale, vintage aesthetics and emotions packed into a soldier's journey. Produced by Mythri Movie Makers, this period actioner will see Prabhas stepping into the boots of a soldier. Fauji's crew is nothing less than spectacular – Vishal Chandrashekhar is doing the music, Sudeep Chatterjee is handling cinematography and editing is in the hands of Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao. With a reported budget of ₹400 crore, the movie is going to be one for the books. Prabhas was last seen in Kalki 2898 AD. Nag Ashwin's magnum opus also featured Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone and Disha Patani in key roles. Apart from Fauji, Prabhas has an exciting lineup ahead, including The Spirit, The Raja Saab, the second instalment of the Kalki 2898 AD franchise and Salaar 2. The Raja Saab: The Raja Saab recently faced a legal complaint from Ivy Entertainment in Delhi High Court. The production company was accused of contractual breaches, including failing to complete and release the film on time, providing production updates, and disclosing fund utilisation. The Raja Saab is touted to be a horror-comedy, marking a genre break for Prabhas after having featured in action or fantasy dramas in the past few years. The film features a Haveli that's unlike anything seen before in Indian cinema. This grand set, spanning 41,256 sq ft, is officially the largest horror set ever constructed in India. The Raja Saab is touted to be a horror-comedy, marking a genre break for Prabhas after having featured in action or fantasy dramas in the past few years. The film features a Haveli that's unlike anything seen before in Indian cinema. This grand set, spanning 41,256 sq ft, is officially the largest horror set ever constructed in India. The film is also expected to make a big splash in the Hindi market. However, it won't have the date all to itself as in Bollywood, it's heading for a box office face-off with Vishal Bhardwaj's upcoming film starring Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri, which is also set to release on the same day. First Published: August 20, 2025, 09:31 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
