Films with blockbuster theatrical runs will usually garner solid viewership when they are screened for the first time on television. But this trend has drastically changed in recent years due to the advent of OTT platforms. Even though OTT viewership is on the rise, TRPs continue to be decent for hit films, as audiences like to revisit them when they are played on television.
Surprisingly, reigning pan-India superstar Prabhas’ recent blockbuster Salaar bucked the trend and registered a dismal TRP when it made its debut on television last week. The epic action saga directed by Prashanth Neel, which plundered nearly 700 crores worldwide at the box office in 2023, managed to secure only 6.52 crores and shocked everyone.
Even some of the recent disaster films like Guntur Kaaram, Adhikesava, and Skanda garnered better TRP ratings than Salaar, despite their embarrassing performances at the box office. The low reception for Salaar came as a huge disappointment for not just Prabhas’ fans but also for the Telugu filmdom.
One of the main reasons for such an abysmal TRP for a massive commercial potboiler is attributed to the ongoing IPL season. As Telugu States embrace IPL with great fanfare during the summer season, big-budget films usually don’t release during this window because of low occupancies.
This year, the IPL fever seems to have impacted the viewership of Salaar. While there might have been some other reasons for the low TRP, the IPL season is said to be the main culprit behind the fiasco.
Neel’s previous films, KGF 1 and KGF 2, amassed solid TRPs in Telugu, even though the lead protagonist is not a Tollywood star. So, the low TRP for Salaar came as a big letdown for Tollywood.