"I challenge the Telugu film industry to deliver a Rs 85 cr weekend opener with two newcomers, let alone a love story. Until then, you can keep the star-driven day one mania in your pockets," wrote film critic BH Harsh, pitting the Saiyaara success against Tollywood's record.
The challenge is interesting. Many Bollywood lovers would agree with the narrative that Tollywood is incapable of producing a spectacular romantic blockbuster like Saiyaara. These days, our filmmakers don't even make such attempts. Young filmmakers go out of fashion after just one hit.
Over the past few years, Telugu cinema has dominated the discourse. The spectacular success of the Baahubali and, more recently, the Pushpa movies and RRR has been juxtaposed against the grand failures of many Bollywood movies. Telugu cinema's strength lies in getting the mass masala movie formula right. Its music is way better than Bollywood's. But Bollywood is better when it comes to meaningful dramas and subtle emotions. Most dramas don't cut it in theatres in the OTT era. This has made Bollywood's suffering worse.
Saiyaara is the kind of film Telugu cinema can't replicate. As such, Bollywood movie lovers can tom-tom about its success.
