Ram Charan, in collaboration with director Shankar, is shaping up a Pan-India film titled ‘Game Changer‘. This is Ram Charan’s first project after the colossal success of ‘RRR‘, setting high expectations. The movie, being developed as a political action thriller, is produced by Tollywood producer Dil Raju. Mega fans are eagerly anticipating its release, scheduled as a Christmas treat. However, there’s a strong buzz that the film might also contend in the Sankranti race, sparking interest on whether it will pose a strong competition to Chiranjeevi’s own film already slated for Pongal.
From Christmas to Sankranti Lock-in!
Sankranti is a major festival in the Telugu states, a popular release window for big-star films. Alongside this, Megastar Chiranjeevi has also locked his upcoming film ‘Vishwambhara’ for the Pongal race. Following this, there are talks within film circles that Ram Charan’s latest ‘Game Changer’ may also target a Sankranti release. Given the ongoing post-production work, a Christmas release might not be feasible, hence the makers are considering a shift to Sankranti to optimize returns, setting the stage for a potential box office clash between Chiru and Charan.
Is Distributor Pressure the Cause?
The shift of ‘Game Changer’ from December to Sankranti is reportedly due to distributor pressure. Distributors believe that moving this high-budget film to Sankranti would be more profitable than a Christmas release, as releasing during the Christmas period might not be as lucrative. Additionally, the concern is that with movies releasing around January 10 for Sankranti, missing this window could potentially result in a loss of long-period collections, as the film would only have a 20-day run to make a substantial impact.
Will Chiru Step Back?
Although father and son, Chiranjeevi and Ram Charan have yet to clash at the box office. If ‘Vishwambhara‘ versus ‘Game Changer’ happens, it might send mixed signals to the fans, creating a dilemma on which movie to support during the release. Film circles speculate that Chiranjeevi might consider postponing ‘Vishwambhara’ to avoid a direct clash for his son’s sake, especially given the ongoing uncertainty over ‘Game Changer’s’ release date. Producer Dil Raju and music director Thaman have initially promoted the film for a Christmas release, yet the fans remain skeptical, now with heightened promotions pointing towards a Sankranti release. Missing the Sankranti window could deeply dissatisfied Mega fans, pressing the makers to lock the date for the festival.
Charan Says No to Reshoots!
Ram Charan has recently completed shooting for ‘Game Changer’ and shifted his focus to his next film under Buchibabu’s direction, ‘RC16’, adopting a new long-haired look and physique. However, recent reports suggest director Shankar was dissatisfied with some scenes from ‘Game Changer’, considering reshoots with Charan. When this was brought to Charan’s attention by producer Dil Raju, he declined, fearing it would delay his ongoing project ‘RC16’, for which dates were already committed.
Charan-Neel Combo Loading!
Another exciting project is brewing for Ram Charan with Prashanth Neel, known for delivering blockbusters like ‘KGF‘ and ‘Salaar‘. Discussions have reportedly concluded for this venture, which DVV Danayya is expected to produce. However, this project might take time to commence, as Neel is currently occupied with ‘NTR 31‘, ‘Salaar 2‘, and ‘KGF 3’. Charan also has upcoming commitments with directors Buchibabu and Sukumar, only after which the Charan-Neel movie might take off.
