Classic comedy Dhee of Tollywood is making a comeback to the big screen, providing an opportunity for the fans to see the laughter and action once again on the cinema screen. Directed by Sreenu Vaitla and featuring Manchu Vishnu and Genelia D’Souza, the 2007 blockbuster continues to be one of the greatest entertainers in Telugu film industry. Viewers keep relishing its humor, action, and absorbing storyline, which makes it an evergreen hit.
The fans have long been demanding a re-release, and finally, their dream has been fulfilled. But the producers have made a fatal error by picking a disastrous release date. Rather than taking advantage of a vacant slot, they have put Dhee in a busy weekend, where several big-budget releases are going to overrun the box office.
Dhee Re-Release Date Competes with Top Releases
The producers have announced Dhee’s re-release on March 28, 2025, but the timing is apt. The movie will run into severe competition from some of the year’s most eagerly awaited releases.
On March 27, two highly awaited movies will take the screens by storm:
- Lucifer 2 – Empuraan, the follow-up Malayalam blockbuster starring Mohanlal, will find a gigantic audience.
- Veera Dheera Sooran 2, featuring Chiyaan Vikram, will see a big Tamil and pan-Indian crowd.
- On March 28, two new Telugu films, Robinhood and Mad Square, will hit the screens, with people looking for something new.
- On March 30, Bollywood megastar Salman Khan will come out with Sikandar, a movie that is likely to sweep the screens across the nation because of the Ramzan festival holiday.
With these movies coming back-to-back, Dhee’s prospects of getting sufficient screens and audience look bleak.
Dhee Could Have Flourished with a More Favorable Release Date
The release date is critical, particularly for an aged movie pitted against new releases. Dhee might have fared better with an alternative release date, so that it could get more screens and improved audience reception.
Rather than being confronted with such stiff competition, the makers ought to have:
- Released Dhee on a weekend with no major releases to make the most of theater numbers.
- Steered clear of the Eid/Ramzan holiday season, when new big-budget movies rule the box office.
- Opted for a mid-week release to appeal to a niche audience before new releases overwhelm the market.
- A more intelligent release plan would have allowed the film to do better at the box office.
Will Nostalgia Save Dhee?
Despite the poor release date, Dhee still holds immense nostalgic value. Over the years, fans have repeatedly watched, quoted, and celebrated the film’s comedy. The film’s humor, led by Brahmanandam, Sunil, and Ali, continues to entertain audiences.
Some factors might help Dhee:
- Strong fan following: The film has a dedicated audience that might still turn up despite the competition.
- Differentiation factor: Dhee, in contrast to high-octane new releases, is humor-based, and thus may appeal to family crowds.
- Repeat value: Viewers will likely come back to see it for the sake of nostalgia, keeping it relevant.
That being said, short of greater availability in theaters, even these points may prove insufficient to make re-release a hit.
Fans Feel Let Down Over Lack of Forethought
The moment the re-release date was announced, fans flooded social media with their disappointment. Most believed that the producers had spoiled the chances of Dhee’s re-release to the theaters.
Some fans asked for a delay to a better date.
- Others lambasted the decision to release the movie on a busy weekend.
- Some positive fans believed that word-of-mouth and nostalgia could still lead to success.Others argued
- that recent releases such as Pokiri and Jalsa worked well since they opened on free slots and thus fared exceptionally at the box office.
What Comes Next?
Now, Dhee will need to fight for screens and the people’s eyes. New releases earn more at the box office and will hence have priority from cinemas, and therefore Dhee will be subject to limited releases.
Box Office Success depends on:
- Number of screens acquired irrespective of other offerings.
- How much nostalgia-driven audiences show up for the re-release.
- Whether theaters extend the run if the movie does well in the first place.
- If Dhee doesn’t get enough audience, the film could be gone from theaters in a matter of days, and the re-release would be a lost cause.
Read Also :- Veera Dheera Sooran 2: Telugu Business and Release Strategy Explained
Final Thoughts: A Classic Film Ruined by Poor Timing
Dhee was worth a grand and successful re-release, given its cult status in Telugu films. The movie has been a source of entertainment for more than a decade and remains a crowd favorite.
Yet, the makers’ lack of good judgment has put it in an unwanted box office fight. A well-timed release date would have helped Dhee return to the spotlight, but now it has a tough row to hoe against many big-budget films.
Fans can only pray that good word-of-mouth, nostalgia, and loyal fans support Dhee to overcome this rough test.
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