Satellite blues for Akhil

Released amid sky high expectations, Akhil Akkineni-starrer ‘Akhil’, made on a budget of Rs 45 crore, has failed to set the cash registers jingling, registering Rs 19 crore approximately.

While many distributors cutting across both the Telugu-speaking states have incurred huge losses, the less we speak about the overseas distributors the better it is. In this regard, the latest we hear is the film is limping its way to get a decent price for its premier on the small screen.

A source said, “A leading general entertainment channel quoted Rs 7 crore for the movie before the release keeping in mind the enormous buzz around it. Producer Sudhakar Reddy, though, wanted more booked his ticket to Chennai to seal the deal but dropped his plans at the eleventh hour thinking that he would get Rs 9-10 crore if the film opens well.

But it wasn’t the case as it received poor word of mouth and scathing reviews.” The source added, “The channel has now dropped plans of acquiring the satellite rights. However, Reddy approached the channel asking them to pay somewhere between Rs 2.0-2.5 crore but the concerned party is ready to disburse only Rs 75 lakh. The negotiations are on.”

By Nagaraj Goud