Jr NTR Blames Audience for Underperformance of Devara: 'We Have Become Very Negative...'

Devara: Part 1, directed by Koratala Siva and starring Jr NTR, Saif Ali Khan and Janhvi Kapoor, has performed well at the box office, grossing an impressive Rs 466 crore worldwide. However, it hasn’t had the cultural or critical impact many expected, especially given the massive anticipation surrounding Jr NTR’s return after his success with RRR.

Despite solid box-office numbers, Devara has drawn mixed reviews from both critics and audiences, which seems to have affected Jr NTR. In a recent interview, the actor expressed his disappointment and blamed the audience’s current mindset for the film’s underperformance. He shared his thoughts on how viewers have become too judgmental and analytical when watching movies, preventing them from enjoying films purely for entertainment.

“We, as an audience, have become very negative these days. We are not able to enjoy a film in an innocent manner anymore,” Jr NTR said, according to India Today. Reflecting on his own experience watching films with his children, he noted that kids simply enjoy movies without analysing or overthinking. “I wonder why we are not able to be that innocent anymore? Every film today, we are watching it to analyse. We are all constantly judging, analysing, and overthinking about films. Maybe our exposure to cinema has made us like this,” he added.

Jr NTR further explained that this trend might be part of an ongoing cycle in the audience’s relationship with cinema. He expressed hope that it would eventually pass, and viewers would return to appreciating films in a more carefree way.

Despite these challenges, Devara continues to hold its ground financially, though it lags behind other Indian blockbusters like Kalki 2898 AD, which grossed Rs 52.6 crore and Rs 12.2 crore domestically on its second Sunday and Monday, compared to Devara’s Rs 12.65 crore and Rs 9 crore.

In its review, News18 Showsha praised Devara’s first half, drawing parallels to Shakespearean tragedy, but noted that the second half lacked the same punch, becoming somewhat predictable.