20th October 2003

Haripalem - 3 shows a day center to 100 days with 4 shows centers
Haripalem - a tiny village situated 10 km away from Anakapally in Uttarandhra area - has only one touring talkies called 'Sanyasamba'. They show only 3 shows a day. And the maintenance of that theater has become very burdensome to the theater owner. He is on the verge of closing theater. Then he has got an idea. That is to ask the distributor for Tagore print for his area as to boost up the interest of watching films in movie halls among the crowds. He was very hesitant to go and ask the Uttarandhra distributor Kranthi Reddy for the Tagore print. And finally, he went to the distributor and told him the situation and asked for a print at a reasonable price. Kranthi Reddy who is looking out for maximum number of prints release has agreed to spare a print to Haripalem village. And it is the first film to be played with 4 shows in that center. It collected an amazing amount of 1.3 lakhs in first two days and as of now its collected a share of 3.5 lakhs. Thrilled by the collections and the scene of crowds thronging to his 'Sanyasamba' theater, the theater owner is planning to make Tagore run for 100 days, as he has got the investment back in the first week itself. Tagore film has opened new avenue in making money on short-term basis!

Tagore for 50 days in 6 theaters of Vizag
Vizag city is surrounded by the suburbs - Gajuwaka, Gopalapatnam, Karcharlapalem and Pendurthi. Earlier few films ran for 50 days in 4 centers (Vizag, Gajuwaka, Gopalapatnam, Karcharlapalem) so far. For the first time, a Telugu film was released in Pendurthi in the form of Tagore. Now Tagore is all set to run for 50 days in 6 centers - Sarath (Vizag), Sarada (Vizag), Urvasi (Kancherapalem), Srikanya (Gopalapatnam), Lakshmikanth (Gajuwaka) and Santhi (Pendurthi). For the first time in the history of Vizag town, a Telugu film is screening for 50 days in two centers - Sarath and Sarada.

Tagore: first 12-center 50 days film in Hyderabad
As per the unconfirmed reports, Tagore is all set to create another unique record in twin cities by running 50 days in 12 centers. The earlier highest no of centers is 10.

28th September 2003

Cops called for Singapore show
Chiranjeevi's Tagore created a kind of unprecedented hungama in Singapore yesterday. Tagore was exhibited in Yishun Theater in Golden Point Village at Singapore for evening show. There was so much of crowd that the glass panes were broken due the rush. Singapore cops were called in to control the situation.

10 overseas prints for Tagore
Tagore is released in USA (5 prints), UK (2 prints) and Singapore (1 print) as of today. It would be releasing in Dubai and Kuwait with 2 prints on 8th October 2003. This delay is due to censoring and adding of subtitles to the film. Canada release of Tagore is expected on 1st November. Tagore would also be released in Australia and New Zealand. The KAD distributors - who own overseas rights of Tagore - are also planning to release in countries like Mauritius, Cyprus and Fizi where there is enormous Telugu community. They are planning to have shows in Germany (2 shows) and Paris (one show) at a later point of time.

27th September 2003

2nd print added in Guntur city
The distributor of Guntur area learnt it in a hard way. He released Tagore film with just one print in 3 theaters thinking that he could manage it. But with the unprecedented response, he got another print exclusively for Harihar Mahal theater. It is also learnt that the second theater record in Guntur is going to broken through Harihar Mahal. Its not the case with Guntur alone. Even in cities like Tirupathi, Kakinada, Vizag and Kurnool, the distributors started off with single prints and then added another print extra. In Nellore city, they started off with 2 prints and now Tagore is running with 3 prints in 6 theaters.

RIM to tie up with Tagore
Reliance India Mobile (RIM) - which is looking out for all sorts of possibilities to penetrate the mobile telephone market in India - is planning to use the mega success of Tagore to its advantage. As per the unconfirmed news, RIM is planning to have a new scheme to combine RIM offer with Tagore tickets so that it could penetrate the most powerful market segment in India - that is of 'middle class audience'. Watch out for more details in the days to come.

Tagore obtains '15' certificate in UK
Chiranjeevi's Tagore was released on 27th of this month with much fanfare in UK. Unlike in USA, the Telugu film print should get censored in Uk and other countries and the censor board officers in UK awarded '15 certificate' to Tagore which means that no-one younger than 15 may see a '15' film in a cinema hall.

Fans clash in Bellary
The Bellary town is always a sensitive area whenever any of films of either Nandamuri dynasty or Chiranjeevi released. And this time Tagore is released in Royal theater which is beside Nataraj theater that is showing NTR's Simhadri. Just before the screening of first show of Tagore, there was a severe altercation between the rival fans. However, the intervention of police cooled down the spirits. Once the 1st show of Tagore was screened, nobody tried to provoke Chiranjeevi's fans.

26th September 2003

Tagore's blast in Mumbai
Even in Mumbai city, the ticket for Tagore film was sold for Rs 100/- in black for the second show. And the tickets of Tagore are sold out till Sunday. This is an unprecedented response for Arora cinema hall in Mumbai city. The crowds celebrated and enjoyed the performance of Chiranjeevi in Tagore film just the way fans in Andhra celebrated.

Compensation for the deceased Chiru fans
Chiranjeevi expressed his immense sorrow for the people (Notla Lakshman, Ravikumar, Bandi Sunil Kumar, Jakraiah) who died at the theaters of Tagore on the release day. Chiranjeevi has declared a compensation of Rs. 2 lakhs each to the deceased fans on Tagore's release day. Chiranjeevi's wife Ms. Surekha and his son Ram Charan Teja went to Rajahmundry and handed over the amount to the relatives of the deceased fans. VV Vinayak has given Rs. 50,000 each to the deceased people. Aakula Ramulu has given Rs. 10,000 to the first 3 members. Sunkara Satish Kumar - on behalf of Chiru fans given 5000 - to Jakraiah (Mangalagiri). The theater maganement in Mangalagiri has given 45,000 to the Jakraiah.

Hand amputated for Tagore ticket
In a strange incident, a fan of Chiranjeevi attacked another fan of Chiranjeevi because he was not provided a ticket of Tagore film in a place near Koraput, Orissa. In the process, the arm of the fan who refused to spare a ticket was amputated.

Uniform cutouts of Chiranjeevi all over Andhra Pradesh
Entire Andhra Pradesh is witnessing the solo cutouts of Chiranjeevi all over AP. The cutout which is shown in the photograph (click here) is the same cutout that is uniformly distributed for all the theaters playing Tagore film.

25th September 2003

Tagore's direct release in Mumbai
For the first time in the history of Mumbai - the commercial capital of India - a Telugu film is releasing on regular basis. That is Chiranjeevi's blockbuster Tagore. There has been the tradition of showing Telugu films at 8 am on the Sundays in Mumbai suburb cinema halls. The Telugu films are screened in for a single show after it's run is dried down in AP. But for Tagore, a special print is being sent and the regular shows start on 26th September 2003 (friday) at Arora theater in Telugu populated suburb Matunga of Mumbai. The show timings are 3 pm, 6 pm and 9 pm. .

VV Vinayak offered 3.5 crores?
The latest gossip that's making rounds in Film Nagar is the remuneration offer for VV Vinayak that is been made yesterday. As per the unconfirmed reports, a big producer offered a fancy remuneration of 3.5 crores to VV Vinayak after watching Tagore film. It is learnt that the decision is pending from Vinayak's side.

Tagore news on Vaartha mainpage
'Tagore Mega Hit' is the caption of the front page news article of Vaartha news paper. For the first time in the history of Andhra Pradesh, a Telugu film is declared as a biggest mega hit by a popular Telugu newspaper by featuring a big article on its front page. This article said that the trade pundits are expecting this film to smash all kinds of box office records and also this film is probably the best film ever by Chiranjeevi.

NV Prasad decided Tagore's date
When somebody asked Chiranjeevi on 22nd of this month why he was releasing Tagore on 24th of this month instead of releasing it on 22nd which happens to be the silver jubilee date of Chiru's entrance in to films, Chiranjeevi replied that NV Prasad - the distributor of Ceded area (who is also the producer of Vasantham film) - decided that the 24th September date would be very auspicious. Chiranjeevi being the man who respects the sentiments and welfare of the distributors gave a go ahead for the release on 24th.

Chiru's New house becomes a Talisman
Things seems to be rolling in the right direction for Chiranjeevi after he entered his own house on 22nd August 2003. A few of the industrywalas are believing that the new house is becoming a Talisman (lucky charm) for Chiranjeevi. And the mega hit of Tagore only reaffirms it.

Stones thrown on Police in Tirupathi
An SI and two constables were injured when they were performing their duties in a Tirupati theater playing Tagore film. The crowds threw stones on the police. Gossip was that the fans might have done it a response for the police lathi charge on Chiru fans when Chiranjeevi visited Tirupati for the shooting of Tagore recently.

24th September 2003

Rs. 800 at Saptagiri
The black ticket rate at Saptagiri was Rs 800/- for today's morning show. Lathicharge was enforced by police on the crowds who went on berserk. Allu Arjun, Ram Charan Teja and the daughter of Chiranjeevi watched Tagore in Saptagiri for today's morning show.

Challapally cutout controversy
A Tagore cutout kept in Challapally center created traffic jam. Hence the authorities have removed it. The fans did a rasto roko by protesting against removal of cutout. Then the authorities brought back the cutout and reinstalled it.

Causalities in Rajahmundry and Mangalagiri
Two people in Rajahmundry and one person in Mangalagiri died in a stampede when they tried to procure tickets for Tagore film at the respective theaters. May their soul rest in peace. Eight more people were injured in Rajahmundry.

Rs. 300 flat rate in Vizag
Chiranjeevi's Tagore is releasing in Sarat, Sangam and Sarada (in Jagadamba complex) in Vizag today. They are selling tickets for the all shows today for a flat rate of 300/- each in all 3 theaters. This would amass in a grand share for the opening day in Vizag.

Will Tagore lead Chiru into politics?
Two films with political subjects in a row. The film Indra has tested the Seema waters with Chiranjeevi acting as a noble human being with humongous crowd following in Seema territory. His latest film Tagore - which got positive response as per the mid night shows - has Chiranjeevi crusading against army by leading a brigade of fiery students. The selection of subjects for Chiranjeevi in there two films are leading towards an unique question in everybody's mind. Would Chiranjeevi join politics or not?

Rains sentiment for Chiru
It was down pouring in AP when Chiranjeevi's last film Indra was released in the last year. Even for Tagore film, all most all the places in Andhra area witnessed rains from drizzling to down pouring. Looks like rains and Chiranjeevi's hit films come together!

District wise break up for Tagore in Nizam
In a new move to explore the district level distribution, Geeta Arts has demarcated the Nizam territory by giving break up of Tagore centers in districts while giving out its advertisement in newspapers in Hyderabad. Since the beginning, Nizam and Ceded were considered as single chunks. Looks like, now the efforts are going on to look at the business at micro level in Nizam area.

22nd September 2003

Tagore in Chiranjeevi's top 10
As per Chiranjeevi's personal view, here is the list of his favorite top 10 among his films. And Tagore is one among those 10 films.

Vinayak in Tagore's posters
VV Vinayak has got the unique distinction of finding a place for himself as the director who got his photograph published in the posters of a Chiranjeevi film after Dasari Narayana Rao (Lankeswarudu). In most of the 30 x 40 posters where the photos of character artists Prakash Raj and Sayaji Shinde were seen, an equally good photograph of VV Vinayak is also visible in the poster. This proves that the kind of job satisfaction Chiranjeevi got through this film with the direction of Vinayak. Its an achievement for VV Vinayak who is just a 3 film old. However, the movie goers are interpreting that Vinayak might have acted in Tagore film.

New theaters for Tagore in Vijayawada
Jaihind and Navarang are the main theaters getting ready to release Tagore in Vijayawada. Actually these two theaters are being renovated and reopened for Tagore. The erstwhile Jaihind theater was demolished and a shopping complex is constructed with a ultra modern Jaihind theater built in that complex with 439-seat capacity. Jai Hind theater belongs to the grand producer Aswini Dutt. Apart from these two theaters, Tagore is also expected to release in Urvasi (3rd theater) and few more theaters in Vijayawada.

Celebrations are on for Tagore
The release of Tagore film would be a special event for the fans of Chiranjeevi because, he has completed 25 years as an actor today (22nd of September 2003). The seond and most important reason is that the insider's positive talk about the film is spreading like a wildfire among the fans. Fans are adding this happy occasion to the release of Tagore and celebrating it as double bonanza. As a part of it, the fans in Guntur are going to unveil a 60 ft cut out of Chiranjeevi at Krishna Picture Palace on 23rd September at 10 am. The fans would conduct a procession from Naz center to Krishna Picture Palace and then unveil the cutout. This event would be followed by conducting blood donation camp and annadaanas.