The biggest hype factor around Epic was undoubtedly the reunion of Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya. The pair had already proved their chemistry with Baby, which became a major success and gave them a strong following among the youth. So naturally, their reunion became one of the biggest reasons for the expectations on Epic.
Producer Naga Vamsi himself had earlier made it clear that he was keen on getting Anand and Vaishnavi on board as the lead pair. After the success of Baby, there was a belief that their combination had enough pull to bring the audience to theatres again. But going by the early box office trend, that factor alone has not been enough to give Epic the expected push.
Keeping trade estimations, business figures and final collections aside, the fact is that Epic is not performing up to the mark at the moment.
There is no denying that Anand and Vaishnavi have done well with their performances, and their chemistry remains one of the better aspects of the film. Aditya also comes up with some good writing ideas. However, the execution does not match the intent, especially in the second half where the film loses its grip. Several reviews have also pointed out the stretched portions and the weak impact of the uneven climax.
There was also a thought that the Baby craze and the youth appeal of this pair could bring a section of the audience to theatres even if the content was not completely convincing. But that advantage has not worked to the expected extent.
Right from the beginning, there were expectations that Aditya would bring his 90s touch to this Baby pair. But the trailer itself made it clear that Epic was going in a different direction. Instead of being another simple youthful and family friendly outing, the film attempted a more commercial experiment around relationships, physical intimacy and other sensitive topics. That change in approach seems to have divided the audience instead of creating a strong connect. The film is also an extension of the world created by 90s A Middle Class Biopic, with the story following Anand’s character in London.
Some feel that a proper chartbuster song featuring Anand and Vaishnavi could have created much more buzz before the release. But Aditya did not seem to build Epic around songs and musical moments in a big way, and that may have cost the film some pre release excitement.
In a film depending heavily on a popular young pair, a strong song could have helped the combination stay in the conversation.
Now, Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya will have to choose their next steps carefully. A successful combination can create initial curiosity, but it cannot guarantee a repeat of the same magic every time.
Epic may still get some advantage from the extended weekend and the Vinayaka Chavithi holiday on Monday, so the next few days will be interesting. But at this point, expecting a big magic number from the film looks difficult.