By Ayesha Khan 
Hyderabad, November 1: Ravi Teja’s new film Mass Jathara landed in theatres on Friday to the sound of fireworks, whistles, and a fair bit of skepticism. By Saturday morning, that mix of hype and hesitation had turned into something more complicated a conversation about whether the veteran star’s brand of “mass cinema” still packs the same punch in 2025.
A Big Launch, a Bigger Bet
Directed by Bhanu Bogavarapu, Mass Jathara isn’t just another release for Ravi Teja. It’s being seen as a test of the audience’s nostalgia and of the commercial formula that once made him a bankable star at the box office. The film, co-starring Sreeleela, reportedly cost close to ₹ 90 crore to make, a figure that signals big ambition and even bigger stakes for the actor and debutant director alike.
Bookings looked decent on paper, around ₹ 2 crore, according to The Times of India, but insiders weren’t exactly cheering. Screens filled slower than expected, and early trends hinted at what distributors dread most: a film opening below its weight.
Loud Cheers, Louder Complaints
If social media is the barometer, Mass Jathara is dividing the crowd right down the middle. One-half calls it a “mass feast,” thrilled to see Ravi Teja back in his trademark form, flinging dialogues and goons with equal force. The other half isn’t feeling it.
“The energy is there, the story isn’t,” one fan posted bluntly on X. That sentiment pretty much sums up most early reviews. The Indian Express called the film “defiantly outdated.” Gulte handed it a 2-star verdict, saying it “misfires in almost every department except cinematography.” M9 News went further, describing it as “tired and uncomfortable to sit through.”
Still, some moments seem to have landed a well-shot fight sequence here, a festival scene there, the usual flashes of vintage Ravi Teja charisma. As 123Telugu put it, “action works, story falters.”
What Went On Behind The Scenes
Sources in the production circle told 123Telugu that a few comedy scenes were chopped off before the release, possibly to tighten the film’s pacing. That might explain the uneven rhythm many critics noticed.
For Bhanu Bogavarapu, who’s stepping into direction for the first time, the outcome is bittersweet. In interviews, he’s called Ravi Teja the “unstoppable force powering this film,” and you can see why. The star’s presence dominates nearly every frame, sometimes to the film’s benefit, sometimes not.
Counting The Crores
Money is where the story starts to turn. Trade trackers suggest Mass Jathara needs to collect ₹ 60–70 crore net just to reach its breakeven point. With a reported ₹ 90 crore budget, that’s a steep climb. Early estimates from Koimoi hint that the day-one figures might not be enough to inspire confidence, though official numbers are still trickling in.
Given the pre-release chatter and modest opening, the next two days will decide if Mass Jathara finds its footing or fades like a festival firecracker bright for a moment, gone the next.
Why This Release Matters
For Ravi Teja, this isn’t just another movie. After a string of underperformers, Mass Jathara was supposed to be his comeback, a return to the swagger that made Kick and Vikramarkudu cult hits. The man himself admitted, in a pre-release chat, that he’s “irritated fans in recent years” and promised this film would bring back “classic Ravi Teja energy.”
But the Telugu film landscape has shifted. Audiences have been gravitating toward sharper storytelling Pushpa, Hi Nanna, Dasara leaving little room for recycled hero worship unless the emotion lands. Mass Jathara, with its throwback tone, feels caught between eras: it wants to roar like a 2010 blockbuster but looks out of breath in a 2025 frame.
What Happens Next
The weekend will tell us whether nostalgia can still sell. If word of mouth turns around, the film might crawl toward safety. If not, the OTT deal (reportedly with Netflix, four weeks from now) will be its only cushion.
For now, Mass Jathara is a reminder that even in the land of whistles and firecrackers, formulas have expiry dates. Energy alone doesn’t guarantee electricity.
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- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ayesha/
- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ayesha/
- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ayesha/
- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ayesha/
