Hyderabad: All the lanes and bylanes leading to RTC X Roads are abuzz with fan frenzy when a big-budget film featuring a star with a huge fan following is released in the theatres there.
Garlanded giant cutouts of the actors, fans bursting crackers, bands playing music and fans dancing to the tunes and some even throwing coins — these are the usual scenes at the theatres in RTC X Roads.
There was a time when there were nearly 20 theatres in and around RTC X Roads. The number has now dwindled as theatres have given way to malls. But Sandhya, Sudarshan and Devi theatres have remained the mainstay.
For at least three decades, if not more, top film stars have always made it a point to watch their films at one of these theatres in RTC X Roads, where the pulse of film buffs is felt.
On Wednesday, it was just another ‘usual ritual’ when Allu Arjun went to Sandhya theatre to watch the premiere of his new film ‘Pushpa-2 The Rule.’ However, due to poor crowd management by police and theatre staff, a stampede took place in which a woman died and her son is battling for his life.
In Jan this year, actor Mahesh Babu and his family watched his film ‘Guntur Karam’ at Sudarshan theatre. Fans went gaga when actor Nithin showed up at Sudarshan to watch re-release of his earlier film ‘Ishq.’
Interestingly, it was at a theatre at RTC X Roads that director Teja spotted Nithin, who came to watch a film there and cast him as hero in the 2002 film ‘Jayam.’
It is said that Pushpa director Sukumar met Thabitha Hamsini at the screening of his film ‘Arya’ at a theatre in RTC X Roads. After four years of courtship, Sukumar and Thabitha tied the knot in 2019.
In June this year, Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan’s son Akira Nanda watched his father’s film ‘Thammudu.’ The 1999 film was re-released much to the delight of fans at Devi.
The collections at RTC X Roads may not necessarily mean that a film is a hit, but the filmmakers depend a lot on the feedback from the fans thronging these theaters to know if their work is appreciated or criticised.
“RTC X Roads is the place to watch a film. When you sit among other fans, you will enjoy the film even more,” said Ramesh Chandra, a software professional. “Everyone comes here to enjoy the film. Watching a film in a single-screen theatre is like being part of a celebration,” he said.
