Jr NTR expresses his views on audience behavior; says "We can no longer enjoy a film.."

Helmed by Koratala Siva and featuring Jr NTR, Saif Ali Khan, and Janhvi Kapoor, Devara: Part 1,  has achieved notable success at the box office, earning an impressive Rs 466 crore globally. However, it hasn't made the cultural or critical impact that many had anticipated, especially considering the high expectations surrounding Jr NTR’s return after his success with RRR. 

Despite the strong box-office performance, Devara has received mixed reviews from both critics and audiences, which appears to have affected Jr NTR. In a recent interview, the actor expressed his disappointment and attributed the film’s underperformance to the audience's current mindset. He shared his views on how viewers have become overly judgmental and analytical while watching films, which hinders their ability to enjoy movies purely for entertainment.

“We, as an audience, have become quite negative these days. We can no longer enjoy a film in an innocent way,” Jr NTR stated, as reported by India Today. Reflecting on his own experiences of watching films with his children, he observed that kids simply enjoy movies without analyzing or overthinking them. “I wonder why we can’t maintain that innocence anymore? With every film, we tend to watch it with a critical eye. We are all constantly judging, analyzing, and overthinking films. Perhaps our exposure to cinema has led us to this point,” he added.

Jr NTR elaborated that this trend could be part of a continuous cycle in the audience's relationship with cinema. He expressed optimism that it would eventually fade, allowing viewers to once again appreciate films in a more relaxed manner.

Despite these obstacles, Devara remains financially stable, although it trails behind other Indian blockbusters such as Kalki 2898 AD, which earned Rs 52.6 crore and Rs 12.2 crore domestically on its second Sunday and Monday, in contrast to Devara’s Rs 12.65 crore and Rs 9 crore.