Pen Movies is bringing a Hindi-dubbed Telugu movie to the North Indian belts and it is Akhanda. The film was a roaring box office success in the Telugu-speaking regions. But will it repeat its success through the Hindi-speaking audience?
We doubt the prospect. Because for two major reasons.
Firstly, not everything that works in its domestic market will work in Hindi. Akhanda is strictly a film made for the fans of Nandamuri Balakrishna. Also, it is over a year old and has been there on Disney+Hotstar for about a year. Thus, it is still too old a film to work in theaters.
It is a myth that everything that is a blockbuster in the South will be in Hindi dubbing. The pathetic condition of Beast and Valimai should have disillusioned this myth but Pen Movies is yet to learn this.
Secondly, let’s assume in an ideal condition that Akhanda has a high chance of success in Hindi-speaking regions. But cinematic experience matters and otherwise can’t be assumed even in an ideal situation. In Hindi dubbing, even that experience is compromised.
The dubbing as observed in the Hindi trailer is “B GRADE” to say the least. The audience on every social media is pointing out this terrible mistake and it is a big red flag. The original voice of Nandamuri Balakrishna is very deep and excitable. It has a lot of bass that his fans don’t get tired of loving for decades.
But the Hindi dubbing is pathetic in every sense. No disrespect to the dubbing artists but the used voice was never suitable for the superstar.
Since the release date is so near, it is almost impossible to change the entire dubbing, so looks like Pen Movies has devoured its bad start of the year.