In Sandalwood, crossing the 100-day mark automatically ushers a film into the league of blockbusters. And though this number does not have much significance in terms of revenue earned, the audience as well as the industry still swear by this milestone.
A recent film to reach the coveted benchmark is Yash’s Mr and Mrs Ramachari.
Incidentally, the talented actor is on a roll, this film being the fifth in a row to complete 100 days on April 3. Conceding that this may be an outdated concept, Yash confesses he still enjoys the feeling. He says, “People still go by that benchmark, even though success actually has to translate into collections. But I am really glad that we have crossed the set benchmark.”
The actor says he has been receiving news that people want to watch the film even after 100 days. “The best part is that people of every strata can relate to the film and that is why it has become a huge hit. We are putting in a lot of effort to bring people back to the theatres and watch some good films and that is one of the reasons that Ramachari managed to earn good revenue,” he says.
Giving credit to the entire team for the film’s grand success, Yash reveals details of the efforts he made to be able to see this day. “For the last four years, I have made a lot of sacrifices, even in my food intake. I don’t feel bad because I always wanted to be an actor and cherish these moments. So, I don’t mind making small sacrifices to get these kind of results. A lot of people have worked behind-the-scenes for me. My parents have stood by me as well. These four years have been rigourous and it has all paid off,” he adds.
His co-star in the film, Radhika Pandit, also sees the 100-day run as special. She says, “I think, it is official now that Ramachari is a blockbuster and has broken many records in Sandalwood. For me, a film can be called successful when people love it, and I know for sure that Ramachari has been appreciated. I worked with a young and new team that came up with a wonderful romantic script.”
And the man behind the camera, young director Santhosh Ananddram, is overjoyed with the success of his debut. Looking back at the efforts to make the film, he says, “It has taken 1,825 days of work to reach the 100-day mark. I remember when I went to talk to Yash at a gym when he was preparing for Gajakesari, he had given me half an hour. And there was a nod and a hug from Yash within five seconds, and now here we are, seeing the success of Ramachari.”
He adds, “Producers Jayanna and Bogendra believed in me. I should make a special mention of my colleague and friend, Vijay Nagendra, who was with me while writing the story, dialogues and during the making of the film.”
‘Ramachari has crossed Jathre collection in Chitradurga’
According to Yash, the number of people who bought an entry ticket to see the team while shooting in Chitradurga was maximum in terms of ticket collection. “It surpassed collection from jathre, the annual festival that takes place in Chitradurga. At that point of time, I knew this film was going to be a hit. And standing at the particular spot where we shot the climax, I wished that the same reflects in the theatre collection also and that too has happened. We have broken all records. I really wanted to go and visit all the theatres, but that is not possible at present as I have to start shoot for my next,” he says, adding that he would be working with Santhosh Ananddram. “He will have a script ready for me and we will work together again,” he says.