The romantic drama Couple Friendly, featuring Santosh Shobhan and Manasa Varanasi, hit theatres during the Valentine’s Day weekend, generating curiosity among audiences. Directed by Ashwin Chandrasekhar and produced by Dheeraj Mogilineni, the film presents a heartfelt and honest love story that has been widely appreciated for its narrative and performances. Early audience reactions and reviews praised the chemistry of the lead pair and the relatable storyline.
Box Office Performance
Despite the positive word-of-mouth, Couple Friendly has struggled to meet commercial expectations. On its opening day, the film collected approximately ₹1.89 crore, and after two days, its worldwide total stands near ₹3 crore. While the story resonated with viewers, experts suggest that several factors contributed to its moderate performance at the ticket counters.
Reasons Behind the Underwhelming Collections
Trade analysts point out two main issues affecting the film’s box office earnings:
1. Limited Promotion:
Small-budget films heavily rely on pre-release publicity to attract audiences. Couple Friendly lacked a strong marketing push before its release. The production team organised a success meet only after the film hit theatres and has now planned a promotional tour with Santosh Shobhan and Manasa Varanasi to boost awareness and drive audiences back to theatres.
2. Adult-Only Censor Rating:
The film received an ‘A’ certificate from the censor board, restricting its audience to adults. This rating significantly limited its reach and potential revenue. The team believes the film’s title influenced the rating, suggesting that a minor adjustment, such as renaming it to Friendly Couple, might have secured a U/A certificate and allowed a wider audience.
Looking Ahead
With the opening weekend behind it, Couple Friendly now faces a crucial period. Its long-term box office performance will depend on steady weekday collections and the effectiveness of ongoing promotional efforts. If the team can sustain audience interest, the film still has the potential to recover and perform better in the coming weeks.
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