Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 trailer launch event in Patna showcased the growing influence of Tollywood stars in Bollywood and across India. Historically, Bollywood has dominated, with promotions largely confined to major cities like Mumbai.
However, Allu Arjun broke this tradition by choosing Patna, a city not typically used for such grand film events, as the location for the Pushpa 2 trailer launch. This strategic move demonstrated the mass appeal and reach of Tollywood heroes in the North. With the single event, Allu Arjun turned the heads of bigwigs in Bollywood and at the same time proved that he is no more a star but a brand in the nation.
Not in their dreams would the Bollywood stars realize that they could do an event like this on a grand scale in the North. The huge turnout of over two lakh fans and the widespread anticipation for the trailer emphasized the cross-cultural impact of Pushpa and the emergence of Allu Arjun’s brand.
Unlike typical Bollywood promotions, which often focus on media events within controlled environments, the Pushpa 2 launch was bold and public, showcasing a level of fan engagement that many Bollywood stars rarely achieve. This bold move has positioned Allu Arjun as not just a national star but an international one, embodying his phrase: “Not fire… Wildfire.”
This event set a new benchmark, illustrating that Tollywood heroes can command immense fan followings and stir excitement on a grand scale even outside their traditional strongholds.
Ram Charan recently launched his teaser for the film Gamechanger in Lucknow. Now, Allu Arjun did it, and surely, the other Tollywood actors will also attempt similar events in the future. It sets a precedent for South Indian stars to take center stage, matching or surpassing their Bollywood counterparts’ stature in terms of fan base and media buzz.
The bottom line of the story is that, Pushpa fired two birds with single bullet. On one hand, he sent reality checks to the stalwarts of Bollywood of why they could not do such an event all these decades and a star from South has to make them open their eyes. On the other hand, the event stands as a classic example of how South films, especially Telugu films are being received in North. The icing on the cake is the realisation of the brand value of ‘Allu Arjun.’
