Nani says 'The Paradise' flips audience mood each show

The actor says audience sentiment flips from early optimism to evening ambivalence, a pattern he claims is unprecedented for any recent release.

At a media mulakat on Thursday, Natural Star Nani opened up about the strange rhythm his latest film, The Paradise, has been following at the box office. The Telugu‑language action drama, directed by Srikanth Odela and bank‑rolled by Sudhakar Cherukuri’s SL SLV Cinemas, has been drawing crowds, but the audience’s vibe appears to be on a seesaw.

“And we’ve been seeing a positive response in the morning, but by evening it turns into a mixed response,” Nani told reporters, his tone half‑amused, half‑curious. “In a surprising turnaround, the response for The Paradise changed from negative to positive with each show. I haven’t witnessed this for any film lately. We wanted to do something new, but even the reactions are quite similar to our attempt.”

The comment sparked a flurry of memes and hot takes across Twitter, Instagram reels, and regional fan forums. Some fans argue the shift reflects the film’s layered storytelling – a high‑octane opening that gives way to a slower, more nuanced second act. Others chalk it up to word‑of‑mouth dynamics: early‑day viewers, fresh from work, cheer the spectacle, while night‑owls compare it to other releases and temper their enthusiasm.

Industry insiders, however, are cautious. Trade analyst Ramesh Kumar of Telugu Trade Watch notes that box‑office numbers for The Paradise remain strong, with the film crossing the ₹100 crore mark in two days, a feat already reported by multiple outlets. “The day‑to‑day swing in sentiment is interesting, but it hasn’t dented the earnings curve,” he said, citing preliminary data from multiplex chains.

The cast, which includes veteran Mohan Babu, dancer‑turned‑actor Raghav Juyal, Sonali Kulkarni, and newcomer Kayadu Lohar, has been busy promoting the film across the state. Mohan Babu, who praised his own role as the “deadliest” yet, took to his Instagram Stories to thank fans for staying “alive” with the movie.

What makes Nani’s observation noteworthy is its rarity. In the fast‑moving Telugu market, films usually enjoy a steady trajectory of hype, either building or waning, but rarely oscillate within a single day. If the pattern holds, it could influence how distributors schedule screenings – perhaps front‑loading morning shows to capture the early buzz, then tweaking evening slots to manage expectations.

For now, the only certainty is that The Paradise continues to dominate screens, and the conversation around its mood swings shows no sign of cooling. As the weekend approaches, the industry will be watching whether the evening dip steadies or if the film can sustain its positive momentum into the night.

So, will the next wave of viewers tip the scales back toward optimism, or will the mixed evening chatter become the new normal? Only the next show will tell.