When 8 Vasantalu rolled into theaters on June 20, 2025, it seemed like it had a shot at winning hearts. With Mythri Movie Makers behind it and Phanindra Narsetti calling the shots, this Telugu romantic drama was pitched as a soulful love story. But just a few days in, it’s clear the audience isn’t feeling it—shows are getting canceled left and right, theaters are practically empty, and the film’s being called a straight-up box office dud.
Starring Ananthika Sanilkumar alongside Ravi Duggirala, Hanu Reddy, and Kanna Pasunoori, 8 Vasantalu had some serious hype going in. The promos showed off Ananthika’s glowing charm and a vibe that felt fresh and poetic. With a decent number of screens and a big-name production house, it looked ready to make waves. But the numbers tell a grim story: the film scraped together just ₹0.45 crore in India over its first two days, with day one barely hitting ₹0.2 crore. Things got so bad that theaters saw “near-zero” ticket sales, and by the weekend, many just pulled the plug on screenings altogether.
So, what happened? Seems like the film didn’t quite click with folks. While Narsetti’s direction got props for its gorgeous visuals and bold ideas, the story lost its spark for a lot of viewers. The first half pulls you in with some solid emotional beats, but the second half drags, with characters that feel flat and casting that didn’t quite work. Some reviews, like one from The Hindu, called it “big on ambition but short on heart,” saying its slow, artsy pace might’ve turned off the usual moviegoer. It’s got a 9.1/10 on IMDb, so a few people are digging it, but that love hasn’t shown up at the ticket counter.
Zoom out, and 2025 hasn’t been kind to Telugu films. The summer’s been rough, with plenty of movies struggling to pull crowds. 8 Vasantalu didn’t do itself any favors by dropping the same week as heavyweights like Kuberaa, which stole the spotlight. Even with Mythri Movie Makers’ muscle—rumor has it they backed this one out of loyalty or a favor—the film couldn’t get traction. Bad word-of-mouth and zero buzz pretty much sealed its fate, and a comeback at this point feels like a long shot.
This one’s gotta hurt for the team. Ananthika Sanilkumar was a fresh face fans were excited to see, but the film’s flop has put a damper on her big debut. Narsetti’s got a knack for deep, poetic storytelling, and he might still win over the indie crowd, but a commercial miss like this stings. With no chance of covering release costs, 8 Vasantalu is a tough lesson in how tricky the box office game can be, even when you’ve got big names and big heart behind you.
As shows vanish and the film slips off screens, 8 Vasantalu feels like a swing and a miss. It’s a bummer for a movie that aimed high, but maybe it’ll find its people later on streaming or with viewers who vibe with its unique style. For now, it’s a reminder that in 2025, audiences are tough to please.