📌 Key Points
- Sobhan Babu’s Rama: Empty theaters for two weeks! A stunning setback.
- Weeping in his car! Sobhan Babu’s anguish over failing epic.
- NTR’s iconic Rama eclipsed him! Audiences struggled to accept.
- Miraculous third-week surge! Women audience crowned it a mega-hit.
Before ‘Sampoorna Ramayanam‘, Sobhan Babu, despite ‘Veerabhimanyu’s’ recognition, hadn’t found consistent success. This grand mythological, with him as Lord Sree Rama, was poised to change everything. Everyone involved, from Bapu to the cast, poured their heart into this magnificent production, believing it was destined for sensational triumph. But the box office had a shocking twist in store, an unexpected turnaround from initial struggles.
Initial Flop, Actor’s Anguish
Mythological films played a significant role in turning Sobhan Babu’s career around. While ‘Veerabhimanyu’ had brought him recognition and captivated Telugu audiences with his portrayal of Abhimanyu, Sobhan Babu hadn’t seen many successes until then. It was ‘Sampoorna Ramayanam,’ another mythological film, that was poised to establish him as an unrivaled hero. Directed by Bapu and written by Mullapudi Venkata Ramana and Arudra, this grand-budget production saw Sobhan Babu pour his heart and soul into his first portrayal of Lord Sree Rama, with Chandrakala as Sita and S.V.R. as Ravana. The film’s output was magnificent, and from Sobhan Babu to the director, producers, other actors, and the entire film crew, everyone believed it was guaranteed to be a sensational success.
However, the real story behind ‘Sampoorna Ramayanam’ took an unexpected turn, leading to a box office shock. After its release, the high hopes of the film unit did not materialize. For the first two weeks, theaters showing ‘Sampoorna Ramayanam’ were utterly empty. The film lost the patronage of initial audiences, largely because people had been accustomed to seeing NTR as Rama. When they suddenly saw Sobhan Babu in the iconic role, the film didn’t immediately resonate, despite there being no flaw in Sobhan Babu’s looks, his serene expression befitting Rama, or his acting. Consequently, it received completely negative word-of-mouth. This dire situation led to profound anguish for Sobhan Babu.
Unlikely Hit, Legendary Triumph
Kanagala Jayakumar, who worked as an assistant director for the film, revealed interesting details about this period in an interview. As ‘Sampoorna Ramayanam’ entered its second week, Jayakumar recalled a poignant encounter: “In Chennai, I was walking towards Pondy Bazaar. Sobhan Babu Garu saw me and stopped his car. He asked, ‘Where are you going?’ I said, ‘To Pondy Bazaar.’ He said, ‘I’ll drop you, get in.'” Jayakumar continued, describing how a downcast Sobhan Babu, tears welling, emotionally asked him, “What happened, brother, to our film? We worked so hard on it, didn’t we? But they’re saying the collections aren’t good.” Jayakumar confirmed the grim reality, “Yes sir, the collections aren’t good. We’ll have to see if it picks up from the third week.” But Sobhan Babu, at that moment, had no faith. It was during these initial weeks that Sobhan Babu was reportedly weeping in his car due to the lack of collections.
Yet, this film, which seemed an utter flop, was about to create history. Jayakumar further recalled the dramatic turnaround: “After it entered the third week, the collections started, and there was a festival-like atmosphere near the theaters. Women thronged to it.” Against all expectations, ‘Sampoorna Ramayanam,’ which was not predicted to even recover its minimum collections, became the biggest hit in Sobhan Babu’s career. The success achieved by this film, amidst many ups and downs and intense emotions, was truly astonishing and cemented its place as a milestone in Sobhan Babu’s remarkable journey.
Looking Ahead
This saga proves audience love remains cinema’s most unpredictable force. Sobhan Babu’s Sampoorna Ramayanam, initially dismissed, instead etched an unforgettable chapter in Telugu film history. It’s a powerful reminder: true art, even through tears, eventually finds its resounding triumph among the masses.
