A year ago on the very same day at the same time of writing – 6:30 AM – lakhs of people across the
Telugu states
of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh cued up to watch
Sujeeth’s
Prabhas and Shraddha Kapoor starrer
Saaho
.
While ‘benefit shows’ weren’t allowed in Telangana, the
hysteria
began from midnight itself in Andhra Pradesh with the earliest shows.
Fans
all over the Telugu states (even the world) cued up for days before to get the precious ticket for
FDFS
(first day first show) and haggled with Prabhas’ fan clubs since days in the hope of catching their favourite star on-screen after two years. Alas, tickets were sold out promptly, and those who couldn’t bag a coveted ticket still stood on the sidelines hoping to get one even in ‘black’ outside single screen theatres, for hiked up prices that went up to Rs 1500 and more on a ticket that cost Rs 300 or less.
Fans thronged to theatres hours before the first show would even begin, decorating the single screens with banners and cut-outs of Prabhas, with some even lovingly performing palabhisekam and adorning them with garlands as if he were really there. Ticker sellers locked themselves in the box office room as fans wouldn’t stop beating on the door yelling, “Sir okka ticket sir, please sir,” even as they yelled from inside, “Sold out andi! Chepte ardham kaada?” Sounds like a massive exaggeration, but this was truly the case a year ago.
And if this was the case outside the theatre, the scene inside during the opening show was a whole another ballgame. Screams and confetti galore, fans didn’t seem to care what reviewers were live Tweeting or naysayers were saying – they were only interested in dancing their hearts out to Bad Boy as Prabhas and Jacqueling Fernandez showed off their moves on-screen.
With theatres remaining shut during the Covid-19 pandemic and many movie buffs missing the rush that comes along with watching the FDFS of a huge star at a single screen (no matter the outcome of the film), take a look at these throwback
pictures
and
videos
fans posted a year ago on the
opening day
of Saaho:
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