Karthikeya's 'Don’t Trouble The Trouble' and Jason Sanjay's 'Sigma' Falter at Box Office

Karthikeya’s debut as a producer with 'Don’t Trouble The Trouble' and Jason Sanjay’s directorial launch 'Sigma' both faced disappointing box office results during the Gandhi Jayanthi weekend, highlighting a growing challenge for industry newcomers—even those with strong film family backgrounds. Despite the festival slot and significant industry support, both films failed to connect with Telugu audiences, signaling a shift in the reception of debutant-led projects.

' Don’t Trouble The Trouble', presented by SS Rajamouli and produced by his son Karthikeya, was positioned as a major launch for Malayalam star Fahadh Faasil in Telugu cinema. The film’s pre-release campaign included a trailer that generated some initial buzz and plans for a high-profile event with Jr NTR. However, once released, the film struggled to attract crowds. Reports from the opening weekend indicated poor audience turnout and negative word of mouth, with average occupancy levels even on the second day. Industry observers noted that the film’s collections were unlikely to sustain through the weekdays unless public perception improved.

Similarly, 'Sigma', directed by Jason Sanjay—son of Tamil superstar Vijay—debuted with Sundeep Kishan in the lead. The film was criticized for its lack of originality and engaging storytelling. Reviews described the plot as outdated and emotionally flat, with one noting that 'Sigma' felt more like a learning exercise for the director than a compelling film. The convoluted narrative and absence of suspense left audiences disengaged, leading to a poor response at the box office.

The Gandhi Jayanthi weekend saw several releases, but only Harsh Roshan’s romantic entertainer 'Thella Kaagitham' managed to perform better than the rest. Nani’s 'The Paradise' showed some promise in the Nizam region but failed to gain traction elsewhere. The overall trend was clear: except for 'Thella Kaagitham', new releases struggled to overcome negative word of mouth and low audience turnout.

This pattern is not isolated. Recent months have shown that even with festival timing and industry heavyweights backing them, debutant-led or star offspring projects are not guaranteed success. Earlier, Dulquer Salmaan’s 'I’m Game', despite being produced by his own banner and distributed by Annapurna Studios, faced a lackluster Telugu release. Similarly, other dubbed and small-budget films have only broken through when backed by strong content and positive audience feedback, as seen with Suhas and Soori’s 'Mandaadi' during the Vinayaka Chavithi weekend.

The disappointing performance of 'Don’t Trouble The Trouble' and 'Sigma' underscores a new reality: Telugu audiences are increasingly selective, and industry connections or festival slots alone are no longer enough to ensure a film’s success. The focus has shifted to content and genuine engagement, with word of mouth playing a decisive role in a film’s fate.