Sundeep Kishan says 'Baahubali', 'Pushpa' were called flops on release
At the 'Sigma' press meet, actor Sundeep Kishan said a Netflix documentary on 'Baahubali' showed the film was branded a flop in the Telugu states on its release day, and that the same happened with 'Pushpa' and 'Pushpa 2'. He asked why Telugu audiences hesitate to back their own. 'Sigma', directed by Jason Sanjay, son of Tamil Nadu CM Vijay, and produced by Subaskaran under Lyca Productions, releases worldwide on October 2. He said the director planned 70 days and finished in 63.
Source
సినిమా — Cinema · read the original report ↗
Desk check · some claims need care
What the desk checked (5)
- 'Sigma' is directed by Jason Sanjay, son of Tamil Nadu CM Vijay, and produced by Subaskaran under Lyca Productions. — Stated as fact in the source with no separate attribution; the CM descriptor appears in the source text as written.
- The film releases worldwide in theatres on October 2, distributed in Telugu by Mythri Movie Distributors Ltd and NVR Cinemas. — Figure and names appear in the source; release date stated without further sourcing.
- Sanjay told producers he would finish the film in 70 days and completed it in 63 days. — Directly attributed to Sundeep Kishan's press meet remarks.
- A Netflix documentary on 'Baahubali' showed that the film was called a flop in the Telugu states on release day, and the same happened with 'Pushpa' and 'Pushpa 2'. — Attributed to Sundeep Kishan as his own recollection; unverified claim about third-party content, editor review advised.
- Sundeep Kishan said he will not do another Tamil film for two years after 'Sigma'. — Attributed to the actor in the source.
Analysts’ view opinion
Sandeep Kishan's remarks came from a promotional stage, but they touch a genuine, long-standing grievance inside the Telugu industry — release-day negative buzz and a reluctance to back home-grown talent. Invoking 'Baahubali' and 'Pushpa' is a strategically strong choice, because nobody today disputes how those films ultimately performed. At the same time, the context matters: this is a mid-budget lead actor seeking audience goodwill weeks before 'Sigma' opens.
- A Telugu actor headlining a Tamil-produced film under a debutant director from a Tamil Nadu political family is arguably the biggest cross-industry opportunity of Sandeep Kishan's career so far.
- By citing 'Baahubali' and 'Pushpa', he pre-frames any early negative talk about his own film as a familiar local reflex — which is also smart risk management.
- The claim of wrapping a 70-day plan in 63 days with a fully bound script feeds a production-discipline narrative that reassures backers of a first-time director.
- An October 2 worldwide release with Maithri Movie Distributors Limited and NVR Cinema handling Telugu suggests the Telugu market is being treated as primary, not secondary.
- The counter-view: opening-day trade chatter is harsh everywhere, and attributing all negative buzz to bias against one's own may be an oversimplification.
What to watch — Watch how the October 2 opening splits between the Telugu states and Tamil Nadu — that gap, more than any press-meet argument, will test the claim.
The story does not establish who said what, or in what context, in the Netflix documentary, nor does it offer any verified data on 'Sigma's' budget, business projections or advance response.
Deep dive
Research brief · 8 facts · 3 dates · exam-readyThe brief
Context
Actor Sundeep Kishan stars in 'Sigma', an action-adventure film marking the directorial debut of Jason Sanjay, son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, produced by Subaskaran under Lyca Productions. At a press meet ahead of the film's worldwide theatrical release on October 2, Sundeep Kishan spoke about the film's making and about attitudes of Telugu audiences towards their own talent. He cited a Netflix documentary on 'Baahubali' which, he said, recorded that the film was branded a flop in the Telugu states on release day, and said the same happened with 'Pushpa' and 'Pushpa 2'.
Key facts
- 'Sigma' is an action-adventure film starring Sundeep Kishan, releasing worldwide in theatres on October 2.
- The film is the directorial debut of Jason Sanjay, son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay.
- Subaskaran is producing 'Sigma' under the Lyca Productions banner.
- Maithri Movie Distributors Limited and NVR Cinemas are releasing the film in Telugu.
- Sundeep Kishan said the director told producers he would complete the film in 70 days and finished it in 63 days.
- He said he was given a 100% bound script and the director shot exactly the story he had narrated.
- He said a Netflix documentary on 'Baahubali' showed the film was called a flop in the Telugu states on its release day, and that the same happened with 'Pushpa' and 'Pushpa 2'.
- Sundeep Kishan said he will not do a Tamil film for two years after 'Sigma'.
Timeline
- Shooting phase (dates not stated in the source)Director Jason Sanjay promised producers a 70-day schedule and wrapped the film in 63 days.
- 17 September 2026 (report dated)Makers hold a press meet for 'Sigma'; Sundeep Kishan makes remarks on Telugu audiences and 'Baahubali'/'Pushpa'.
- October 2'Sigma' set for grand worldwide theatrical release.
Who has a stake
- Sundeep Kishan — Lead actor of 'Sigma'; says his priority remains Telugu cinema and that he will avoid Tamil films for two years after this.
- Jason Sanjay — Debut director, son of TN CM Vijay; his first film's reception will shape his career.
- Subaskaran / Lyca Productions — Producer bearing the commercial risk of the worldwide release.
- Maithri Movie Distributors Limited and NVR Cinemas — Distributors handling the Telugu release.
- Telugu audiences and trade circles — Accused of doubting home talent and of early flop talk that, per the actor, hit 'Baahubali' and 'Pushpa'.
Why it matters
The remark spotlights how release-day word of mouth and flop labels can shape a film's fate even for titles that later became pan-India blockbusters, as with 'Baahubali' and 'Pushpa'. It also raises a cultural question the actor poses directly: why regional audiences hesitate to back their own talent, even when other states recognise it. For the industry, the credibility of early verdicts affects box-office momentum and the risk producers take on debut directors and cross-language casting.
UPSC angle
Prelims pointers
- 'Sigma': action-adventure film starring Sundeep Kishan, worldwide theatrical release on October 2.
- Jason Sanjay, son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, makes his directorial debut with 'Sigma'.
- Producer: Subaskaran, under Lyca Productions banner.
- Telugu release handled by Maithri Movie Distributors Limited and NVR Cinemas.
- Sundeep Kishan cites a Netflix documentary on 'Baahubali' about release-day flop talk in the Telugu states.
- Film planned for 70 days of shooting; completed in 63 days.
Mains framing
The episode is less about one film than about how verdicts are manufactured in Indian cinema: Sundeep Kishan's claim that 'Baahubali', 'Pushpa' and 'Pushpa 2' were branded flops in the Telugu states on release day, sourced to a Netflix documentary, points to the outsized influence of first-day chatter, trade talk and social media on a film's commercial trajectory. He contrasts this with the Tamil industry's readiness to accept a Telugu actor as lead in 'Sigma' without questioning the choice, and asks why Telugu audiences hesitate to support their own even as other states recognise Telugu talent. The implications are practical: premature negative labelling can dent footfalls in the crucial opening window, raise risk for producers backing debutants like Jason Sanjay, and discourage cross-language casting. A way forward that the source supports lies in professionalism and transparency on the production side, evidenced here by a bound script and a shoot completed in 63 days against a planned 70, and in audiences and commentators withholding verdicts long enough for a film to find its audience.
Key terms
- Sigma
- Action-adventure film starring Sundeep Kishan, releasing worldwide on October 2.
- Lyca Productions
- Production banner under which Subaskaran is producing 'Sigma'.
- Bound script
- A fully locked screenplay before shooting begins; Sundeep Kishan says he was given a 100% bound script.
- Maithri Movie Distributors Limited / NVR Cinemas
- The companies releasing 'Sigma' in Telugu.
- Netflix documentary on 'Baahubali'
- The documentary cited by the actor as showing that the film was called a flop in the Telugu states on release day.
Practice questions
- How do release-day verdicts and trade chatter shape the commercial fate of Indian films? Discuss with reference to claims about 'Baahubali' and 'Pushpa'.
- Cross-language casting is increasingly common in South Indian cinema. Examine the opportunities and audience resistance it faces, using the 'Sigma' case.
- Do streaming-platform documentaries about films function as historical record or promotion? Discuss critically.
Grounded only in the source report — figures and dates are the source's, not inferred.