The summer season is traditionally a prime release window for big-budget Telugu films, following the Sankranti festival. This year, Tollywood is experiencing a lull, with no major releases to spark interest. While medium and low-budget films are not capitalizing on the gap, even dubbed films are failing to make an impact due to a lack of exciting content for the audience.

One such film, Patriot, a star-studded multi-starrer featuring icons like Mohan Lal, Mammootty, Fahad Faasil, and Nayanthara, has struggled to build any significant buzz. Despite its star power, the film is struggling to gain attention in Telugu circles ahead of its release next week. The film, a spy action thriller with political elements, is receiving lukewarm reactions from audiences, partly because of its tag as a dubbed film.

The movie has garnered expectations in Malayalam cinema, especially due to its powerhouse cast, it has failed to generate the same level of anticipation in other states. Even the reunion of Mammootty and Mohan Lal after 18 years hasn’t worked in Patriot’s favor outside Kerala. Poor promotional efforts have only further dampened excitement in Telugu states, and the film is struggling to capture the attention it needs to succeed.

A few smaller Telugu films, including Satya’s Jetlee and Tharun Bhascker’s Gayapadda Simham, are starting to generate excitement with engaging promotions. These films are targeting the summer box office window, hoping to take advantage of the current lull in major film releases.