Magnum opus Gautamiputhra Satakarni from National Award winning director Krish and legendary actor Nandamuri Balakrishna is setting new standards for Telugu historical movies in the United States. After a breathtaking start in foreign markets, the milestone 100th film from Balakrishna has now officially become first in his career to join $1.5 Million elite club.

Gautamiputhra Satakarni is a much excited project Telugu audience waited for long. Unique promotions, stunning visuals, distinctive content chronicling the glory of an unsung Telugu warrior emperor and his quest to unite entire India, brilliant direction, absorbing performances from lead artists, splendid camerawork, breathtaking dialogues and glorious production values,, GPS got everything needed for a blockbuster. Gautamiputhra Satakarni is an exemplary model for collective team work and success. 

Balakrishna, Krish, Shriya and Rajiv Reddy’s success tour in the US coinciding with $1.5M achievement made this moment more memorable. 

USA distributors Red Heart Movies and 9PM Entertainments here by expressed their sincere thanks to NRI Telugu audience for supporting GPS in becoming a tremendous blockbuster.

Top industrialist, politician, producer and philanthropist felicitated Shatachitra Yodha Nandamuri Balakrishna, director Krish and entire team of Gautamiputra Satakarni on the massive success of historical film. Heaping the praises on Balakrishna for a powerful performance in title role and director Krish for believing in the story of unsung Telugu warrior emperor, T Subbirami Reddy compared Gautamiputra Satakarni with legendary NTR’s epic Dana Veera Soora Karna.

Along with Balakrishna and Krish, chief guests who shared the stage are Sahajanati Jayasudha and glamorous Tamannah.        

“Gautamiputra Satakarni is a landmark in Telugu film history. Balakrishna is a dedicated artist. Krish introduced us to the greatest Telugu king whom very few people know. Completing such a huge film in 79 days is greatest achievement. Congratulations to this whole team for being pride of Telugu cinema and winning laurels from all over the world. Balakrishna will be remembered for-ever as Gautamiputra Satakarni just like his father legendary NTR remembered for Dana Veera Soora Karna. This film will be a chapter for coming generations to learn about Telugu honor and identity,” said TSR.           

“My phone is getting flooded with thousands of messages after Gautamiputra Satakarni release. People are appreciating me not for the historical blockbuster success but for narrating the story of Telugu dignity in great emperor Satakarni. We believed that Gautamiputra Satakarni is going to create history and our aim was to use this opportunity in leaving a firm Balakrishna Veli Mudra (Thumb Impression) in Telugu cinema canvass because no two fingers prints match. He kept all his 99 movies experience and unleashed his Nata Vishwaroopam as Satakarni. All the credits in this film’s success should go to Basava Tarakaramaputra Balakrishna gaaru,’ director Krish said.

“I wonder I had done something worthwhile in my previous life because I am blessed with two big boons. One, born as son to legendary NTR and second, I became an artist. Gautamiputra Satakarni happened by god’s grace and divine blessing from my father NTR. Actually, my father had an unfulfilled wish to play this powerful character. As he could not achieve it, he made me to fulfill the same wish. I thank my director Krish, my producers for choosing me and T Subbirami Reddy garu for being a motivation and inspiration in encouraging the arts,” said Balakrishna.

“Unfortunately, people have a misapprehension on Telugu cinema as commercial centric and routine. Krish proved them wrong by completing a massive project like Gautamiputra Satakarni in just 79 days. I feel proud sharing stage with this team. I am looking forward to work with my favorite director Krish and hero Balakrishna garu very soon. Thanks T Subbirami Reddy garu for treating me as family member and inviting me for this event,” Tamannah said. 

“Due to time constraints, I did not watch Gautamiputra Satakarni but hearing positive news continuously. I will surely watch it very soon. My friends from USA and all Dubai have messaged saying Satakarni as one of the greatest films ever made in Telugu. From Gamyam, director Krish became my favorite and so is Balakrishna garu who is a director’s artist. I congratulate the entire team,” Jayasudha said.

TSR felicitated Shatachitra Yodha Nandamuri Balakrishna, director Krish, producers Sai Babu-Bibo Srinu, dialogue writer Burra Sai Madhav, cameraman Gnanasekhar, music composer Chirantan Bhatt, art director Bhupesh Bhupati, stunt masters Ram-Lakshman, VFX advisor Rajeev Rajasekharan, PRO Vamsi Shekar and Tamannah, Jayasudha.

Honorary guests at the function included politicians like Kavuri Samba Shiva Rao, Daggubati Venkateshwara Rao, Daggubati Purandeshwari and cinema celebrities like Daggubati Venkatesh, SS Rajamouli, K Raghavendra Rao, Kodandarami Reddy, Prasad V Potluri, Vishnu Manchu, Manoj Manchu, Tamannah, Jayasudha, Shubhalekha Sudhakar, Tanikella Bharani, T News MD Santosh and distributors Sai Korrapati, Sudhakar Reddy along with Balakrishna’s wife Vasundhara, daughters Brahmini, Tejaswini, Bharath and Krish’s wife Dr Ramya stole the show.          

The star studded event is finished with cake cutting by Balakrishna’s daughters Brahmini, Tejaswini and Krish’s wife Dr Ramya followed by Balakrishna rendering the most powerful Desam Meesam Thippudam dialogue.

Nandamuri Balakrishna’s historical 100th film Gautamiputra Satakarni trailer is creating history on Youtube. Though the film released as Sankranti special is rewriting industry records crossing $1M in America, the applause for trailer is unstoppable on Youtube.   

Latest record is GPS trailer on Youtube has become the first trailer in Telugu film industry to have crossed 100K likes. The trailer is played in repeat mode all over. The exquisitely cut trailer with goose bump dialogues from Nandamuri Balayya Babu has crossed 7 million views on dashboard and going strong. Gautamiputra Satakarni is a landmark magnum opus in entire Telugu cinema industry. Saho Satakarni…

I had the eye feast of watching your visual brilliance Gautamiputra Satakarni. Last one week, I am being possessed by memories of this special experience. You being busy and engaged in success celebrations touring the United States, I could not wait long in sharing my emotions with you. So, I decided to express all my inner feelings in your style and forwarding this letter through media ambassador. Hope, you will accept and read my representation.

 

Frankly speaking, I have a confession to make before you. I admire you as director for your sensibilities in Gamyam, Vedam and Kanche. But I never soaked up with news of you directing Balakrishna’s 100th film when media attentively grabbed my excitement. I thought it was a gossip item because you are a filmmaker with endearment to select stories based on human life while Balakrishna is a hero with larger than life image. I considered both of you as meticulously a bad combination. Later, I was startled when Gautamiputra Satakarni moved into pre production mode.  

 

As an academician, I had many doubts on Gautamiputra Satakarni story because none of us equipped with minimum knowledge about this emperor. Except Nasik inscription, we have no information about him. 

 

You left me again go shocked. I felt anxiously restless ruminating all the facts like, when or where will your Satavahan research end and how far audience can accept your story about an unfamiliar king?   

 

Meanwhile, one more shock was waiting for me and Gautamiputra Satakarni progressed into production phase.

 

Morocco, Georgia, Maheshwaram in Madhya Pradesh… no rest, no intervals; the stains of your devoted team work and firm resolution to wrap the shooting in 79 days increased my heart beat. Innumerable horde of questions went through my mind. How did you plan the production? Who is your principal designer? Where have you erected the historical sets? How many days have you shot the wars? Is it really possible to architect huge magnitude of VFX works with an uncompromising quality? 

 

Finally, the time has come. It was January 12th early morning premier show and I too was exhilarated like regular Nandamuri Balakrishna fans to watch Gautamiputra Satakarni. 

 

Just two hours and you made me realise that every impossible event can be turned into a possible reality. I journeyed deep into the annals of historical first century visiting Shaka Purushudu Sarvabhouma Satakarni because for me Balakrishna was never on the screen. I cheered loud on every dialogue, every scene like a standard Balakrishna fan as you discovered a new dimension in heroism.  

 

A film which would have been pure historical documentary is transliterated into a historical commercial blockbuster. Your predominantly screenplay based narrative made Telugu audience to twirl their moustache in pride.

Generally, wars are filled with huge bloodshed and violence but there are amazing emotions in your war to hold the film strongly together. Gautamiputra Satakarni is a neatly weaved visual grandeur with poetic elucidation of wonderfully written scenes.

Satavahana’s are a part of history. You created history by making Gautamiputra Satakarni into a commercially viable feature film. Million Thanks for you and your team for thrashing all our suspicious perceptions into pieces. I also take a bow before Basavarama Taraka Putra Balakrishna garu’s judgment in voting for a pride Satavahana story and believing in your team.

 Saho Gautamiputra Satakarni…

                        Yours, 

Gauamiputra Satakarni: Trade and Buyers Response

This is the real meaning of Sankranti. There is a shining new glow in Telugu states as Telugu audiences are queuing before cinema halls for Gautamiputra Satakarni tickets. Nandamuri Balakrishna’s historical 100th Gautamiputra Satakarni is getting robust each day. After an outstanding first day response, collections are going strong and steady making buyers in all the regions to feel happy. 

Producers Rajiv Reddy, Bibo Srinu from First Frame Entertainments banner communicated with the individual distributors and are hereby divulging these statements:

Sai Korrapati (Ceded/Vizag): Ceded territory is a shell tank for Balakrishna. His strong hold in the region made me to bag GPS at fancy prices. The film will breakeven by Sunday and GPS will be into all time top 5 records in this part.

Sudhakar (Krishna/Guntur): I am glad to have distributed the prestigious Balakrishna’s 100th movie made on historical Satavahana subject. Startling response from Krishna and Guntur audience is shattering records. My investment made is safeguarded by this overwhelming public reaction.

Sudhakar Reddy (Nizam): After watching GPS first copy, I’ve forecasted a record run for NBK. Today my words have come true. Financial result is on definite positive side and hopefully excess flows begin from Monday.

Suresh Babu (East): We are moving towards financial overflows. I told producer and my friend Rajiv Reddy to get ready from Monday.

LVR (West): Repeats have started in this region. Balakrishna’s fan frenzy and powerful content is pushing us into gains by today.

Bharat Kumar (Nellore): Never witnessed such huge crowds and exceptional response. Every scene and every dialogue is extolled. Tickets are sold like hotcakes and we are under pressure to increase the screens. Commercially, GPS is first film in Sankranti to have run into profits.

Srujan (Overseas – 9PM): Till date, collections are sustained without any fluctuations. Word of mouth talk and reviews have done a great deal of help. Expecting $2M in the long run and we might bracket into all time top 5 or 6. The film is all set to touch $1M in next couple of hours.

In Australia, UK, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore, buyers are already reaping profits from day 2. GPS is also released on public demand in Japan, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Singapore and few more areas which is unusual for a Telugu film to garner special adoration.

Producers Rajiv Reddy and Bibo Srinu are extending their warm wishes to audience and congratulations to buyers for encouraging their film thus surpassing breakeven records within just four to five days.

Honorable Central Minister Venkaiah Naidu and state minister Prathipati Pulla Rao along with film’s cast, crew watched Gautamiputra Satakarni at a special screening in Prasad Laboratory Preview theatre yesterday. Below is the response from them.

Venkaiah Naidu: The film is just superb. Central story, presentation, dialogues, lyrics, music, costumes, locations, grandeur and every department have given the best. There is a necessity for filmmakers to educate the present generation about our history and preserve our culture, heritage. Satakarni symbolizes our Telugu honor, Telugu esteem and Telugu pride. 

I am surprised with director Krish and his team’s dedication to have completed the film in 79 days. I congratulate him for making such historical project. War scenes in this movie are the best in Indian cinema. 

After NTR, it is only Balakrishna who can show the ease, comfort acting in these historical roles. 

Generally, I do not watch movies because of time and other constraints but I took time for GPS because it is about our own history. I enjoyed the movie thoroughly. Once again congratulations to Balayya Babu, Krish, producers Rajiv Reddy, Bibo Srinu, writer Burra Sai Madhav and other technicians. Sankranti wishes to each and every one. 

Prathipati Pulla Rao: Congrats to GPS team. You re-created historical subject and penned a history of your own in Telugu cinema books. You made Telugu people feel proud and also taught them about our Satavahana glory. This Sankranti will be special treat for all Balayya Babu Fans.   

Balakrishna: Telugu people made this Sankranti memorable for me by blessing Gautamiputra Satakarni. Our team efforts are paid off. Thanks to Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu garu, Telangana CM KCR garu and Minister Venkaiah Naidu garu for supporting our film. I also thank media friends for standing besides us in every step. GPS is a proud film not only for Telugu people but also for entire India.

Krish: This is a collective victory not just for our team but for every mother and all the women in our country. Venkaiah Naidu garu, AP CM Chandrababu Naidu garu and Telangana CM KCR garu have been the pillar supports in keeping our best efforts to make this distinguished subject. Thanks to all Telugu community across world for holding on our belief.

Sai Madhav Burra: Satakarni is no more a simple film for me. This experience is a like a dream coming true. In my remote dreams, I never thought of writing dialogues for Balakrishna garu’s 100th film. This Sankranti will remain as a special day for my remaining life. I took my mother’s blessings before beginning the writing part for GPS. 

Producer Bibo Srinu: We made this film with more respect and more responsibility because Satakarni is a reputed subject and distinctively Balakrishna garu’s 100th. All our efforts have come out positively with amazing response from audience. On this context I thank AP CM Chandrababu Naidu garu, Telangana CM KCR garu and Central Minister Venkaiah Naidu garu for being our motivational force.