Buchi Babu Sana admits Peddi trailer was ‘too much’, backfired: ‘We can't afford such things with big movies’

THe route to theatres for the pound Charan-starrer Peddi was improbably stony. Long before the moving-picture show even hit the big screen, it was already fighting an uphill battle against intense online negativity, scepticism, and harsh criticism. Now, director Buchi Babu Sana has candidly admitted that the film's trailer was a misstep that disappointed audiences before opening day.Speaking in a post-release interview for the producers Mythri Movie Makers, the filmmaker acknowledged that the trailer, which dropped on June 4, failed to capture the story's true essence, leaving fans more confused than excited.Buchi Babu admits the trailer did more harm than goodLooking back at how audiences reacted to the trailer, the director admitted to actor Jagapathi Babu that the team had made a major mistake during editing. He explained, “We just can't afford such things with big movies. In the trailer, too many things were packed into one scene; it was just too much.”Jagapathi Babu, who was right there during the discussion, also opened up about the intense pressure and scepticism that surrounded the film before and right after it hit theatres. "There was so much negativity," Jagapathi Babu recalled. “Even the people who wanted it guaranteed it wouldn't happen. I was disappointed. I thought it wouldn't meet my expectations at the start.”Buchi Babu credited part of Peddi's success to the positive response from digital content creators who shared their genuine reactions online. Reflecting on the impact of word-of-mouth, he said that many creators with large followings, ranging from hundreds of thousands to over a million followers, were posting personal reviews through reels and video clips rather than simply discussing the film casually. According to him, these reactions helped amplify audience interest and played a significant role in driving the film's word-of-mouth success. The Janhvi Kapoor controversy added to the scrutinyAudience backlash quickly mounted against the portrayal of Janhvi Kapoor’s character, Achiyyamma, with viewers expressing major discomfort over several highly criticised romantic sequences. As public outcry grew over the character's hypersexualisation, director Buchi Babu finally stepped in to address the controversy directly.Taking to X, the filmmaker stated, "As a filmmaker, I believe cinema should entertain, inspire, and connect with audiences. It should never make anyone feel uncomfortable or disrespected. We have heard the feedback regarding certain scenes in Peddi and have taken it seriously."Buchi Babu assured fans that the creative team never intended to objectify or disrespect female characters, emphasising his immense respect for the audience's perspective. Moving quickly to fix the issue, the production team has since confirmed that the controversial scenes will either be edited down or completely removed from the movie.About PeddiPeddi is an 1980s sports action drama set in the heartlands of rural Andhra Pradesh. The project marks the second directorial venture for filmmaker Buchi Babu Sana, following his critically acclaimed box-office hit Uppena. The film brings together Ram Charan, Janhvi Kapoor, and veteran actor Jagapathi Babu in pivotal roles. The film started at the box office on a strong note, earning ₹100 crore on day 1, but fell flat after the first weekend. It has earned ₹280 crore worldwide so far.