Film promotions often come with bold claims to grab public attention. Over the years, we've heard statements like "If the movie fails, ticket money will be refunded." But director Mohan Srivatsa went a step further during the promotions of his film Tribanadhari Barbarik. He declared, "If audiences don't like this film, I will slap myself with my slipper."
Unfortunately, after its release, the film featuring Satya Raj, Udayabhanu, and Vasishta N Simha flopped at the box office and witnessed extremely low collections. When Mohan Srivatsa visited a cinema hall in person, he was dismayed to see hardly ten viewers. Although those few viewers insisted that they loved the film, the director was devastated by the failure to get the audience's appreciation.
In an emotional video posted online, Srivatsa expressed his anger, wondering why people would avoid watching such movies while showering Malayalam movies with excessive love. Being true to his assertive word, he proceeded to slap himself in the face with his slipper on live camera -- a move which rapidly spread over social media sites.
Venting his frustration, the director disclosed that he will now look to try his luck in the Malayalam film industry, where he expects his narrative style to be better received by audiences.