Thaman blames choreographers for Game Changer’s flop

Game Changer, starring Ram Charan and directed by Shankar, turned out to be one of the most disappointing ventures in Telugu cinema. Despite high expectations, the film struggled to cross ₹200 crore gross at the box office, leading to massive financial losses. However, beyond the film’s commercial failure, fans were particularly let down by its music. Unlike previous chartbusters in Ram Charan’s career, none of the songs from Game Changer managed to make a lasting impact.

Thaman on why the album failed to click

Music director Thaman, who composed the soundtrack for Game Changer, recently addressed the criticism surrounding the film’s music. Speaking on a podcast, he suggested that the album’s underwhelming reception wasn’t just about the music but also about how the songs were executed visually.

“A song’s success doesn’t end with just the music. I can create a song that garners 25 million views, and a melody can even reach 50 million. But after that, it depends on how well the song is choreographed,” Thaman explained.

Thaman specifically pointed out that Game Changer’s songs failed to have the kind of viral appeal that makes tracks trend on social media.

“None of the songs—Jaragandi, Raa Macha Macha, or Hyraanaa—had a strong hook step. If you look at Ala Vaikunthapurramulo, every song had a signature step that fans could replicate. That’s what makes a song go viral. The responsibility isn’t just on the music director; it’s also on the choreographer and the hero. If the choreography is impactful, the cinematographer captures it well, and the audience connects with it instantly,” he said.

Fans react to Thaman’s comments

Thaman’s remarks have sparked mixed reactions online. While some agree that dance steps play a crucial role in making songs iconic, others argue that a strong melody and composition should be enough to make a song successful. With Game Changer already struggling at the box office, this discussion has only added to the ongoing debate about what went wrong with the film.

As the industry moves forward, it remains to be seen whether filmmakers will take Thaman’s insights into account and emphasize choreography more in future musical numbers.