Mana Shankara Varaprasad: What’s Stopping Anil Ravipudi?

The arrival of Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, scheduled for release on January 12, is now just 18 days away.

However, director Anil Ravipudi has not yet started promotions at full throttle, which has made Mega fans impatient. Known for his smart and well-timed publicity strategies, Anil Ravipudi appears to be waiting for Christmas to pass before shifting into top gear. Insiders say the promotional momentum will peak with a special song featuring Chiranjeevi and Venkatesh, which is expected to create massive buzz.

From January 1 onward, the makers reportedly plan to lock dates of as many artists as possible and roll out innovative promotional activities. There is also strong inside talk about special interviews and promotional content involving Nayanthara, which could significantly widen the film’s appeal across audiences.

On the business front, discussions are underway about paid premieres on the previous day, similar to the strategy being considered for Raja Saab. However, the key issue remains ticket pricing. Telangana Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy has stated that there will be no special shows or price hikes.

Whether this stand holds firm will likely be decided with the release of Raja Saab. If any relaxation is given to Prabhas’ film, the same could naturally apply to Chiranjeevi’s film as well. Still, audiences will expect fairness, as Prabhas’ is a 400-crore film whereas Chiranjeevi’s film won’t be even half of it, according to trade.

Recently, Akhanda Thaandavam 2 opted for early premieres and special pricing, but mixed talk by midnight affected its box-office performance. That example has made the industry cautious.

Despite all this, Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu carries two major strengths. One is the strong brand value of Anil Ravipudi, who has a proven track record with commercial entertainers, especially during a festive season like Sankranthi.

The other is Chiranjeevi’s return to the big screen after nearly two years. If these factors combine with engaging content, the film could generate big collections. Clear answers on premieres and ticket pricing are expected within the next ten days, which will determine how big the opening turns out to be.