Tollywood is in a slump, with theaters sitting empty even in peak summer. It’s not just Telugu films—other industries like Bollywood and Tamil cinema are also struggling to pull crowds. Everyone’s waiting for movies that can pack the theaters again.
Last weekend, Telugu films Arjun S/O Vyjayanthi and Odela-2 fizzled out quickly. This week, smaller films like Sarangapani Jatakam and Chouryapatham are coming up, but they’re not creating much buzz. They’ll need good reviews to gain any traction.
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But things might change on May 1, 2025, with some big releases.
For Tollywood, all eyes are on Nani’s HIT 3. The trailer has made waves with its brutal action and serious tone—marking a sharp shift from Nani’s usual style.
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Theater owners across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are betting big. If word-of-mouth clicks, HIT-3 could become Nani’s career-best grosser and possibly the biggest Telugu hit of summer 2025. It’s a make-or-break moment for Tollywood.
Tamil cinema has its eyes on Suriya’s Retro, also hitting screens on May 1. Fans are praying this throwback action flick will bring Suriya back to his winning ways after a string of disasters like Kanguva. Though there is not much hope for its Telugu version, the Tamil version should do well to help the ailing Tamil industry.
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Meanwhile, Bollywood’s counting on Ajay Devgn’s Raid 2, a follow-up to the 2018 hit Raid. After the blockbuster Chhaava, there has been a slump in Bollywood.
Salman’s Sikandar was a washout. Akshay’s recent film Kesari 2 failed to do big numbers at the box office despite good reviews and a positive response from the audience. After a dull first quarter in 2025, theater owners are banking on Raid-2 to bring back the crowds.
These three films—HIT-3, Retro, and Raid-2—are huge for Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi movies. With theaters desperate for a hit, May 1 could be the day Indian cinema gets its groove back.
