Sankranti 2026 is shaping up to be a major festival season for South Indian audiences. You will see several big stars at the box office with Prabhas, Thalapathy Vijay, and Chiranjeevi arriving with Raja Saab, Jana Nayagan, and Mana Shankara Varaprasad.
But the hype around these films is far from strong. Fans say none of the releases are generating the excitement expected from star-led festival films. The buzz feels lower than usual for a Sankranti season crowded with major names.
Prabhas and Maruti’s film continues to face doubts from fans who question the director’s ability to handle a project of this scale. This concern has kept the hype around Raja Saab from picking up even with Prabhas leading the cast.
Vijay’s Jana Nayagan is also struggling. There is very little promotional content, and the film lacks visible directorial strength. His previous film GOAT faced similar issues, and fans say Jana Nayagan is now dealing with the same weaknesses.
Chiranjeevi’s film with Anil Ravipudi is expected to do well at the box office, yet the hype remains low. Many viewers feel Anil’s films appeal to a specific audience, and the response to this one will depend more on that crowd than on early buzz.
Past Sankranti clashes like Waltair Veerayya vs Veera Simha Reddy or Sarileru Neekevvaru vs Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo created heavy competition and strong hype. That competitive energy is missing this time, and the festival season feels surprisingly quiet.
