The Telugu film industry has officially entered the Sankranti festival race, and the excitement around theatrical releases has begun to peak. This year’s Sankranti season is special because not only top star heroes, but also young and mid-range heroes are entering the competition. Big names like Chiranjeevi and Prabhas are once again stepping into the festival battlefield to prove their box office strength.
Along with them, actors such as Ravi Teja, Sharwanand, and Naveen Polishetty are also releasing films, which makes the competition more interesting. Trade experts believe that The Raja Saab, starring Prabhas, has the potential to collect anywhere between Rs. 500 and Rs. 600 crores worldwide if the talk turns positive and the festival advantage works in its favor. If the film collects less than Rs. 400 crore gross worldwide, it would be termed a massive disappointment.
Similarly, the film starring Chiranjeevi, Mana Shankara Varaprasad Garu, is expected to have the capacity to reach close to Rs. 300 crores in collections if the word of mouth is positive. Chiranjeevi’s last blockbuster Waltair Veerayya closing collections are being seen as the breakeven target for this fun entertainer. Anything less than Rs. 200 crore gross worldwide would be a huge underperformance.
If Ravi Teja’s film receives solid word of mouth, trade circles believe it can cross the Rs. 60 crores gross mark. Anything less than Rs. 50 crores would be considered a flop, according to trade experts. Sharwanand’s Naari Naari Naduma Murari and Naveen Polishetty’s Anaganaga Oka Raju are expected to collect around Rs. 30 to Rs. 40 crores gross each.
When all these films are considered together, industry insiders estimate that the total Sankranti box office collections could reach Rs. 1000 crores. Even if all films do not achieve blockbuster talk, the festive season itself provides a strong advantage. Families, holidays, and increased footfall can help movies earn well despite mixed reviews.
Films that receive positive talk may also get additional screens, which can further boost collections. Now, all eyes are on which films will emerge as winners and who will truly dominate the Sankranti box office race.
