The Sankranti season is shaping up to be a major box office clash, with several big Telugu films locking their release dates for January.
The much-awaited film Raja Saab, starring Prabhas, has been postponed from December and is now set to release during Sankranti. Joining the festival line-up are the Ravi Teja–Kishore Tirumala film and Naveen Polishetty’s Anaganaga Oka Raju. Sharwanand’s Naari Naari Naduma Murari is also expected to hit the screens around the same time.
Another big film that was originally scheduled for a Sankranti release is Jananayakudu, starring Vijay. It was planned for January 9, but reports suggest the film might back out of the festival race. The decision comes after a recent political rally in Tamil Nadu, where Vijay’s presence created a stir. The team reportedly feels that this is not the right time for the film’s release, and a new date may be considered.
If Jananayakudu does indeed move out of the Sankranti slot, other films could get a competitive advantage, especially in terms of theatre availability and box office share. Although Vijay is primarily a Tamil star, he has a strong fan base in Telugu states, and his absence from the festival race would ease pressure on other releases.
Meanwhile, Man Shankar Varaprasad Garu, starring megastar Chiranjeevi and directed by Anil Ravipudi, has already been announced as a Sankranti release. This festive period is considered one of the best times for film releases, with families flocking to cinemas in large numbers.
Every year, Sankranti brings multiple big releases, turning the season into a box office celebration. With at least four major Telugu films already in the race — and the possibility of one big contender stepping out — this year’s Sankranti is expected to deliver strong collections and exciting competition.
