Diwali is not just about fireworks in the sky; it’s also about fireworks at the box office. As is tradition, the festival season brings a surge of new film releases, and this year is no different. While big stars are releasing their films in August and September, younger heroes are lining up their projects for the Diwali slot, hoping to make the most of the festive crowd.
This time, films like K Ramp, starring Kiran Abbavaram, and Telusu Kada featuring Siddu Jonnalagadda are confirmed for release during the festival. Both films are seen as key contenders in the Diwali race. Kiran, who saw success last year with Ka, is returning to the season with high hopes, especially after his last film, Dil Ruba, underperformed. Siddu, too, is aiming to bounce back from the failure of Jack with his new project, which also marks the directorial debut of Neeraja Kona. Telusu Kada is backed by People Media Factory and is set to hit cinemas on 17 October.
Meanwhile, a few non-Telugu films are eyeing the Diwali window. Tamil actor Pradeep Ranganathan, who gained popularity with Love Today and Dragon, is now gearing up for a bilingual release titled Dude. Actor Karthi is also expected to return with Sardar 2, a sequel to his Diwali 2022 hit film Sardar. There’s also buzz about Karuppu, a film starring Suriya and directed by RJ Balaji, which may join the Diwali line-up.
With fewer big Telugu projects in the mix this time, mid-range and pan-India films are stepping up to take the spotlight. The stage is set. Now it’s just a matter of which film will make the loudest noise at the box office.