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Anil Ravipudi: Nine Films, Nine Blockbusters and Counting
Director Anil Ravipudi has carved out a rare and remarkable success story in Telugu cinema, redefining commercial filmmaking with consistency, clarity of vision, and an instinctive understanding of audience pulse.
He made his directorial debut with Pataas (2015), starring Kalyan Ram, which emerged as a smashing hit and immediately marked him as a filmmaker to watch. He followed it up with Supreme, featuring Sai Durgha Tej, delivering another massive blockbuster. Ravipudi sealed his first hat-trick with Ravi Teja’s Raja The Great, firmly establishing his reputation as a director capable of crafting clean, crowd-pleasing entertainers.
A major turning point in his career came with F2: Fun and Frustration, starring Venkatesh and Varun Tej. The film opened the doors to the family audience segment on a grand scale and highlighted Ravipudi’s impeccable comic timing. He then collaborated with Superstar Mahesh Babu for Sarileru Neekevvaru, one of the biggest commercial successes of its time, before completing his second hat-trick with F3.
Bhagavanth Kesari, starring Nandamuri Balakrishna, proved to be a milestone—striking a fine balance between mass entertainment and a strong social message. The film went on to win a National Award, further elevating Ravipudi’s stature as a filmmaker capable of blending substance with scale.
His collaboration with Venkatesh continued its dream run as Sankranthiki Vasthunnam stormed into the ₹300 crore club, becoming the biggest hit in the careers of both the actor and the director. Ravipudi then repeated the magic with Megastar Chiranjeevi through Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, which emerged as the biggest blockbuster ever for both, rewriting box office records.
In an extraordinary achievement, Anil Ravipudi has delivered a blockbuster with every single project—nine films, nine blockbusters, across an 11-year directorial journey—while setting new benchmarks with each star he has collaborated with. He is also widely hailed as the “king of promotions”, known for innovative and aggressive marketing strategies that maximize reach and impact.
With immense anticipation surrounding his next project, all eyes are now on what subject Anil Ravipudi will choose and which top star he will collaborate with for what promises to be his 10th consecutive blockbuster.
Nikhil’s Swayambhu Postponed to April 10 for Grand Summer Release
Nikhil’s much-anticipated Pan-India spectacle Swayambhu has officially moved into the post-production phase, with the film’s shoot now fully wrapped. Initially slated for a February 13 release to coincide with Maha Shivaratri, the makers have decided to postpone the theatrical release to April 10, opting for a strategic summer launch.
Directed by Bharat Krishnamachari and produced by Bhuvan and Sreekar under the Pixel Studios banner, with Tagore Madhu presenting, Swayambhu is being mounted on a grand scale with heavy reliance on cutting-edge CGI and visual effects. Recognising the importance of delivering top-tier visuals, the team has entrusted post-production to some of the country’s leading VFX studios.
Rather than rushing the process and compromising on quality, the makers have chosen to invest additional time to ensure the film meets Pan-India expectations. The summer release window is also viewed as a more commercially viable period for a large-scale theatrical outing across multiple languages.
Nikhil will be seen portraying a legendary warrior, marking one of the most ambitious roles of his career. The film stars Samyuktha and Nabha Natesh as the female leads. Buzz around the project has been steadily growing, especially after the release of the visually striking “Rise of Swayambhu” video. An official announcement regarding the revised release date is expected soon.
Naveen Polishetty Takes Anaganaga Oka Raju Celebrations to USA
After setting theatres ablaze across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Anaganaga Oka Raju has emerged as one of the biggest Sankranthi blockbusters of the year. In just five days, the film has stormed past a massive ₹100.2 crore gross worldwide, underlining Naveen Polishetty’s growing box office dominance.
Riding high on this sensational run, Naveen Polishetty is now taking the celebrations to the United States, as the film marches confidently towards becoming his biggest overseas grosser ever.
Naveen has already carved a special place in overseas trade circles with three consecutive million-dollar films in the US—a rare and elite achievement for any Indian actor. Now, with Anaganaga Oka Raju rapidly approaching the $2 million milestone, the actor is flying to the USA to personally meet audiences, celebrate the blockbuster success, and thank fans who powered this remarkable journey.
Widely known as the king of promotions, Naveen Polishetty strongly believes in connecting directly with moviegoers. As a heartfelt gesture of gratitude, he will be interacting with fans across key US locations, making the celebrations even more special.
A significant share of the film’s overseas success also goes to Moksha Movies, the overseas distributor, which ensured excellent screen holding and strategic placement despite a packed festive release window—playing a crucial role in the film’s massive international run.
With collections still holding strong, Anaganaga Oka Raju continues its victorious march, reaffirming Naveen Polishetty’s status as one of the most bankable stars of the new generation.
Sankranti 2026 Box Office: Chiranjeevi Dominates, Three Films Emerge Profitable
The 2026 Sankranti season once again reaffirmed its stature as Tollywood’s most dependable box office window. Irrespective of reviews and word of mouth, all festival releases managed to post healthy revenues, making it a rewarding period for exhibitors and distributors despite intense competition.
Out of the five films that hit screens, three emerged as clear winners. Megastar Chiranjeevi’s Mana Shankar Vara Prasad Garu stood tall as the outright Sankranti champion, delivering strong collections across centres. Naveen Polishetty’s Anaganaga Oka Raju and Sharwanand’s Nari Nari Naduma Murari also concluded the festive run as profitable ventures, ensuring safe returns for buyers.
On the other hand, The Raja Saab and Bhartha Mahasayalaku Wignyapthi started on a promising note but gradually lost momentum. While The Raja Saab struggled due to mixed reviews, Bhartha Mahasayalaku Wignyapthi failed to convert decent reports into sustained box office traction.
As expected, footfalls dipped significantly once the festival holidays ended. However, Mana Shankar Vara Prasad Garu continues to dominate the box office with steady occupancies. Both Anaganaga Oka Raju and Nari Nari Naduma Murari are managing respectable weekday collections, holding their ground in a competitive post-festival scenario.
The upcoming extended weekend, aided by the Republic Day holiday on Monday, is expected to play a decisive role for the Sankranti releases. The three-day window could provide a final boost, especially for films looking to maximise revenues before an inevitable decline from next week.
While Mana Shankar Vara Prasad Garu is likely to sustain even after the weekend due to the absence of major new releases, Anaganaga Oka Raju and Nari Nari Naduma Murari face a tougher road ahead post-Monday. Both films are banking heavily on the long weekend to consolidate their box office performance.
For The Raja Saab and Bhartha Mahasayalaku Wignyapthi, the curtains have largely come down, with both films failing to maintain momentum beyond the festive period.
Border 2 Opens Big at Box Office, Surpasses Dhurandhar’s Day One Numbers
Bollywood’s box office momentum continues to surge, marking a strong purple patch for the industry over the past few months. After delivering 2025’s biggest blockbuster with Dhurandhar, which amassed over ₹1,300 crore gross worldwide, the new year has begun on an equally promising note with the thunderous opening of Border 2.
Riding heavily on nostalgia, the sequel factor, and the phenomenal success of Sunny Deol’s previous blockbuster Gadar 2, the war drama opened to a sensational ₹30 crore net on its first day. This impressive figure surpasses Dhurandhar’s opening of ₹28.6 crore on December 5, underscoring the strong audience pull for high-octane patriotic cinema.
Benefiting from a Friday holiday across several North Indian states, Border 2 recorded robust footfalls nationwide. The strong opening came despite mixed critical reviews and average word of mouth, with some viewers pointing out narrative inconsistencies and technical shortcomings. While the film did not match the historic opening-day numbers of Gadar 2, trade analysts have still labelled the start as exceptional for a sequel-driven project.
The film had already built momentum ahead of release, selling over four lakh tickets in advance bookings. Positive user ratings on online ticketing platforms further indicate solid audience interest. The theatrical trailer generated significant buzz, and the absence of major competing releases helped Border 2 secure a clear run at the box office.
While the response from Hindi-speaking audiences and critics has been largely encouraging, reactions from South Indian markets have been mixed. Common criticisms include underwhelming VFX work and a lack of emotional depth compared to the iconic 1997 original.
Nevertheless, if Border 2 continues to resonate with core Hindi-belt audiences, trade experts believe the film could maintain strong collections in the coming weeks. The nostalgic appeal of the original Border remains a key advantage and could help the sequel enjoy a sustained theatrical run.
Directed by Anurag Singh, the film sees Sunny Deol reprise the lead role, supported by an ensemble cast featuring Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty. Mona Singh, Sonam Bajwa, Anya Singh, and Medha Rana play pivotal roles.
Adoor Gopalakrishnan Returns to Direction at 84, Reunites with Mammootty
Legendary Malayalam filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan is set to return to active cinema at the age of 84, a move that has generated widespread discussion across the Malayalam film industry. Known for his uncompromising artistic vision and timeless storytelling, Adoor’s decision to direct a new film at this stage of his life underlines his enduring passion for cinema.
What makes this comeback even more significant is his reunion with Mammootty, now 74, regarded as one of the finest actors in Indian cinema. The duo last collaborated 32 years ago on Vidheyan, a film that went on to become a landmark in Malayalam cinema for its intense narrative and powerful performances.
The upcoming film, titled Padyatra, will be produced under Mammootty Company, the actor’s own production banner. Mammootty, who has recently been praised for taking on daring and unconventional roles, continues to push creative boundaries, making his collaboration with Adoor particularly noteworthy. Expectations around Padyatra are rooted more in artistic legacy than commercial considerations.
Although the title Padyatra may remind Telugu audiences of Mammootty’s earlier film Yatra, the upcoming Malayalam project is not connected to it in any way. Nevertheless, the name has sparked curiosity beyond Kerala as well.
Cinema enthusiasts are now keenly watching whether Padyatra will serve as Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s final cinematic statement. At an age when most filmmakers step away from the craft, his return stands as a powerful testament to his lifelong commitment to storytelling and meaningful cinema.
Ram Charan’s Peddi to Feature Mrunal Thakur in a Special Item Song
Superstar Ram Charan is leaving no stone unturned to give his fans a spectacular treat, especially after the global phenomenon of RRR. While his recent film Game Changer didn’t quite hit the mark with audiences, all eyes are now on his upcoming project, Peddi, which is set to hit theaters in just a couple of months.
Peddi is already generating buzz, thanks not only to Charan’s towering presence but also to a host of exciting elements. Bollywood diva Janhvi Kapoor plays the leading lady, AR Rahman has composed the music, and the film features the chartbuster Chikri song. Adding to the anticipation, the makers are reportedly planning a special item number in the vein of Jigelu Rani from Rangasthalam, with Rahman already having composed a sizzling tune.
Speculations are rife that Bollywood beauty Mrunal Thakur will be seen as the item girl. After charging a hefty fee for her debut Sitaramam and winning hearts in Telugu films like Hi Nanna and Family Star, this would mark her first item number on the big screen, although she has done music videos in the past. If the collaboration materializes, it is sure to add another layer of excitement for the fans.
Pawan Kalyan to Deliver Double Blockbuster in 2026
After the massive success of #OG and with Ustaad Bhagat Singh slated for a Summer 2026 release, many assumed these would be Pawan Kalyan’s last films for a while. As the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, fans speculated that he wouldn’t take up another project anytime soon. However, a pleasant surprise is in store for his followers.
Producer Ram Talluri of SRT Movies has launched a new banner and teamed up with director Surender Reddy for a fresh project starring Pawan Kalyan. While the announcement created excitement, the exact shooting schedule was initially unclear. Recent reports now suggest that Pawan Kalyan has allocated dates starting from the first week of March 2026 to begin this film.
Meanwhile, a couple of songs for Ustaad Bhagat Singh remain to be shot, which are expected to be completed in February. Once wrapped, Pawan will move on to Surender Reddy’s much-anticipated directorial. With the shooting dates almost finalized, 2026 is shaping up to be a double bonanza for Powerstar fans. The official release date for Ustaad Bhagat Singh, directed by Harish Shankar, is still awaited.
Mankatha Re-Release Revives Pongal Box Office
Pongal turned out to be a disappointing season for the Kollywood box office this year, as none of the festival releases managed to strike a chord with audiences. Adding to the setback was the indefinite postponement of Thalapathy Vijay’s much-anticipated farewell film Jana Nayagan, which left fans and trade circles disappointed.
Amid this dull festive phase, the re-release of Ajith Kumar’s cult action thriller Mankatha has surprisingly brought back celebratory vibes to theatres across Tamil Nadu. Directed by Venkat Prabhu, the 2011 blockbuster returned to the big screens after 15 years and opened to an overwhelming response, proving its timeless appeal.
The Ajith starrer registered a sensational opening by selling over 100,000 tickets online on BookMyShow on its first day alone. With this, Mankatha dethroned Vijay’s iconic Ghilli to become the highest ticket-selling re-release, also outperforming other recent reissues like Sachein and Padayappa. Trade analysts are now confident that the film could rewrite records by surpassing Ghilli’s re-release gross of ₹26.50 crore, currently the benchmark.
Made on a budget of ₹24 crore and originally released in 2011, Mankatha marked a major milestone in Ajith’s career as his 50th film. The movie emerged as one of the biggest blockbusters of his career. Ajith’s portrayal of Vinayak Mahadevan, a suspended police officer with grey shades who joins a gang to pull off a massive heist involving illegal betting money, became iconic. His stylish performance, sharp twists, and racy narration played a huge role in the film’s success.
Social media is now flooded with videos and images of fans celebrating inside theatres, cheering iconic moments and Ajith’s electrifying screen presence. The thunderous response to Mankatha once again proves that strong content and memorable performances can outshine even new releases, especially during a weak festive season.
