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Roshan Kanakala’s Mowgli Team Celebrates Success at Thank You Meet
Roshan Kanakala’s second film Mowgli, directed by Sandeep Raj and produced by TG Vishwa Prasad and Krithi Prasad, is set to enter its second week in theatres tomorrow. Marking the occasion, the team recently held a Thank You Meet, which was graced by Sai Durgha Tej as the chief guest.
Speaking at the event, Roshan Kanakala expressed heartfelt gratitude to Sai Durgha Tej for his encouragement and support. He also acknowledged the producers, stating that the film would not have been possible without Vishwa Prasad’s backing. Roshan thanked fellow actors, industry colleagues, and fans for standing by him and Mowgli, adding that the overwhelming support meant a great deal to him.
He also showered praise on his co-star Sakshi, highlighting the extensive research and effort she put into her role. Roshan noted that heroines often face challenges when they step out of their comfort zones, and commended Sakshi for facing every obstacle with courage and unwavering commitment to the film.
Sharing his belief about success, Roshan remarked that a person’s destiny lies in their own hands and is shaped by hard work, talent, and discipline. He added that the entire team worked with the same dedication and sincerity throughout the making of Mowgli.
Chief guest Sai Durgha Tej congratulated Roshan Kanakala and the entire team on the film’s successful theatrical run, appreciating their effort and wishing them continued success in the future.
Pawan Kalyan Begins Performance Review of Jana Sena MLAs
After staying relatively away from day-to-day party affairs for some time, Jana Sena Party chief and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has now turned his full attention towards strengthening internal party functioning, with a special focus on the performance of Jana Sena MLAs.
In the recent Assembly elections, the Jana Sena Party registered a remarkable performance by winning 21 out of 21 Assembly seats and 2 out of 2 Lok Sabha seats. Despite this impressive success, formal performance reviews of party legislators had not been conducted until now.
According to party sources, Pawan Kalyan has initiated a comprehensive internal review of his party’s MLAs and began holding one-on-one meetings with them on Friday. These interactions are aimed at closely assessing constituency-level development, implementation of welfare schemes, progress of ongoing projects, prevailing local issues, and the effectiveness of party programmes at the grassroots level.
Sources further revealed that nine MLAs were scheduled to meet Pawan Kalyan on Friday as part of the first phase of the review process. The meetings began with senior Avanigadda MLA Buddha Prasad and were followed by individual interactions with Deva Varaprasad, Lokam Naga Madhavi, Giddi Satyanarayana, Pantham Nanaji, CH Vamsi Krishna, Nimmaka Jayakrishna, Panchakarla Ramesh Babu, and Sundarapu Vijay Kumar.
Party insiders indicated that meetings with the remaining Jana Sena MLAs are expected to be held on Saturday. The leadership believes that this structured review mechanism will help strengthen the party’s governance credentials, accountability, and public outreach across the state.
BVS Ravi on Tollywood’s Future: Why 2025 Is a Correction Year and What Lies Ahead
Where is Tollywood headed? What does the future hold for the industry in 2026 and 2027? What kind of content and scale of films will define the next phase, and why is 2025 being viewed as a correction year for Telugu cinema?
All these crucial questions are addressed in a thought-provoking and authoritative conversation between journalist Murthy and ace writer-director-producer BVS Ravi. The exclusive discussion offers a deep dive into the evolving dynamics of Tollywood and the realities shaping its future.
BVS Ravi explains how senior stars such as Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, and Ravi Teja, along with filmmakers like Ram Gopal Varma and Gopichand Malineni, have clearly grasped the changing landscape of the industry. He points out that these stalwarts are closely observing shifting audience preferences, market pressures, and business models, and are actively preparing to adapt to the new realities.
Highlighting a crucial shift in the industry’s economics, BVS Ravi makes a strong statement, saying, “There is no other way than heroes and directors becoming stakeholders along with producers in every project. Only those who do this will survive; the rest will perish.” According to him, shared responsibility and risk-sharing will define sustainability in the years ahead.
He further notes that the coming years are set to become golden days for small-budget films and young talent, as production houses are now more open than ever to backing fresh ideas and new voices. With controlled budgets and strong content, such projects are expected to thrive.
The core of the discussion underlines a major transformation in Telugu cinema — a shift from being hero-driven to OTT-driven. This trend, BVS Ravi believes, will only grow stronger, influencing storytelling, budgeting, and release strategies in the future.
Every question and answer in this conversation delivers sharp insights, honest observations, and valuable industry knowledge. For those looking to understand where Tollywood is headed, this interview offers a compelling mix of education, information, and engaging discussion.
Avatar: Fire and Ash Opens to ₹20 Cr in India Amid Dhurandhar Competition
James Cameron’s much-anticipated magnum opus, Avatar: Fire and Ash, has wrapped up its opening day at the Indian box office with a respectable start, though stiff competition from Dhurandhar has clearly impacted its performance.
As expected, the film opened to nearly half the Day 1 collections of its predecessor, Avatar: The Way of Water. Meanwhile, Dhurandhar continues to exceed expectations and dominate ticket windows even in its third week of release.
With exhibitors strongly backing the Ranveer Singh–starrer, Dhurandhar has managed to secure an impressive number of screens nationwide. This, in turn, limited the showcasing of Avatar: Fire and Ash, which typically enjoys massive screen presence given the strength of the Avatar franchise. While the film did receive a wide release across India, the screen count fell short of expectations for a brand of this scale.
Beyond screen allocation, Dhurandhar has also captured significant audience attention, further diluting ground-level hype for Avatar: Fire and Ash. That said, the film still drew a loyal fan base, particularly in premium formats such as IMAX and 4DX, which helped boost collections.
According to early estimates, Avatar: Fire and Ash collected approximately ₹20–21 crore net on Day 1 in India. Crossing the ₹20 crore mark is a solid opening for a Hollywood film in the Indian market. However, when compared to the benchmark set by the previous installment, the numbers may be viewed as a cause for concern for the makers.
Apart from competition, the film also appears to be facing signs of franchise fatigue. A section of the audience feels that, beyond its breathtaking visuals, the Avatar series may not be offering enough novelty, which seems to have tempered excitement this time around.
The real test now lies in the weekend performance. Whether Avatar: Fire and Ash can overcome these challenges and post a strong upward trend over the next few days remains to be seen.
Akhanda 2 Faces Alarming Box-Office Slump in Key Districts
Akhanda 2 appears to be heading towards a major box-office setback, judging by its underwhelming collections so far. A significant gap has emerged between the high expectations and financial stakes surrounding the film and the actual revenue it is managing to generate.
According to trade sources, the trend is alarming, as the film has failed to gain momentum even after the crucial initial days of release, despite non-stop promotional activity. The lack of sustained audience interest has become a growing concern.
What has particularly surprised industry observers is the film’s performance in Krishna district. On its seventh day (Thursday), the total collection from the entire district reportedly stood at around ₹1.75 lakh, a figure considered shockingly low for a project mounted on such a large scale. Even more concerning is that the total share from the district so far is only about ₹2.77 crore.
These numbers have triggered serious discussions about audience reception and ground-level reach. The situation appears even more puzzling given the political landscape of the region. Districts such as Uttarandhra, Krishna, Guntur, East Godavari, and West Godavari, traditionally considered strongholds of the TDP and its alliance government, have witnessed weaker performance for Akhanda 2 compared to other areas.
While the film’s collections are reportedly below expectations across most regions, the particularly poor response in TDP-dominated belts has raised eyebrows not just within trade circles but also in political and industry discussions, adding another layer of intrigue to the film’s disappointing box-office run.
Mohanlal’s Vrusshabha Telugu Trailer Out, Film Set for December 25 Release
The Telugu trailer of Vrusshabha, starring Mohanlal, has been unveiled and has already generated strong buzz among cinema audiences. Slated for a grand theatrical release on December 25, 2025, the film will be distributed across the Telugu states by Geetha Film Distributors, a banner known for backing several major blockbusters.
Written and directed by Nanda Kishore, Vrusshabha is a large-scale period action drama. The trailer introduces Mohanlal as a man haunted by intense and violent dreams, prompting a doctor to suggest that some memories go beyond the human mind’s understanding. The narrative soon reveals a compelling twist — Mohanlal was once King Vijayendra Vrusshabha in a previous life, and a bitter rivalry has continued across generations.
Built around themes of reincarnation and destiny, the story explores how enemies relentlessly pursue the same bloodline through time. A powerful emotional layer is added through a strong father-son relationship, with the son emerging as his father’s ultimate protector. The film seamlessly shifts between an ancient royal kingdom and the present day, blending elements of love, revenge, and fate.
Alongside Mohanlal, the film features Samarjit Lankesh, Ragini Dwivedi, Nayan Sarika, Ajay, Neha Saxena, Garuda Ram, Vinay Varma, Ali, Ayyappa P Sharma, Kishore, and several others in pivotal roles. The music is composed by Sam CS, while sound design is handled by Oscar-winning technician Resul Pookutty. Dialogues are penned by SRK, Janardhan Maharshi, and Karthik, with high-octane action sequences choreographed by Peter Hein, Stunt Silva, and Nikhil.
Presented by Connekkt Media and Balaji Telefilms Limited in association with Abishek S Vyas Studios, Vrusshabha is produced by Shobha Kapoor, Ektaa R Kapoor, and a team of seasoned producers. With its grand visuals, emotional depth, and a compelling father-son bond at its core, the film promises a visually spectacular and emotionally driven cinematic experience.
Parasakthi’s Preponed Release Creates Hurdle for The Raja Saab During Sankranthi
Despite multiple films lining up for release every Sankranthi season, uncertainty over release dates often continues until the very last moment. This year is no different, with seven films, including dubbed releases, confirmed for the festive window. Among them, Parasakthi has drawn attention after its makers decided to prepone the release by a few days, a move that could pose a minor challenge for Prabhas’ The Raja Saab, particularly in the Tamil Nadu market.
Parasakthi, starring Sivakarthikeyan and directed by Sudha Kongara, marks the filmmaker’s return to Tamil cinema following the widely acclaimed Soorarai Pottru. Reportedly centered around the theme of anti-Hindi imposition, the film also features Sreeleela, Jayam Ravi, and Atharva in key roles. While the film was originally slated for a January 14 release, the makers are now planning to advance it to January 10, mainly due to limited screen availability in overseas territories.
On the other hand, The Raja Saab, starring Prabhas, has been announced for a January 9 release in all languages except Tamil. In Tamil Nadu, the release was planned for January 10 to avoid a clash with Jana Nayagan, which is scheduled to arrive on January 9. The makers were aiming for a solo release in key markets, especially in Tamil Nadu.
With Parasakthi now almost certain to hit screens on January 10, The Raja Saab may find it difficult to secure an uncontested release date in Tamil Nadu. Notably, while five Telugu films are releasing during Sankranthi, The Raja Saab is the only one opting for a Tamil release as well. It remains to be seen whether the makers will stick to the January 10 Tamil release or prepone it to January 9 to align with the film’s release in other languages.
At present, the Sankranthi release schedule in the Telugu states is spread across several dates, with major films arriving between January 9 and January 15. Meanwhile, the Pongal lineup in Tamil Nadu includes Jana Nayagan on January 9, followed by Parasakthi and The Raja Saab on January 10. With nearly seven films arriving within a compact festive window, attention will be firmly on box-office performance and screen allocation, especially in the Telugu states, where exhibitors face the challenge of managing multiple releases without major disruptions.
Supreme Court Upholds Stay on Karthi’s Vaa Vaathiyaar Release
Karthi’s much-anticipated film Vaa Vaathiyaar, also titled Annagaru Vostaru, continues to be mired in uncertainty after the Supreme Court refused to lift the stay on its theatrical release. The verdict has further complicated the film’s prospects, which was earlier expected to hit theatres in December.
Directed by Nalan Kumarasamy and produced by KE Gnanavel Raja under the Studio Green banner, the film was originally scheduled for release on December 12. However, the plans were abruptly halted when the Madras High Court issued an interim stay, preventing the film from releasing.
The legal roadblock stems from a financial dispute involving producer KE Gnanavel Raja and businessman K Arjunlal Sunderdas, who has since been declared insolvent. A court-appointed administrator handling Sunderdas’ assets approached the Madras High Court, seeking a ban on the film’s release until the outstanding loan amount with interest was cleared. Accepting the plea, the High Court directed the producer to settle dues amounting to approximately ₹21.78 crore and ordered that the film should not be released until the payment was made.
In response, Studio Green moved the Supreme Court, challenging the High Court’s directive. However, a bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kumar dismissed the appeal, stating that it was not inclined to interfere with the earlier order. Consequently, the stay on Vaa Vaathiyaar remains in effect. Meanwhile, the Madras High Court has reserved its final order until December 27.
Earlier, there were reports that the makers were exploring December 24 as a possible release date, coinciding with the death anniversary of legendary actor and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MG Ramachandran. Following the Supreme Court’s decision, a December release now appears highly unlikely.
Vaa Vaathiyaar marks the first collaboration between Karthi and Nalan Kumarasamy, best known for acclaimed films like Soodhu Kavvum and Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum. The film features Krithi Shetty as the female lead, with Rajkiran, Sathyaraj, Anandaraj, Karunakaran, and others in pivotal roles. Music is composed by Santhosh Narayanan.
With the legal issues still unresolved, the film’s release remains indefinitely on hold, leaving fans awaiting further clarity.
