Political Mirchi: పొదుపు లో చిన్న కుదుపు

The Sankranthi 2026 box office season has entered its peak phase, with all five major releases completing their initial screenings. Although Naari Naari Naduma Murari officially released today, it had already started playing across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana yesterday with numerous evening shows. The festive energy around theaters has been vibrant and overwhelmingly positive.

Chiranjeevi’s Mana Shankara Varaprasad is clearly leading the race, drawing packed audiences and strong responses. Anaganaga Oka Raju is steadily gaining momentum, with positive word-of-mouth improving day by day. Bhartha Mahasayulaku Wignyapthi is performing well in B and C centers, registering healthy occupancies, while Sharwa’s Nari Nari Naduma Murari has already created blockbuster buzz from its evening shows.

The only film struggling to keep pace is Prabhas’ Raja Saab. Expectations were sky-high, but director Maruthi could not fully deliver. Despite solid promotional efforts, the film’s content affected its reception. Editing errors and the delayed inclusion of an older Prabhas fight sequence drew criticism. Still, Prabhas’ immense star power helped the film cross the ₹200 crore gross mark—a feat that would have been difficult without his loyal fan base.

What makes this Sankranthi truly special is the rare occurrence of multiple films receiving positive reviews simultaneously. Seeing four films earn largely favorable responses in a single festive season is an achievement not seen in many years, last witnessed during the releases of Khaidi No 150, Gautamiputra Satakarni, and Shatamanam Bhavati. Repeating such a feat after a long gap is noteworthy.

With holidays continuing until Sunday, the current momentum is expected to hold. Once regular working days resume on Monday, the real test will begin. While Mana Shankara Varaprasad clearly holds the top spot, the battle for second and third positions remains open, with a clearer picture likely to emerge in the coming days. One thing is certain—this Sankranthi, the box office is truly shining.