Predictions are tricky since we most often go by films that have already been announced, boasting well-known directors and star casts. Yet, as the year goes by, there are almost always welcome surprises by new entrants. So this list is only based on what we know is on the cards.
Traditionally, Sankranti in mid-January and Dussehra later in the year have been the two most crucial box office windows for Telugu cinema, since the festive period guaranteed more footfalls in theatres.
The lineup for Sankranti 2025 includes director Shankar’s Game Changer with Ram Charan and Kiara Advani, Bobby Kolli’s Daaku Maharaaj starring Nandamuri Balakrishna, Pragya Jaiswal and Shraddha Srinath, and Anil Ravipudi’s family drama Sankranthiki Vasthunam with Venkatesh, Aishwarya Rajesh and Meenakshi Chaudhary.
‘Sankranthiki Vasthunam’, ‘Game Changer’ and ‘Daaku Maharaaj’
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Special Arrangement
In the aftermath of the tragic events at Sandhya Theatre during the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule, Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy had stated in the State Assembly that he will not grant permission for early ‘benefit’ or premiere shows with inflated ticket prices. It remains to be seen if film industry representatives led by producer Dil Raju, who recently took over as chairman of Telangana Film Development Corporation, will be able to negotiate a rethink. Movie lovers stand to gain if permission to hike ticket prices is not granted.
Sai Pallavi and Naga Chaitanya in ‘Thandel’
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Three films that rescheduled their release plans, owing to other biggies taking over their originally planned release dates, are Thandel, Sarangapani Jathakam and Robinhood. Director Chandu Mondeti’s Thandel starring Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi is expected in February, while Venky Kudumula’s Robinhood starring Nithiin and Sreeleela, and director Mohanakrishna Indraganti’s Sarangapani Jathakam starring Priyadarshi and Roopa Koduvayur are yet to announce their new release plans.
2025 will see a few actors and directors who have not had a release in 2024 putting forth films they have been quietly working on for more than a year.
G2, the sequel to the 2018 spy thriller Goodachari, is expected this year. Debut director Vinay Kumar Sirigineedi takes over the mantle from Sashi Kiran Tikka for this sequel starring Adivi Sesh, who is credited with the screenplay. Goodachari was appreciated for its riveting screenplay and deft execution that rose above its budget constraints. G2 is being made on a larger canvas and also stars Banita Sandhu. Meanwhile, Goodachari’s cinematographer Shaneil Deo turns director with the action drama Dacoit, starring Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur.
Rashmika Mandanna in ‘The Girlfriend’
Actor-writer-director Rahul Ravindran, who bagged the National Award for Best Original Screenplay for his debut directorial film Chi La Sow, will look to make a mark with his new directorial venture The Girlfriend, headlined by Rashmika Mandanna. The intriguing teaser and Rashmika’s soaring popularity post Animal and the Pushpa films have made this one of the awaited films.
Director Gowtam Tinnanuri, whose Malli Rava and Jersey are among the favourite films of several movie lovers, has been quietly working on two films — a musical titled Magic with a relatively new cast, and an untitled action drama starring Vijay Deverakonda. Magic, which was expected to release towards the end of December 2024, will look at a new release date. All eyes are on the Vijay Deverakonda starrer, with hopes of success after the setbacks of Liger and The Family Star behind him. Vijay’s other new films, directed by Ravi Kiran Kolla and Rahul Sankrityan, are in the pipeline.
Meanwhile, Siddhu Jonnalagadda and Naveen Polishetty will look to consolidate their positions. Post the success of Tillu Square, Siddhu will be seen in director Neeraja Kona’s Telusu Kada and Bommarillu Bhaskar’s Jack. Naveen, whose last release was the much-appreciated Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty, will be seen in the comedy Anaganaga Oka Roju, directed by first timer Maari.
It came as a surprise when director Sekhar Kammula announced his film Kubera. The film is his first collaboration with Nagarjuna Akkineni, Dhanush and Rashmika Mandanna and music composer Devi Sri Prasad.
The other recent collaboration that took everyone by surprise was Nani announcing that he would be presenting Chiranjeevi’s new film to be directed by Srikanth Odela and produced by Sudhakar Cherukuri (of Dasara fame). Nani and Prashanti Tipirneni’s production house Wall Poster Cinema is simultaneously working on Court, starring Priyadarshi and directed by debutant Ram Jagadeesh.
Nani, meanwhile, is working on director Sailesh Kolanu’s HIT 3 and The Paradise by Srikanth Odela.
Pawan Kalyan in ‘Hari Hara Veera Mallu’
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The sequel of Kalki 2898 AD is expected to go on floors this year and Devara 2 is also in the works. This is among a handful of big films in the pipeline. Prabhas’ films including Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit, Maruthi’s Raja Saab and Prashant Neel’s Salaar-2, as well as Prashant Neel’s film with Jr. NTR and Buchi Babu Sana’s film with Ram Charan are in the offing.
Expected to hit the screens this year are the Chiranjeevi and Trisha starrer Vishwambara, a fantasy film directed by Vassishta, Pawan Kalyan’s films Hari Hara Veera Mallu helmed by Krish Jagarlamudi and They Call Him OG by Sujith, and Balakrishna’s Akhanda 2 directed by Boyapati Srinu. Krish Jagarlamudi is also directing the Anushka Shetty starrer Gaati.
Published – January 01, 2025 10:56 am IST
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