‘Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu’ to ‘Anaganaga Oka Raju’: Why Telugu Theatres Are Rejoicing This Sankranti 2026

Balgovind Raj Tadla, proprietor of the popular Sudarshan 35mm theatre in Hyderabad, has the perfect analogy to describe the Sankranti film fervour the Telugu cinema industry is witnessing this month. The audience, who were seemingly on a diet all these months, are happily gobbling up films today, he says.

The Sankranti releases, which began with Prabhas’s The Raja Saab on January 9, were followed by a streak of hits, led at the top by Chiranjeevi and Anil Ravipudi’s marriage comedy Mana ShankaraVaraPrasad Garu, which has gone on to do a handsome ₹165 crores India nett (as quoted by Sacnilk) and close to ₹300 crores worldwide, according to a press note.

Tadla says, “The response has been very encouraging, and the complete audience came back.” In keeping with the Sankranti tradition in Telugu cinema, comedy entertainers awaited audiences in the theatres this year. If the Ravipudi film saw Chiranjeevi and Nayanthara fight for a marriage, Anaganaga Oka Raju saw Naveen Polishetty and Meenakshi Chaudhary scramble to find the best suitor — but both films provided ample laughs. The latter has raked in over ₹36 crores domestically and grossed ₹100 crores worldwide, according to its makers. The other Sankranti releases also included Ravi Teja’s Bhartha Mahasayulaku Wignyapthi and Sharwanand’s Nari Nari Naduma Murari. Tadla, whose theatres in Hyderabad screened MSG, BMW, and Anaganaga… is witnessing packed houses. “The films ran to almost a 90 per cent house.”

The Sankranti winners have all leaned into comedy, which Anantha Hari Babu, producer, distributor and EC member at the Telangana State Film Chamber of Commerce, discerns as a factor. “The box-office numbers have been excellent in the Andhra side. Sankranti movies are known to be comedies, and that's bringing in people,” he says, adding that The Raja Saab could’ve opted for a solo release. Prabhas’s horror comedy opened to plush numbers but struggled to hold momentum, making ₹140 Cr domestically. “Raja Saab isn't a Sankranti release in my point of view, as it's a horror. If it had been a solo non-Sankranti release, it could've done better. This is also why MSG has been able to secure the top place."

MSG showed fans glimpses of Chiranjeevi’s impeccable humour, something audiences have enjoyed ever since his Chantabbai (1986 Telugu film) days, Hari Babu says. Tadla looks at these influxes as a shot in the arm, but hopes the industry sustains this momentum.

“The difference between ten years ago and now is that the lifespan of a film is reducing today. The reason isn't that the audience doesn't like films, but because they are watching films anywhere they can get them. Now films are being screened in many theatres, and that is under correction. Movies are vanishing in three weeks, and you can see that,” he says, hopeful that tentpole films such as Peddi, Spirit, and Varanasi keep the ball rolling.