Sankranti 2026 Tollywood Movies Final Review: Box Office Winners, Verdicts & Collections – Who Dominated the Festive Clash?

Sankranti/Pongal 2026 turned out to be one of the most competitive festive seasons in Tollywood history, with massive star-driven releases clashing for screens and audiences in Telugu states, NRI markets, and beyond. From Prabhas’ horror-comedy extravaganza to Chiranjeevi’s family entertainer, the lineup delivered high drama at the box office. Here’s the complete final review of major Tollywood Sankranti 2026 releases, including box office collections, verdicts, audience reception, and overall performance.

1. The Raja Saab (Release: January 9, 2026)

• Starring: Prabhas, Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Sanjay Dutt
• Director: Maruthi
• Genre: Horror-Comedy-Fantasy

Prabhas kicked off the Sankranti race with a grand opening, thanks to his massive star pull. The film blended horror, romance, and comedy with high production values, but faced criticism for a weak script, pacing issues, and lack of depth. Mixed to negative reviews highlighted Prabhas’ efforts but noted the overstretched narrative.

Box Office Performance: Strong Day 1 (₹53.75 Cr India net), but sharp drops post-weekend due to poor word-of-mouth. Total India net around ₹130-140 Cr (as of mid-January), worldwide ~₹180-200 Cr. Struggled to sustain momentum amid competition. Verdict: Flop / Below Average – Despite big opening, failed to recover high budget (~₹400-450 Cr), becoming one of Prabhas’ major setbacks.

2. Mana Shankara Varaprasad Garu (Release: January 12, 2026)

• Starring: Chiranjeevi, Nayanthara, Venkatesh (cameo)
• Director: Anil Ravipudi
• Genre: Action-Comedy Family Entertainer

Megastar Chiranjeevi delivered a solid family-oriented mass entertainer with emotional beats, humor, and strong chemistry with Nayanthara. Directed by festival specialist Anil Ravipudi, it resonated with family audiences during holidays, earning praise for feel-good moments and Chiranjeevi’s energetic performance. Positive word-of-mouth helped it surge.

Box Office Performance: Explosive start (~₹41-42 Cr Day 1 India), steady growth with festival crowds. Crossed ₹67 Cr India in 3 days, worldwide over ₹100-150 Cr+ early, continuing strong run. Verdict: Blockbuster / Super Hit – Emerged as the clear Sankranti winner, marking a major comeback for Chiranjeevi and boosting Tollywood’s festive collections.

3. Bhartha Mahasayulaku Wignyapthi (Release: January 13, 2026)

• Starring: Ravi Teja
• Director: Kishore Tirumala
• Genre: Comedy-Drama with Mass Elements

Ravi Teja brought his signature high-energy style with fun moments and emotional layers. It appealed to mass centers but faced predictability complaints in a crowded window. Decent openings in core belts, limited by screen crunch from bigger clashes.

Box Office Performance: Moderate collections (~₹2-3 Cr early days), steady but not explosive due to competition. Verdict: Average to Above Average – Held its ground in mass pockets but didn’t dominate pan-India.

4. Anaganaga Oka Raju (Release: January 14, 2026)

• Starring: Naveen Polishetty, Meenakshi Chaudhary
• Director: (Youthful rom-com vibe)
• Genre: Romantic Comedy

A light-hearted, witty rom-com with relatable humor and charming performances. It carved a niche among youth and families as a breezy festive watch, earning positive talk for freshness amid big-star clashes.

Box Office Performance: Solid word-of-mouth driven run, profitable in mid-range.

• Verdict: Hit – Performed well in urban/youth segments, proving content can shine in clashes.

Other smaller or potential releases (like Sharwanand’s Nari Nari Naduma Murari) added variety but had limited major impact in the star-heavy window.

Sankranti 2026 Tollywood Overall Highlights

• Biggest Clash Impact: Multi-film releases (including Tamil crossovers like Jana Nayagan/Parasakthi dubs) led to screen-sharing wars, but holiday footfalls kept overall occupancy high in AP/Telangana and NRI centers.
• Audience & Critical Trends: Family entertainers (especially Chiranjeevi’s) won hearts; horror-comedy experiments (Prabhas) divided opinions. Entertainment value stayed high for festive mood.
• Box Office Summary: Tollywood saw mixed results – Chiranjeevi’s film emerged as the standout blockbuster, lifting the season. Prabhas’ big-budget outing underperformed despite hype. Total festive collections healthy but split due to overcrowding.
• Winners & Lessons: Mana Shankara Varaprasad Garu dominated as the festive king, reinforcing family content + star power. Season proved Sankranti remains prime for Tollywood biggies.

Sankranti 2026 delivered thrills, surprises, and solid entertainment for Telugu movie fans. For more Tollywood updates, box office reports, and reviews, keep checking masalamirror.com!  #Sankranti2026 #Tollywood #TeluguMovies #BoxOfficeVerdicts