Thunivu (meaning "Daredevil") was a heist-action thriller. Ajith’s negative/grey-shaded character was a refreshing change. However, in the Telugu market, it struggled for screens due to the three local releases. It found a niche audience but did not create an impact comparable to Vaarasudu .
The 2023 season was dominated by four primary films that collectively carried a theatrical market value of approximately . 1. Waltair Veerayya (January 13) Cast: Chiranjeevi, Ravi Teja, Shruti Haasan Director: Bobby Kolli
Sankranthi Release Telugu Movies 2023: A Record-Breaking Festive Clash
A small-budget romantic comedy directed by Anil Kumar Aalla. It struggled to make an impact against the star-studded competition at the box office. Tegimpu (January 11, 2023) Cast: Ajith Kumar, Manju Warrier. Description: The Telugu dubbed version of the Tamil heist thriller Performance Summary
Ajith Kumar’s heist thriller Thunivu , directed by H. Vinoth, was released simultaneously in Tamil and Telugu (as Thegimpu ) on January 11, enjoying a solo release at the start of the season. Sankranthi Release Telugu Movies 2023
Waltair Veerayya brought back the vintage, hilariously energetic, and massy avatar of Megastar Chiranjeevi. Set against the backdrop of Vizag, the film follows a notorious sea smuggler who gets entangled in an international police chase. The major highlight of the film was the extended cameo of Mass Maharaja Ravi Teja, whose screen chemistry and explosive face-off scenes with Chiranjeevi set theaters on fire. Backed by sensational music from Devi Sri Prasad, the film dominated the box office, comfortably entering the 200-crore club worldwide. 2. Veera Simha Reddy : January 12, 2023
The film’s X-factor was an extended, high-octane cameo by Mass Maharaja Ravi Teja. The brotherly chemistry and high-voltage action sequences between Chiranjeevi and Ravi Teja drove audiences into an absolute frenzy. Complemented by a chart-topping soundtrack by Devi Sri Prasad (featuring hits like "Boss Party" and "Poonakaalu Loading"), the movie dominated theater sharing and pulled in a massive worldwide gross of ₹236 crore, becoming the third highest-grossing Telugu film of the year. 2. Veera Simha Reddy : January 12, 2023
, Shruti Haasan, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Honey Rose, Duniya Vijay.
Sankranthi is the biggest season for Telugu cinema, often witnessing high-stakes clashes between the industry’s biggest stars. The lineup was particularly historic, featuring a direct "clash of the titans" between Megastar Chiranjeevi and Nandamuri Balakrishna, alongside a major bilingual entry from Thalapathy Vijay. The Big Ticket Releases Thunivu (meaning "Daredevil") was a heist-action thriller
The festival saw a tight release schedule between January 11 and January 14, 2023, with four primary films dominating the conversation. (Released: Jan 12, 2023)
🔥 Sankranthi 2023: A Box Office Bloodbath! 🔥
The Telugu film industry is known for its grand celebrations and releases around the festive season of Sankranthi. The harvest festival, which usually falls in mid-January, is a time for family reunions, feasting, and merriment. In Telugu cinema, it's also a time for big releases, with many films hitting the screens on or around the Sankranthi weekend. The year 2023 is no exception, with several big-budget Telugu movies lined up for release during the Sankranthi season.
: Starring Santosh Sobhan and Priya Bhavani Shankar, this film was produced by UV Concepts. Released as a soft, urban romantic drama about a young married couple dealing with employment issues, the movie unfortunately got entirely crushed by the sheer theatrical footprint and massive hype surrounding the main festival releases. Key Takeaways from the 2023 Festive Clash The Producer's Gambit It found a niche audience but did not
A high-octane heist thriller that was the first to hit the screens during the festival week. Kalyanam Kamaneeyam Release Date: January 14, 2023 Starring: Santosh Sobhan, Priya Bhavani Shankar
When you have the "Megastar" returning to his mass-action avatar, expectations are sky-high. Waltair Veerayya capitalized on nostalgia for Chiranjeevi’s 1980s and 90s persona. The addition of Ravi Teja—branded "Mass Raja"—in an extended cameo created a casting coup that excited frontline audiences.
Prasanth Kumar Dimmala Starring: Santosh Sobhan, Priya Bhavani Shankar OTT release only (direct-to-digital on Aha Video)
Produced by Dil Raju and directed by a Telugu filmmaker, was tailor-made for family audiences. The plot revolved around a billionaire's youngest son who must take over his father's business empire while reuniting his fractured family. While it faced theater scarcity initially due to the Chiranjeevi-Balakrishna wave, the emotional family elements resonated well with holiday crowds, helping it perform steadily over the long weekend. 4. Tegimpu (Thunivu) Release Date : January 11, 2023 Lead Cast : Ajith Kumar, Manju Warrier Director : H. Vinoth
Interestingly, Mythri Movie Makers produced both native Telugu mega-budget films, pulling off a rare feat by managing distribution and maintaining profitability for both releases simultaneously. Movie Title Core Genre Primary Target Audience Box Office Verdict Action Comedy / Commercial Universal Families & Mass Mega Blockbuster Veera Simha Reddy Faction Action / Drama Mass & B/C Center Audiences Vaarasudu Family Drama / Romance Urban Families & Youth Tegimpu Heist Thriller / Action Action Enthusiasts & Youth Average / Above Average Key Takeaways from Sankranthi 2023