Sankranthi 2026 Verdict: How Telugu Releases Performed at the Box Office

Sankranthi remains one of the biggest festive seasons for Telugu cinema, with filmmakers traditionally lining up major releases to capitalise on the holiday rush. While big-budget films usually dominate the season, content-driven mid-range films often surprise with strong word of mouth. Sankranthi 2026 turned out to be a mixed bag, with five films arriving in theatres and delivering sharply contrasting results.
Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu
Among all the Sankranthi releases, Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu clearly emerged as the biggest winner. Chiranjeevi’s return to his signature comedy zone, combined with director Anil Ravipudi’s proven track record, generated strong pre-release buzz. The film delivered exactly what audiences expected, leading to highly positive word of mouth.
From promotions to release planning, the team executed a well-calibrated strategy. The film has gone on to register a blockbuster run, breaking multiple records and steadily moving toward industry-hit status. It is already being counted among the most successful films in both Chiranjeevi’s and Anil Ravipudi’s careers.
Nari Nari Naduma Murari
Released last in the Sankranthi lineup, Nari Nari Naduma Murari entered the race as a clear underdog. Promotions were muted, though the makers were confident about the film’s content, and it opened with only evening shows on January 14, 2026. As expected, strong content and positive audience response quickly turned the tide.
The film emerged as the second most preferred choice among audiences during the festive window. Despite limited shows initially, theatres soon witnessed packed houses across centres. The content connected well with viewers, and the film could have performed even better had it released separately. However, the makers chose to present it as a Sankranthi treat.
Naresh’s comedy played a major role in the film’s success, while the strong pre-release business added to its commercial comfort. The success proved to be a significant boost for Sharwanand and producer Anil Sunkara, and the film is expected to continue its steady run for at least another couple of weeks.
Anaganaga Oka Raju
Anaganaga Oka Raju, starring Naveen Polishetty and Meenakshi Chaudhary, released on January 14, 2026. The film received decent responses. While Naveen Polishetty’s performance and the viral Bheemavaram song stood out, the overall content remained average.
The Sankranthi season release, however, helped the film attract a section of the audience and post respectable numbers. Footfalls remained steady, with the festive advantage playing a key role in sustaining the run.
The Raja Saab
The first major Sankranthi release of 2026, The Raja Saab, hit theatres on January 9. Directed by Maruthi, the film opened to mixed reactions, largely due to weak storytelling and uneven execution. While the attempt to present Prabhas in a horror-fantasy avatar created curiosity, the narrative failed to deliver.
Despite a three-day advantage before other releases arrived, the film could not sustain interest. Collections so far have been driven primarily by Prabhas’ star power. Even among fans, the response has been largely disappointed, making it one of the weaker outings of the season.
Bhartha Mahasayulaki Wignyapthi
Bhartha Mahasayulaki Wignyapthi, starring Ravi Teja and directed by Kishore Tirumala, aimed to showcase the actor in a family-oriented role. However, the film struggled to resonate with audiences. Weak content and low footfalls resulted in a muted response, placing it among the least preferred Sankranthi releases.
The Final Word
Overall, Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, Nari Nari Naduma Murari and Anaganaga Oka Raju clearly emerged as the audience favourites of Sankranthi 2026, backed by strong word of mouth and consistent box-office performance. The remaining releases delivered average to poor results, highlighting once again that festive advantage alone cannot compensate for weak content.The post Sankranthi 2026 Verdict: How Telugu Releases Performed at the Box Office first appeared on Latest Telugu cinema news | Movie reviews | OTT Updates, OTT.