The year 2023 started on a positive note for the Telugu film industry. During the Sankranthi festival season, we witnessed the release of multiple films. Starting with Kollywood star Ajith Kumar’s Thunivu’s dubbed version, Thegimpu, back-to-back films in the form of Nandamuri Balakrishna’s Veera Simha Reddy, Megastar Chiranjeevi’s Waltair Veerayya, Tamil star Vijay’s Varisu Telugu dubbed version, Vaarasudu, a small film titled Kalyanam Kamaneeyam had a theatrical release. Later, on January 25th, Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan had a simultaneous release in Telugu with the same title. On January 26th as Republic Day special, Sudheer Babu’s Hunt had a theatrical release. Now, we bring the verdict of the films that had a theatrical release in January.
Kollywood star Ajith Kumar’s action thriller, Thunivu had a theatrical release on January 11th. Directed by H Vinoth, the film had a simultaneous release in Telugu as Thegimpu. Though cashing in on Ajith’s craze and stardom, Thunivu minted good revenues in Tamil Nadu but ended up as an average grosser here in Telugu.
Nandamuri Balakrishna’s actioner Veera Simha Reddy under the direction of Gopichand Malineni had a theatrical release on January 12th. Opened to positive reports from the targeted mass audience, the film collected good revenues at the box office. The film collected more than Rs 115 crore gross at the box office and emerged as the highest-grosser in Balakrishna’s career. The film also has Honey Rose, Duniya Vijay, Varalakshmi Sarathkumar, and Naveen Chandra in key roles.
Megastar Chiranjeevi and Ravi Teja starrer Waltair Veerayya had a grand release across the globe on January 13th. Directed by Bobby Kolli, the film was opened to positive word of mouth from the fans. Co-starring Shruti Haasan as the female lead, Waltair Veerayya also has Bobby Simha and Prakash Raj in negative-shaded roles. Cashing in on the festival season, Waltair Veerayya breached more than Rs 250 crore gross at the worldwide box office and ended up as a blockbuster success.
Kollywood star Vijay’s Varisu had a theatrical release in Telugu as Vaarasudu on January 14th. Opened to mixed reports from the Telugu audience, this Vamshi Paidipally directional and Dil Raju’s production venture ended up as a hit at the Telugu box office. The film has Rashmika as the female lead.
Noted production house UV Creations’ Kalyanam Kamaneeyam starring Santosh Shobhan and Priya Bhavani Shankar has hit the screens on January 14th as a Sankranthi festival special. Directed by Anil Kumar Aalla, the film was opened to dull reports and ended up as a disaster at the box office.
Bollywood Baadshah Shah Rukh Khan’s dark action thriller, Pathaan under the direction of Siddharth Anand had a theatrical release on January 25th. Along with Hindi, the film had a simultaneous release in Telugu and Tamil versions as well. Opened to positive reports, the film’s Telugu dubbed version entered into the profits zone during the first weekend itself. At the worldwide box office, Pathaan minted more than Rs 640 crore gross at the ticket windows. Pathaan is heading towards Biggest Blockbuster.
Hero Sudheer Babu’s cop drama, titled, Hunt under the direction of Mahesh Surapaneni had a theatrical release on January 26th. Opened to poor word of mouth, Hunt ended up as a washout disaster at the box office. The film also stars Premisthe Bharath and Srikanth in key roles.
