Sankranthi 2026 saw multiple releases, but two films emerged as true blockbusters at the end: Chiranjeevi’s Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu and Naveen Polishetty’s Anaganaga Oka Raju. Now, both films are set to arrive on OTT tonight.
Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu is the no. 1 biggest blockbuster, while Anaganaga Oka Raju is the 2nd biggest blockbuster of this Sankranti season and has returned superb profits for all parties involved. Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu collected 300 Cr+ gross, and Anaganaga Oka Raju collected more than 85 Cr gross.
Both the Sankranthi blockbusters are also the career’s biggest hits for the lead stars, and they are arriving on OTT tonight in all languages: Anaganaga Oka Raju will be available for streaming on Netflix, while Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu will be streaming on Zee 5 from tonight.
Chiranjeevi and Anil Ravipudi’s Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu was released in theaters on 12th January during the Sankranthi festival, and the film emerged as a blockbuster at the box office, achieving 300 Cr gross worldwide. It holds a record of the first regional film crossing that magical number.
Audiences liked the comedy timing and energetic screen presence of Megastar Chiranjeevi, and Nayanthara’s performance as the female lead alongside Venkatesh’s fun-filled cameo made this Anil Ravipudi directorial a huge success.
Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu becomes the first regional movie to cross 300 Cr at the box office. The film had a steady run in theaters, and it brought profits to all the parties involved. It also became the highest grosser in the career of Chiranjeevi and Anil Ravipudi.
Trivikram’s dream project, God of War, was originally planned with Allu Arjun and was officially announced to begin immediately after Pushpa 2. Director Trivikram waited for more than a year for Allu Arjun’s dates. However, at the last minute, due to various reasons, Allu Arjun chose Atlee instead. That film is now on sets, and his next project is already signed with Lokesh Kanagaraj.
After Allu Arjun moved on with Atlee, God of War went to NTR, who officially signed the project, and the film was announced. Recently, the project returned to the headlines after reports suggested that Allu Arjun showed interest in starting the film after his project with Lokesh Kanagaraj, likely around summer 2027. Even with NTR, the timeline remains the same, as he is currently busy with Prashanth Neel’s film and Devara 2.
There were also reports claiming that the film might go back to Allu Arjun. But sources close to the project clarify that God of War is completely NTR’s film. Allu Arjun is not involved in the final decision. Only if NTR opts out due to other commitments will the project move to Allu Arjun or any other hero.
So, practically, the film will move ahead with NTR unless some miraculous turn happens in the future. Trivikram is currently busy with Venkatesh’s Adarsha Kutumbam, which is being planned for an October release. After this, Trivikram will completely focus on God of War, with the shoot expected to begin in the summer of 2027.
This Valentine’s Day weekend, Telugu cinema audiences will have plenty of choices at the theatres, with several films lined up for release. While Vishwak Sen and Anudeep’s Funky is the most talked-about among them, moviegoers will have multiple options during the February 14 weekend.
Sithara Entertainments, which recently scored a big Sankranthi success with Anaganaga Oka Raju, is now bringing Funky to theatres. The film stars Vishwak Sen in the lead role and is directed by KV Anudeep of Jathi Ratnalu fame. Kayadu Lohar plays the female lead. Scheduled for release on February 13, the film’s trailer has received a positive response.
Valentine’s Weekend – New Releases and Censor Details
Funky – U/A | 128 minutes | Releasing on 13 February
Couple Friendly – A | 121 minutes | Releasing on 14 February
Seetha Payanam – U | 152 minutes | Releasing on 14 February
Young hero Santosh Shobhan’s latest film, Couple Friendly, is a romantic entertainer releasing in both Telugu and Tamil on February 14. Manasa Varanasi stars as the female lead. The trailer and songs released so far have struck a chord with the youth audience.
Action King Arjun Sarja is set to release Seetha Payanam, which he has directed himself. The film features his daughter Aishwarya as the female lead, with Niranjan playing the protagonist. Arjun Sarja and his nephew Dhruv Sarja appear in key roles. The film is scheduled for a February 14 release.
Apart from Funky and Couple Friendly, several other films, such as Amaravathiki Aahwanam, Sweety Naughty Crazy, Nilave, and a few smaller releases, are also arriving this Valentine’s Day weekend. Additionally, popular romantic films Love Story (2021) and Manasantha Nuvve (2001) are set to return to theatres with special re-releases.
The Telugu cinema fans were excited when Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi 2, officially titled ENE Repeat, was announced on June 29, 2025, marking the seventh anniversary of the original film. Director Tharun Bhascker has now revealed the release plans of ENE2.
Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi is a film that is strongly connected with Telugu youth and became a favorite among a section of audiences. Showcasing college friendships, dreams, fun, and travel in a very natural and relatable way, the movie became more popular over the years.
Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi Sequel (ENE2) set for release in the second half of 2026
Even today, dialogues from the film frequently go viral on social media. Now, the sequel Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi 2 has generated huge expectations among fans. Director Tharun Bhascker returning to helm the project has further raised the excitement.
Speaking to the media recently, Tharun Bhascker revealed, “The first half of the film is completely locked. The shooting for the second half is still pending.” He also shared that the team is planning to release the film ENE2 in October or November 2026.
Vishwak Sen and the other main actors from the first part will be returning for the sequel, except for Sushanth Reddy, who will be replaced by Srinath Maganti.
Natural Star Nani is shooting at a fast pace for his ambitious film, The Paradise, in Hyderabad. The makers have begun filming Nani’s powerful introduction song, “Aaya Sher,” on a huge set with hundreds of dancers.
Composed by Anirudh Ravichander, the song is a high-energy mass number that perfectly matches Nani’s raw screen presence and intense dance style. Choreographed by Sudhan Master, the visuals, formations, and movements are designed to give strong goosebumps and make this song one of the film’s major highlights.
Nani and Srikanth Odela’s The Paradise: Massive Scale and Anticipation
Directed by Srikanth Odela, The Paradise is being made with great care and attention to detail. The film also stars Mohan Babu, Raghav Juyal, Kayadu Lohar, and Sampoornesh Babu in key roles. Cinematographer Ch Sai, editor Navin Nooli, and production designer Avinash Kolla are providing strong technical support, enabling the movie to unfold on a grand scale.
The team is planning a pan-world release in eight languages, and expectations are already sky-high. The first single, the introduction song of Nani, is likely to be released on his birthday.
A sudden controversy recently surrounded Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Prabhas’ upcoming film Spirit, after reports claimed that senior actor Prakash Raj had exited the project. These rumours quickly spread across the media and social platforms. However, Prakash Raj himself put an end to the speculation by issuing a strong clarification on social media.
Responding to the false reports, Prakash Raj wrote: “To all the toxic #FakeNews peddlers… On Spirit, the movie—we have not even started shooting my scenes yet, and your WhatsApp factories are busy creating stories. Grow up and have a life.”
Prakash Raj’s voice had earlier received an overwhelming response in the Spirit audio glimpse released on October 24, 2025. His narration played a key role in establishing the hero’s character and setting the intense mood of the film.
Naturally, fans were disappointed when rumours suggested that Prakash Raj was no longer part of the highly anticipated project. However, his direct clarification has now put an end to the controversy and reassured fans about his involvement in Spirit.
There has been a lot of discussion and speculation around Vijay’s Jana Nayagan, and the latest update is that the production house, KVN Productions, has withdrawn its court case and submitted the film to the Revising Committee.
It is expected that the censor certificate will be issued within a week. Once the film clears censorship, it has a strong chance of releasing later this month.
KVN Productions and the Jana Nayagan team faced several hurdles in securing a theatrical release due to a legal dispute with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The film was originally scheduled for a Pongal release on January 9, 2026, but it remains unreleased even in February 2026.
Core Issues and Disputes for Jana Nayagan’s Release
The delay was caused by multiple objections raised by the CBFC and some of its board members. Concerns were expressed over certain scenes depicting the Indian Army and visuals that suggested “foreign powers” instigating religious unrest in India. The board also pointed out that the initial review lacked input from a defense expert.
Additionally, reports claimed that the film contained political references and dialogues delivered by Vijay, which reportedly did not sit well with the Censor Board.
Veteran actor Prakash Raj plays a crucial role in Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Prabhas’s Spirit. Earlier, a voice glimpse featuring powerful dialogues by Prakash Raj and Prabhas was released and created a massive buzz on the internet.
But a surprising rumor now doing the rounds in industry circles suggests that issues have reportedly arisen between director Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Prakash Raj. Because of this, speculation is growing that the makers may move ahead without Prakash Raj, with his character possibly being replaced.
As of now, the team has not made any official announcement regarding this development. This is not the first major change associated with the film. Earlier, the makers had planned Deepika Padukone as the female lead, but due to differences, she was later replaced by Triptii Dimri.
With these rumours gaining traction, it remains to be seen whether Prakash Raj will continue to be part of Spirit. An official clarification from the team is expected soon.
The Ilaiyaraaja biopic was announced in 2024 with Dhanush as the lead, and a lot of pre-production work had already taken place. The film was initially planned to begin shooting in 2025, with Arun Matheswaran as the director and Dhanush in the lead role.
But sadly, things didn’t go as planned, and the project faced a long delay due to multiple reasons, and at one point, rumors even surfaced that the film had been shelved.
Now, the latest update is that the Ilaiyaraaja biopic has not been shelved, but it will no longer happen under Arun Matheswaran’s direction. The team is currently looking for a new director to move the project forward and is planning to start the shoot by April 2027 (summer).
The official announcement for the Ilaiyaraaja biopic, starring Dhanush, was made on March 20, 2024. The project, featuring music composed by Ilaiyaraaja himself, was launched in a star-studded event in Chennai, attended by Kamal Haasan.
