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The Raja Saab Opens Below Saaho and Adipurush

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Prabhas has been the care of address for many box office records in recent years, and the same was expected from his latest film, The Raja Saab, which falls below Saaho and Adipurush in day 1 collections.

Baahubali 2 opened with more than ₹200 crore gross and became an all-time record opener in Indian cinema, a record that was later broken by RRR. For Prabhas, after Baahubali 2, Kalki 2898 AD is his second-biggest opener with over ₹170 crore gross, followed by Salaar at around ₹155 crore gross.

Prabhas Fails to Beat His Own Films’ Records with The Raja Saab Openings

Initial expectations for The Raja Saab were in the range of ₹130–140 crore on Day 1. However, the film has shockingly opened lower collections than Adipurush (₹120 crore+) and Saaho (₹115 crore+).

The main reason for this lower opening is the weak performance in the Hindi market. All the above films recorded strong Hindi openings, whereas The Raja Saab managed only single-digit collections in Hindi, similar to Radhe Shyam. As a result, The Raja Saab’s Day 1 collections are expected to be around ₹100 crore, which is higher than Radhe Shyam but lower than all of Prabhas’s films since Baahubali 2.

The film’s breakeven point is set at more than ₹400 crore gross. To reach this target, The Raja Saab will need much stronger collections on Day 2 and Day 3.

The Raja Saab Box office: 1st Day Collections Estimates

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The Raja Saab missed out on a major opportunity by not having premiere shows in Telangana, which reportedly cost the film nearly ₹10 crore in gross collections on day 1. The film has opened with single-digit numbers in the Hindi market, and even when collections from all other non-Telugu languages are combined, the opening remains in single digits. 

These factors are the main reasons why The Raja Saab could not achieve opening numbers on the scale of Salaar or Kalki. However, the film has still managed a decent opening in the Telugu market.

The Raja Saab registers decent openings at the box office on its first day

From the Telugu states, the opening day gross is expected to be in the range of ₹57–60 crore. Collections from other southern states, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu combined are expected to be around ₹10 crore. North India is likely to contribute approximately ₹6–7 crore, while overseas collections are estimated to open at around ₹27 crore.

With all these figures combined, The Raja Saab’s Day 1 worldwide gross collections are estimated to be around ₹100 crore.

We will have to wait until tomorrow for the final numbers to see whether the film crosses the ₹100 crore mark or falls short by a small margin. At this point, a triple-digit opening seems possible but not guaranteed.

If the Nizam premieres had gone ahead as planned, the film would have had a sure-shot triple-digit opening. Now, all eyes are on the final reported figures.

The Raja Saab Day 2 Advance Bookings

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The much-awaited film The Raja Saab was released in theatres today, but it has disappointed audiences with its content, and looking at the advance bookings, the situation does not look encouraging for the second day either.

The Raja Saab – Day 2 All-India Advance Bookings Gross: ₹14.62 crore

Telugu Version: ₹12.5 crore

  • Andhra Pradesh: ₹4.36 crore
  • Telangana: ₹6.6 crore
  • Karnataka: ₹1.07 crore

Hindi Version: ₹1.97 crore

Kannada, Malayalam, and Tamil Versions: ₹15 lakh

Hyderabad has recorded the highest advance bookings at around ₹5 crore. But in other regions, the Telugu version’s bookings are weak. The Hindi version shows almost no momentum, with Day 2 advances looking as flat as Day 1. The bookings for the other language versions are negligible.

With such underwhelming advance bookings, The Raja Saab will need massive walk-in audiences to post a decent second-day box office performance. Strong collections are crucial for the film, as it needs high overall numbers to reach the breakeven mark.

Jana Nayagan Controversy: Censor Board Under Fire

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The recent controversy surrounding Tamil star Vijay’s final film, Jana Nayagan, has become a major topic of discussion online and among moviegoers. Looking at the recent developments, fans are questioning whether the Censor Board is deliberately targeting Thalapathy Vijay.

A comparison of the CBFC certification timelines for Parasakthi and Jana Nayagan shows a clear contrast, even though both films were scheduled for release around the same time and were reviewed by the same censor board. Parasakthi (2026), which includes politically sensitive elements such as anti-Hindi protest scenes, slogans, and agitations, was asked to make 23 cuts.

The film was examined on January 7, revisions were suggested the same day, it was sent to the Revising Committee on January 8, and it received a U/A certificate on January 9. The entire process was completed within three days, without any court involvement, allowing the film to release on time.

Jana Nayagan Release Troubles: Fans Accuse CBFC

In contrast, Jana Nayagan (2026), which also carries political undertones and accepted the suggested cuts along with a U/A recommendation, faced major delays. The film was submitted on December 18 and examined on December 19. Even after receiving a U/A recommendation on December 22, no certificate was issued between December 23 and January 4. The film was later sent to the Revising Committee on January 5.

On the morning of January 9, a court ordered immediate action, but by the evening, the CBFC appealed and obtained a stay on the order. As a result, Jana Nayagan has been stuck in the certification process for over 20 days, involving legal challenges and court intervention. This sharp contrast has raised questions, as Parasakthi, despite being more politically sensitive, was cleared quickly, while Jana Nayagan continues to face prolonged delays, which has led fans to suspect that there may be more behind the controversy.

Cancel Premieres: Exhibitors Appeal

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The Telugu States’ exhibitors are extremely unhappy with the premiere show trend, as one show is impacting the entire opening day occupancy. Also, due to flat ticket pricing for these shows, a negative impression is being created among audiences.

Most exhibitors request to end premieres and midnight shows, and they want to bring back the benefit shows from 5 AM like before. As the success rate in the industry is very low, movie teams should not screen premieres just for the sake of selling tickets for big prices. They need to think multiple times before screening premieres.

Premiere Shows Causing Damage to Theatrical Footfalls

A few years before, the Telugu films used to have special shows or benefit shows at 1 AM or 5 AM, but in recent years, the trend of screening premieres on the night before a big film’s release day has begun with Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2. 

The exhibitors in Telugu states are worried about the considerable decline in footfalls because of these premiere shows and flat/huge ticket prices. It needs to be seen whether the big producers and distributors find a proper solution to this issue.

Telangana High Court Slams Ticket Price Hikes

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Whenever a Telugu Big Film goes for hiked ticket prices, the entire issue turns into a hot topic. Recently, the Telangana High Court’s response to the ticket price hike for Prabhas’ film, The Raja Saab has led to a major discussion and controversy.

The High Court heard petitions filed against the increase in ticket prices for The Raja Saab. Advocate Vijay Gopal argued that authorities are allowing ticket price hikes in violation of rules whenever big films are released. The court took up the hearing on his petition today.

The Raja Saab Ticket Hikes: Telangana Government Under High Court Scrutiny

During the arguments, Vijay Gopal informed the court that the Home Department Secretary does not have the authority to issue memos permitting ticket price hikes. He stated that only district collectors and, in Hyderabad, the Commissioner of Police have the power to approve ticket price increases and benefit shows. After hearing the arguments, the Telangana High Court expressed strong displeasure over the memo issued for the ticket price hike. The court questioned the government, asking why such memos are being cleverly issued during the release of big films.

The judges remarked, “Recently, the concerned minister himself announced that ticket prices would not be increased. Even then, permission is being given repeatedly for ticket price hikes. This is not the first time we are examining such memos. Despite being told many times, why is there no change in your approach? Twenty years ago, Hyderabad had uniform ticket prices, but now prices are increasing every time. This is causing hardship to the common people. We too have gone to movies and we know the ticket prices.”

After the hearing, the High Court delivered a major setback to the producers of The Raja Saab. It suspended the ticket price hike memo issued by the Telangana government and ordered that tickets be sold at the old rates. The court clarified that, as per GO No. 120, movie ticket prices should not exceed ₹350. The single bench also directed the Telangana government not to issue any more memos for increasing movie ticket prices in the future.

The Raja Saab Needs Urgent Re-Editing

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The latest biggie from the Telugu film industry, The Raja Saab, directed by Maruthi and led by Prabhas, arrived in theaters today, and it did not receive the expected positive response from the fans, and in an introspective view, the film needs an urgent re-editing.

Instead of ignoring audience feedback and critics’ reviews, the team behind The Raja Saab should focus on editing and trimming unnecessary scenes that are affecting the flow of the film.

On paper, the movie has a strong story and includes some emotional and impactful moments. But the biggest issue lies in the lack of continuity and the presence of too many filler episodes, especially in the three heroines’ scenes. Several scenes feel dragged out or end abruptly, which weakens the overall impact.

There are positives too, such as the sentimental scenes involving the grandmother character, the Bomman Irani track, the hospital episode, and parts of the climax. But to make the film more engaging, the team should trim at least 40–50 minutes and release a crisper version before the festival. With 3–4 days left, this move could help family audiences enjoy the film better.

If the makers manage to edit it well, the film could benefit from stronger word of mouth, boosting its festival weekend collections. Additionally, including the much-talked-about Prabhas old man getup scene would enhance the audience’s experience further.

Jana Nayagan Release on Hold: A Detailed Story

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Thalapathy Vijay’s upcoming film Jana Nayagan’s release has caught up with censor issues, with the CBFC objecting to clearance over concerns related to religious sentiments. Fans and the trade are really in shock with this development.

The film was originally scheduled to release today but was postponed earlier due to delays in obtaining the censor certificate. The makers then approached the court, leading to a dramatic turn of events.

In the morning, Justice P.T. Asha of the Madras High Court ruled in favor of the producers, KVN Productions, and directed the CBFC to issue a U/A certificate immediately. The producers argued that the CBFC had already recommended certification with minor cuts after screening the film on December 19, 2025, but later sent it to a revising committee based on a complaint, causing unnecessary delays.

However, the CBFC quickly filed an appeal before the division bench led by the Chief Justice. The case was heard urgently in the afternoon, and the single judge’s order was stayed. This halted the immediate certification and release of the film. The Chief Justice also questioned why the producers had announced a release date before receiving final clearance.

The matter has now been adjourned to January 21, 2026, after the Pongal holidays. This means the film will not release in January, including during Pongal, unless the makers approach the Supreme Court. Reports suggest they may move the Supreme Court on Monday, but this has not been confirmed.

For now, Jana Nayagan’s release remains uncertain, with no new date announced. The legal battle continues, making the situation even more significant as this film is expected to be Vijay’s last movie before he fully enters politics.

Nidhhi Agerwal Keeps Making Terrible Telugu Choices

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Actress Nidhhi Agerwal came up with The Raja Saab, starring Prabhas and directed by Maruthi. The film has opened to unanimous negative or mixed reviews, and fans say that Nidhhi Agerwal continues to make terrible choices in Telugu Films. 

The biggest issue is that many actresses agree to films without clearly understanding their roles or the story of the film. This is one of the main reasons why several actresses fail to build a long and successful career with memorable roles, even after acting in multiple movies.

If we look at Nidhhi Agerwal’s Telugu films, Savyasachi, iSmart Shankar, Mr. Majnu, Hero, Hari Hara Veera Mallu, and now The Raja Saab, only iSmart Shankar became a box office success. Although she has been part of several films and big projects, she has not been given a strong or iconic role that truly showcases her acting abilities. This lack of impactful roles is one of the reasons she currently does not have many upcoming film offers.

Kantara Chapter 1 and Mahavatar Narsimha Enters Oscar Race

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Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter 1, and Hombale Film’s Mahavatar Narsimha enter the Oscar Race as they have made it onto the list of 201 feature films that can be considered for the 98th Academy Awards. India’s official entry for the Oscars this year is Homebound.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) announced the 201 films that qualify for the important Best Picture category, as reported by Variety. The films that are eligible for Best Picture have met all the extra requirements needed beyond just general entry.

The films also had to meet at least two of the four Academy inclusion standards and have a qualifying theatrical engagement in 10 of the top 50 US markets within 45 days of their initial release in 2025.

After fulfilling all the requirements to qualify for the Best Picture category, Mahavatar Narsimha and Kantara Chapter 1, are now potential contenders for the Oscars.

The Oscar contention list is the first eligibility stage of the Academy Awards. At this stage, filmmakers who meet the Academy’s criteria can submit their films for consideration in different categories. The process includes meeting eligibility requirements, paying the necessary fees, and formally submitting the film so it can be reviewed by Academy members for possible nomination.