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Akhanda 2 OTT Response: Balakrishna – Boyapati Film Records Average Viewership on Netflix

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Akhanda 2, the much-anticipated sequel starring Nandamuri Balakrishna and directed by Boyapati Srinu, failed to live up to expectations at the box office and did not get the desired response. This massive combination, which earlier delivered a hat-trick of blockbusters, could not recreate the same magic this time

The OTT rights were sold for a sensational price to Netflix, and the response for Akhanda 2 on OTT is not at the expected levels. It started streaming on Netflix on January 9 in multiple languages. Between January 9 and January 11, the film recorded 2 million views and trended in the Top 10 across 7 countries. In the following week, from January 12 to January 18, it added 1.9 million views and trended in the Top 10 in 12 countries.

Akhanda 2: Thaandavam’s official trailer on Netflix

The response is being seen as average when compared to the film’s pan-language release and the high price paid for its streaming rights. The viewership is neither poor nor exceptional.

Jana Nayagan Finances in Deep Trouble

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Thalapathy Vijay’s highly anticipated film, Jana Nayagan, has landed in serious financial trouble even before its release. Made on a massive budget of over ₹350 crores, the film is now facing uncertainty due to unexpected delays and legal issues.

Massive Budget Due to Vijay’s Record Remuneration:

Interestingly, Jana Nayagan is not a heavy VFX film or a high-visual spectacle. The primary reason behind its huge budget is Vijay’s record-breaking remuneration of more than ₹200 crores. This alone pushed the production cost to extraordinary levels.

However, Vijay’s brand value also worked in the film’s favor. The movie reportedly generated business worth ₹400 crores before its release: Both theatrical and non-theatrical rights have been sold for ₹200 crores each. All deals were finalized based on the January 9th release date, which was announced well in advance.

Censor Issues Force Postponement:

Unfortunately, due to censorship problems, the makers had to postpone the film from its planned Pongal festival release. The issue is currently in court, and the final verdict is still pending.

As of now, there is no clarity on the new release date. With elections approaching, some trade circles believe that the film may even get postponed to the second half of the year.

Distributors Demand Refunds:

The sudden delay has badly affected the film’s finances. Several distributors and exhibitors who paid advances are now reportedly asking for refunds from the producers, as there is no confirmed release date. This unexpected situation has created huge financial pressure on the production house of Jana Nayagan.

OTT Deal With Prime Video in Trouble

Adding to the problem, Prime Video reportedly acquired the OTT rights for ₹120 crores, again considering the January 9th release date.

Now, with no clarity on release, renegotiations are said to be happening from the OTT side as well. This could further impact the overall recovery of the film.

Vijay’s Support to Producers:

Despite the crisis, Vijay is expected to stand strong with the producers during this tough phase. One advantage for the makers is that the actual production cost is not very high if Vijay’s remuneration is excluded.

This gives room for adjustments and mutual understanding between Vijay and the producers. Whenever Jana Nayagan is finally released, most issues are expected to be sorted out. But there is no doubt that the producers and Vijay himself
will face significant financial losses due to repeated postponements and to clear legal hurdles.

Sankranthiki Vasthunam Arrives on Another OTT Platform

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The blockbuster Sankranthiki Vasthunam had its OTT and satellite rights acquired by the Zee Group, and the film delivered very strong viewership numbers after its television and OTT premiere. Now, the film is available for streaming on another major OTT platform, Amazon Prime Video.

Z5 Gathered Huge Views/Profits because of Sankranthiki Vasthunam

Interestingly, when Sankranthiki Vasthunam’s OTT rights were initially sold, Amazon Prime Video and Netflix reportedly did not show interest in acquiring the film. But the film has now arrived on Prime Video. This follows a growing trend in the OTT space, where popular films begin streaming on a second platform after a certain period.

Sankranthiki Vasthunam is a Telugu film released in 2025. It was presented by Dil Raju and produced by Shirish under the Sri Venkateswara Creations banner. The film was directed by Anil Ravipudi and stars Venkatesh, Meenakshi Chaudhary, and Aishwarya Rajesh in the lead roles.

Sankranthi Producers Exaggerating Box Office Numbers

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In recent times, it has become a common trend in the film industry for producers to exaggerate box office numbers for publicity, and the Sankranthi releases’ producers have also done the same. Many film teams are announcing inflated collection figures to create hype, even when the actual numbers tell a different story.

Looking at the recent Sankranthi releases, the producers of The Raja Saab announced a gross collection of ₹238 crore within just seven days. But in reality, the film is unlikely to reach that figure even by the end of its full theatrical run.

Similarly, the team behind Anaganaga Oka Raju claimed that the film crossed ₹100 crore gross in just five days. It remains to be seen whether the movie can actually achieve this figure during its entire run.

The same situation applies to Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, whose makers have already announced a ₹300 crore-plus gross. While the film is performing well, only time will tell if it can truly reach that number by the end of its theatrical run.

Overall, many movie teams appear to be inflating box office figures by 25 to 30 percent, and sometimes even more. This growing practice has raised questions about the credibility of officially announced collection numbers.

Trivikram to Work with NTR, Not Allu Arjun

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Director Trivikram has written a big-budget pan-India film based on Lord Karthikeya Swamy, titled God of War. The project was initially planned with Allu Arjun in the lead role. However, at the last moment, Allu Arjun chose to move ahead with an Atlee project, which put Trivikram’s film on hold. Later, the project shifted to NTR and was officially announced.

Recently, there were rumors in industry circles that Allu Arjun had once again approached Trivikram and expressed interest in doing God of War, creating confusion around the project. But now, it appears that things are clear.

Trivikram’s Big Project Likely to Feature NTR?

The latest indication is that Trivikram will proceed with God of War only with NTR. During the success meet of Anaganaga Oka Raju, producer Naga Vamsi mentioned that NTR fans supported the film in a big way and hinted that a special announcement or “big gift” for the fans would be revealed soon. This statement further strengthened the belief that the NTR–Trivikram project is moving forward as planned.

At the same time, Allu Arjun has officially announced a new film with director Lokesh Kanagaraj, making it clear that he is fully committed to that project.

As of now, the plan is for Trivikram to complete his film with Venkatesh first. After that, he will fully focus on the pre-production work of God of War. NTR is expected to join the sets once he completes his film with Prashanth Neel.

Fake Buzz on Salaar 2 Goes Viral

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For the past few days, some fake rumors have been spreading online, mainly from a section of Prabhas fans, regarding the shooting of Salaar 2. Some social media users believed these rumors, but they are completely false.

A fake buzz was created claiming that director Prashant Neel is working on Salaar 2 simultaneously along with the NTR–Neel project. According to these viral claims, Prashant Neel had supposedly assigned a part of his team to Salaar 2 and was planning to release a teaser very soon.

No truth to Salaar 2 shooting rumors

However, none of these claims are true. At present, there is no update or work happening on Salaar 2. Director Prashant Neel and his entire team are fully focused on the NTR film Dragon, which is currently in the shooting stage. The film is expected to aim for an early 2027 release.

Released in 2023, Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire follows Deva (Prabhas) and Vardharaja Mannar (Prithviraj Sukumaran), childhood best friends. They live in the war-torn city of Khansaar, and their bond is tested when Vardha tries to seize his father’s throne.

Chiranjeevi Pens Emotional Note

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Megastar Chiranjeevi has shared a heartfelt message following the grand success of his latest film, Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu. In an emotional letter, the legendary actor thanked audiences and fans for the immense love and support the film has received.

Chiranjeevi said the overwhelming response has deeply moved him and once again proved that the audience is his greatest strength. He humbly stated that whatever success and recognition he enjoys today are entirely because of the people who have stood by him throughout his journey.

Reflecting on his career, the Megastar said such moments remind him why he chose cinema and motivate him to keep entertaining audiences with renewed passion. He also expressed gratitude to the entire team of Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu for their dedication and hard work.

In the letter, Chiranjeevi added that the tag “Hit Machine” truly belongs to the audience, who consistently turn his films into blockbusters with their support. Concluding the note, he thanked everyone once again and promised to continue delivering meaningful and entertaining cinema in the future.

Sankranthi Box Office Message: Do What You Do Best

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Sankranthi 2026 witnessed two major film releases: Prabhas and Maruthi’s The Raja Saab, a horror fantasy comedy, and Chiranjeevi and Anil Ravipudi’s family entertainer Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu. The box office results of these two films have sent a clear message to filmmakers about what it takes to make a successful movie.

This Sankranthi clearly indicates the success formula for the Telugu film industry

These Sankranthi outcomes show that filmmakers should stay true to their strengths and deliver stories with clarity and confidence. Trying to follow trends or getting influenced by other films can often lead to confusion. It is important to avoid experimenting with genres or subjects that one is not fully comfortable with or prepared to handle.

Anil Ravipudi Sticks to His Strengths – Maruthi Tries Too Hard

Anil Ravipudi stuck to what he does best and delivered a clean, family-friendly entertainer with Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, which worked well with audiences. On the other hand, director Maruthi seems to have been influenced by the scale and style of Prabhas’s recent films. The Raja Saab moved away from a simple horror-comedy and turned into a big-budget horror fantasy, which created confusion in the storytelling. 

Unlike Mana Shankara Prasad Garu, the constant changes in the script and tone of The Raja Saab have ultimately resulted in the film failing to connect with the audience.

Jana Nayagan Censor Struggles Continue: Verdict Still Awaited

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Thalapathy Vijay’s Jana Nayagan, directed by H Vinoth, was planned as his final film before entering politics, and it still awaits a final verdict about its censor certificate, with its theatrical release remaining uncertain.

Just days before the release date, January 9, 2026, the CBFC sent the film to a revising committee, citing objections over content. This move stalled the release and triggered a long legal battle.

On January 9, Justice PT Asha of the Madras High Court ordered the CBFC to issue a U/A 16+ certificate immediately, giving hope to the makers. But the relief was short-lived. The CBFC appealed, and a division bench suspended the single judge’s ruling, pushing the case further. The producers then approached the Supreme Court, but the petition was declined, with directions for the Madras High Court to resolve the matter by January 20.

Latest Court Verdict on Jana Nayagan’s Censor Process

On January 20, 2026, the case was heard extensively by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan. Both sides presented their arguments in a marathon session lasting several hours. But the bench chose to reserve its orders, meaning no immediate verdict was delivered. 

The judges did not specify a date for the final judgment, but it is expected within the next week. This decision prolongs the uncertainty around the film’s release, leaving fans and the makers waiting anxiously for clarity.

The Current Status of Jana Nayagan

As of now, Jana Nayagan’s release remains on hold, as the final verdict from the Madras High Court will decide whether the film can move forward, making this case one of the most closely watched developments in Tamil cinema.

Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu Crosses 150 Cr Share First Ever for Chiranjeevi

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Chiranjeevi and director Anil Ravipudi’s film Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu released in theatres this Sankranthi and has performed exceptionally well at the box office. The film is set to cross the ₹150 crore share, which is a first-ever milestone for Chiranjeevi.

After a strong first week, the movie has continued its successful run. Today, Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu is expected to officially enter the ₹150 crore share club worldwide, including GST collections from the Andhra Pradesh and Nizam regions.

This marks Chiranjeevi’s first ₹150 crore share film and director Anil Ravipudi’s second, after his 2025 blockbuster Sankranthiki Vasthunam.

Telugu Films That Have Crossed ₹150 Crore Share:

  1. Baahubali
  2. Baahubali 2
  3. Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo
  4. RRR
  5. Salaar
  6. Kalki 2898 AD
  7. Devara
  8. Pushpa 2
  9. Sankranthiki Vasthunam
  10. OG
  11. Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu