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“Better Films Than Raayan” – Dhanush on National Award Row

Surya Sankella
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“Better Films Than Raayan” – Dhanush on National Award Row

Dhanush has addressed the controversy surrounding his National Film Awards wins, offering a candid response that has sparked fresh debate online. Speaking at a recent event, the actor-filmmaker admitted there were better Tamil films than Raayan released last year, specifically mentioning Meiyazhagan and Maharaja. The remarks come after widespread criticism over Raayan winning the National Award for Best Tamil Film and Dhanush receiving a Special Mention for Captain Miller, with many fans arguing that other films were more deserving.

Questions Selective Outrage Over Award Criticism

However, Dhanush questioned why the outrage was so selective. He recalled that several of his critically acclaimed films, including Pudhupettai, Vada Chennai, Karnan, Maryan, Raanjhanaa, Mayakkam Enna, and 3, failed to receive National Awards despite being widely praised. According to Dhanush, while nearly 90% of people are now opposing his latest recognition, very few had spoken up when he believed those earlier performances and films deserved national honours. He stressed that he respects the opinions of those who feel Raayan was not the year’s best film but felt the criticism overlooked the broader context of his career.

Raayan, which grossed 150 crores worldwide, marked Dhanush’s 50th film as an actor. The commercial success, however, did not shield the National Award win from controversy.

Calls for Celebration Amid Divided Opinions

The actor urged fans to celebrate the achievement rather than dismiss it, saying some opportunities simply come at unexpected times regardless of past disappointments. Calling the awards a proud moment for Tamil cinema, Dhanush said the recognition was meaningful because it marked another milestone in his journey as both an actor and a director. His comments have divided opinion on social media, with some praising his honesty and others arguing that previous award snubs do not justify the jury’s latest decision.

Varanasi Nizam Rights Quoted at ₹150 Crore: Rajamouli Film Sets New Benchmark

Surya Sankella
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Varanasi Nizam Rights Quoted at ₹150 Crore: Rajamouli Film Sets New Benchmark

SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu, is making trade headlines with reports of a ₹150 crore asking price for Nizam theatrical rights — a figure that would shatter all previous regional distribution records.

Record-Breaking Valuation

According to the latest trade reports, the makers have quoted a staggering ₹150 crore for the film’s Nizam theatrical rights. While the producers are yet to officially confirm the valuation, the reported asking price underlines the enormous expectations surrounding one of Indian cinema’s most anticipated films. The Varanasi overseas rights were earlier reported at ₹160 crore, signaling massive confidence across all territories.

The reported deal has sparked widespread discussion in trade circles because of the benchmark it sets. RRR currently holds the record for the highest distributor share in the Nizam region, collecting around ₹112 crore share during its theatrical run. If Varanasi is acquired for ₹150 crore, the film would need to significantly outperform RRR in the territory to ensure distributors recover their investment.

FilmNizam RecordType
RRR₹112 Cr ShareActual Collection
Varanasi₹150 Cr (Reported)Asking Price

Trade estimates suggest the Mahesh Babu-starrer may have to gross well over ₹180–200 crore in Nizam alone, depending on the final revenue-sharing structure and distribution terms. Distributors have been rushing in with record-breaking offers since the project was announced, reflecting the trade’s confidence in the Rajamouli-Mahesh Babu combination.

Release Details

Directed by SS Rajamouli, Varanasi stars Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Prithviraj Sukumaran in key roles and is scheduled to hit theatres on April 7, 2027. Although the reported ₹150 crore valuation remains unconfirmed, the buzz reflects the extraordinary confidence the trade has in Rajamouli’s ability to deliver another historic box-office blockbuster after the global success of RRR.

Sudheer Babu Plans Directorial Debut With Self-Written Film

Surya Sankella
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Sudheer Babu Plans Directorial Debut With Self-Written Film

Sudheer Babu is reportedly set to make his directorial debut, becoming the latest Telugu actor to take creative control behind the camera. According to industry buzz, the actor is planning to direct a film based on his own story, with plans to also play the lead role. This passion project would see him handle writing, direction, and acting, though an official announcement is still awaited.

Sudheer Babu’s Directorial Plans

The reported directorial venture comes at an interesting time in Sudheer Babu’s career. The actor has been actively expanding his creative horizons, recently stepping into the OTT space with Gully, a crime drama web series for Amazon Prime Video. While details about his directorial debut remain under wraps, the move has generated curiosity among fans. The title, production house, supporting cast, and shooting schedule are yet to be revealed.

Actor-Directors: A Growing Trend in Tollywood

Sudheer Babu would be joining a growing list of young Tollywood stars choosing to take greater creative control over their projects. Vishwak Sen has already established himself as an actor-director with films like Falaknuma Das and Das Ka Dhamki. Ram Pothineni is currently making his directorial debut with an upcoming psychological action thriller. Kiran Abbavaram has also revealed plans to helm one of his future films, highlighting this emerging trend of actors stepping behind the camera.

If the reports turn out to be true, Sudheer Babu will expand his creative repertoire by taking on the dual responsibilities of director and lead actor, marking a significant evolution in his career.

Jana Nayagan First Weekend: ₹215 Cr Worldwide Gross

Aditya
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Jana Nayagan First Weekend: ₹215 Cr Worldwide Gross

Thalapathy Vijay’s farewell film Jana Nayagan registered a strong first weekend at the box office following its theatrical release on July 23rd. The political action thriller showed impressive growth over the extended four-day opening weekend, crossing the ₹200 Cr gross milestone.

First Weekend Box Office Collections

The Jana Nayagan collections witnessed consistent growth, with Day 4 emerging as the biggest day of the opening weekend. The film’s all-India tracked gross reached ₹131.81 Cr for the four-day period, while the actual gross is estimated at around ₹144 Cr.

Territory4-Day Gross (Est.)
All-India Tracked₹131.81 Cr
All-India Actual₹144 Cr (approx)
Overseas₹71 Cr (approx)
Worldwide Total₹215 Cr (approx)

Including overseas markets, the worldwide first weekend gross of Jana Nayagan stands at approximately ₹215 Cr, marking a solid start for the H Vinoth directorial.

Weekday Challenge and Break-Even Target

While the opening weekend numbers are encouraging, the real test lies ahead. The film received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, raising questions about its weekday sustenance. The key challenge now is whether Jana Nayagan can maintain momentum during weekdays to enter the prestigious ₹300 Cr club.

With a reported break-even target of ₹550 Cr worldwide gross, the film needs exceptional hold in the coming weeks to achieve commercial success. The mixed word-of-mouth could impact the crucial Monday-to-Thursday collections.

About Jana Nayagan

Directed by H Vinoth, Jana Nayagan is a political action thriller based on the 2023 Telugu blockbuster Bhagavanth Kesari, originally featuring Nandamuri Balakrishna and directed by Anil Ravipudi. The Tamil adaptation features Mamitha Baiju, Bobby Deol, and Pooja Hegde in pivotal roles, with music composed by Anirudh Ravichander.

As this marks Thalapathy Vijay’s final film before his political plunge, the emotional connect with fans provided strong initial footfalls. However, commercial viability will depend on how well the film holds in its second week against mixed reviews.

Gatta Kusthi 2 OTT on Netflix from July 31 in 5 Languages

Aditya
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Gatta Kusthi 2 OTT on Netflix from July 31 in 5 Languages

Gatta Kusthi 2 OTT release date is officially here. Gatta Kusthi 2, the latest blockbuster from Tamil Cinema starring Vishnu Vishal and Aishwarya Lekshmi, is all set to arrive on Netflix from July 31, 2026.

The comedy-sports drama, which hit theatres on July 3, 2026, has emerged as a major success at the Tamil box office. The film is confirmed to stream on Netflix in five languages including Tamil (original), Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi.

Gatta Kusthi 2 OTT Streaming Details

The film will start streaming on Netflix from July 31, 2026. Here are the complete OTT release details:

PlatformNetflix
Release DateJuly 31, 2026
Languages AvailableTamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi
Original LanguageTamil

Box Office Performance

Gatta Kusthi 2 has performed exceptionally well at the Tamil box office, becoming Vishnu Vishal‘s career-biggest grosser with a worldwide collection of over ₹50 crore. The film’s strong performance in Tamil Nadu has made it one of the notable successes of 2026.

However, the makers opted for a direct OTT release strategy for the Telugu and other language markets instead of a theatrical release. This decision, while ensuring wider reach through Netflix, missed the opportunity to capitalize on theatrical revenues in Telugu states where the sports-comedy genre has a proven audience.

Telugu audiences who missed the theatrical experience will now be able to watch Gatta Kusthi 2 on Netflix from July 31. The first part of the franchise had received a positive response in the digital space, building anticipation for the sequel across South Indian markets.

Cast and Crew

Gatta Kusthi 2 is directed by Chella Ayyavu and jointly produced by Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh and Vishnu Vishal under their respective banners. The film features Vishnu Vishal and Aishwarya Lekshmi in the lead roles, delivering a comedy-sports narrative that has resonated with Tamil audiences.

Jana Nayagan Day 3: ₹160 Cr Worldwide, Eyes ₹200 Cr Weekend

Aditya
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Jana Nayagan Day 3: ₹160 Cr Worldwide, Eyes ₹200 Cr Weekend

Vijay’s final film Jana Nayagan delivered a strong performance on Day 3 at the box office, registering a nearly 40% jump over Day 2 collections despite receiving mixed reviews from critics.

Day 3 Box Office Collections

The film maintained momentum with no drop after its opening day. Jana Nayagan showed remarkable stability for a film that opened to divided word-of-mouth.

Collection TypeAmount
3-Day Tracked Gross (India)₹97 Cr
3-Day Actual Estimate (India)₹108 Cr
Worldwide 3-Day Gross₹160+ Cr

The tracked gross figures represent confirmed collections, while actuals include estimates from territories with delayed reporting.

Weekend Target and Day 4 Outlook

Jana Nayagan is now positioned for a ₹200 crore range opening weekend worldwide. With the film facing a ₹550 crore break-even target, the opening weekend will be crucial for its theatrical run.

Day 4 advance bookings are tracking stronger than Day 3, indicating another solid day ahead. The film benefits from minimal competition and the star power of Thalapathy Vijay in his final theatrical release.

Chennai Love Story Day 2 Box Office Shows Strong Jump

Aditya
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Chennai Love Story Day 2 Box Office Shows Strong Jump

Kiran Abbavaram and Sri Gouri Priya‘s romantic drama Chennai Love Story has shown a superb jump at the box office on its Day 2, registering higher collections than the opening day and setting up an impressive first weekend.

Day 2 Box Office Collections

The film’s 2-day box office performance across all markets has been strong:

Collection TypeAmount
All-India Tracked Gross (2 Days)₹10.33 Cr
All-India Actuals (2 Days)₹12 Cr (approx.)
Worldwide Gross (2 Days)₹16 Cr

Including overseas collections, the worldwide 2-day gross stands at around ₹16 crore, marking a solid start for the romantic drama.

After a promising first day, Chennai Love Story held extraordinarily well on Day 2, with the collections reported to be higher than Day 1 — a positive sign of strong word-of-mouth driving repeat viewership and fresh footfalls.

Record Advance Bookings for Day 3

Today’s domestic advance bookings are the highest for the film so far, setting it up for its best day at the box office. The strong pre-sales indicate sustained momentum as the film heads into its crucial first weekend.

What’s Working for the Film

The performances of Kiran Abbavaram and Sri Gouri Priya, the emotional core of the narrative, and Mani Sharma‘s music have struck a chord with audiences, who are storming towards theatres to watch this intense romantic drama.

The film follows Nivi (Sri Gouri Priya), a young woman carrying scars from a past incident, who meets Steven Sankar (Kiran Abbavaram), an orphan chasing his dream. Their journey forms the heart of this emotional love story.

About the Film

Directed by Ravi Namburii, Chennai Love Story released in theatres on July 24, 2026.

Vishwanath And Sons: Suriya’s Film Sets ₹45 Cr TN Record

Surya Sankella
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Vishwanath And Sons: Suriya’s Film Sets ₹45 Cr TN Record

Even before its theatrical release, Suriya’s Vishwanath And Sons is making headlines for its impressive pre-release business. The family drama directed by Venky Atluri and co-starring Mamitha Baiju, Radhika Sarathkumar, and Raveena Tandon has reportedly secured one of the biggest distribution deals of Suriya’s career in Tamil Nadu.

Record-Breaking Tamil Nadu Deal

According to the latest trade reports, the film’s Tamil Nadu theatrical rights have been sold for a record ₹45 crore (Minimum Guarantee), making it one of the biggest deals of Suriya’s career in the state. While the makers are yet to officially confirm the figure, the reported deal reflects the strong confidence distributors have in the Venky Atluri directorial ahead of its August 14 release. The aggressive bidding for Vishwanath And Sons theatrical rights mirrors the recent trend of high-value pre-release deals in South Indian cinema, similar to Ram Charan’s Peddi securing ₹40-42 crore for overseas rights.

Karuppu’s Success Boosts Market Value

Trade circles believe the phenomenal success of Karuppu) has played a major role in boosting Vishwanath And Sons’ market value. The RJ Balaji-directed blockbuster emerged as the highest-grossing film of Suriya’s career, crossing ₹300 crore worldwide (with a lifetime gross of ₹305-340 crore) and significantly strengthening the actor’s box-office pull. Riding on that momentum, Vishwanath And Sons_ has reportedly attracted aggressive bids from distributors even before its trailer launch and full-fledged promotional campaign.

Pre-Release Business and Breakeven Targets

The film has already recovered a significant portion of its budget through non-theatrical revenue streams, including OTT rights (₹85 crore to Netflix), music rights (₹12+ crore), and overseas distribution rights (₹15+ crore).

Revenue StreamAmount (₹ Cr)
Tamil Nadu Theatrical Rights45 (reported)
OTT Rights (Netflix)85
Music Rights12+
Overseas Distribution15+
Total Pre-Release Business157+

Reports suggest that Vishwanath And Sons will need to collect around ₹110 crore worldwide to recover its reported overall distribution costs, while the Tamil Nadu theatrical rights alone are expected to require a gross of around ₹100 crore in the state for distributors to comfortably break even after exhibitor shares and expenses. Although these figures remain trade estimates, the film has already emerged as one of the most anticipated Tamil releases of the year, with expectations soaring ahead of its Independence Day weekend release.

Produced by Suryadevara Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya under Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas, Vishwanath And Sons features music by GV Prakash Kumar and cinematography by Nimish Ravi.

Nara Rohith First Look From Aadarsha Kutumbam Released

Surya Sankella
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Nara Rohith First Look From Aadarsha Kutumbam Released

The makers of Trivikram Srinivas’ Aadarsha Kutumbam House No. 47 (AK47) have unveiled a striking new poster featuring Nara Rohith on the actor’s birthday. The poster presents Rohith in an intense avatar, standing inside what appears to be a police office with the Telangana State Police emblem in the background, while sporting a rugged look with a cigarette in his mouth. The birthday special glimpse has instantly caught the attention of fans, hinting at a powerful character in the much-awaited family entertainer.

Venkatesh and Trivikram’s First Collaboration

Aadarsha Kutumbam House No. 47 marks the first collaboration between Venkatesh and director Trivikram Srinivas. Touted as a wholesome family entertainer, the film stars Venkatesh in the lead alongside Srinidhi Shetty, with Nara Rohith playing a pivotal role.

The film boasts a strong technical crew, including S. Thaman as the music composer, Ravi K. Chandran as the cinematographer, Sreekar Prasad as the editor and Kevin Kumar handling the action choreography. It is produced by S. Radha Krishna (Chinababu) under the Haarika & Hassine Creations banner.

October 2 Release Date Set

The film is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on October 2, 2026, and has already generated considerable buzz as one of Telugu cinema’s most anticipated releases this year. While the makers continue to keep the storyline under wraps, the latest birthday poster suggests that Nara Rohith’s character will have a significant role in the narrative.

With Trivikram’s trademark family drama sensibilities and a powerhouse cast, Aadarsha Kutumbam is positioned as a major festive release. The film’s promotional campaign is expected to intensify in the coming months as the October release approaches.

Pooja Hegde Box Office: Can She End the Dry Spell?

Surya Sankella
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Pooja Hegde Box Office: Can She End the Dry Spell?

Pooja Hegde’s recent box office track record has become a topic of industry discussion, with her last few theatrical releases struggling to make a strong commercial impact. The actress, who remains one of the most sought-after stars in Indian cinema, will be hoping her latest release Jana Nayagan and upcoming projects can reverse the trend.

Recent Theatrical Setbacks

Before Jana Nayagan, which released on July 23, 2026, Pooja Hegde faced a series of underwhelming theatrical outings. Films such as Retro, Deva, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, Cirkus, and Acharya all failed to deliver the expected box office results, raising questions about her recent project choices.

The actress starred opposite Shahid Kapoor in the Hindi action thriller Deva (2025) and appeared alongside Suriya in Retro (2025). Despite high-profile collaborations, these releases couldn’t replicate the commercial success of her earlier blockbusters.

The Last Major Success

Pooja Hegde’s last significant theatrical success came with Beast (2022), the Vijay-starrer directed by Nelson Dilipkumar. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics and audiences, the action entertainer performed well commercially, particularly in Tamil Nadu and overseas markets, according to Wikipedia).

Prior to that, she enjoyed one of the biggest successes of her career with Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020), which emerged as a blockbuster and remains one of Telugu cinema’s highest-grossing films.

Jana Nayagan and the Road Ahead

Jana Nayagan, directed by H. Vinoth, stars Thalapathy Vijay in what’s being promoted as his final film before entering politics full-time. Pooja Hegde plays the female lead alongside Bobby Deol, Mamitha Baiju, and Prakash Raj. The film’s release was delayed for months due to CBFC certification issues before finally hitting screens.

While the film faced challenges including a piracy leak that prompted Pooja Hegde to issue a public statement, it has opened in theaters and early reception will be closely watched by industry observers.

Upcoming Projects Offer Hope

Looking ahead, Pooja Hegde has several high-profile projects in her lineup that could help her regain box office momentum. She’s set to star in Kanchana 4, the horror-comedy sequel directed by Raghava Lawrence, and has romantic film Sri Sri opposite Dulquer Salmaan on her slate.

With multiple releases lined up across different industries and genres, the actress will be hoping these projects mark a return to her earlier box office form. While commercial success depends on several factors beyond an actor’s performance, Pooja Hegde’s upcoming lineup offers multiple opportunities to break the recent pattern and deliver a much-needed theatrical hit.

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