Sankranthi Films 2025: Venkatesh’s Blockbuster Triumphs, Game Changer Falters

As the Sankranthi festivities conclude, the film industry in the Telugu states has seen both triumphs and setbacks. While the celebrations in cinemas wind down, the impact of the season's releases is still being felt. Among the films released during the festive period, Venkatesh’s Sankranthiki Vasthunnam has emerged as the standout hit.

Directed by Anil Ravipudi, Sankranthiki Vasthunnam was the final release of the Pongal season but managed to secure the highest box office earnings, amassing over Rs 131 crore within its first four days. The family-oriented entertainer quickly became a crowd favorite, with widespread acclaim for its engaging content. The film not only surpassed the breakeven point across all regions but is also poised to generate substantial profits for its stakeholders over the coming weekend.

In second place, Daaku Maharaaj, starring Nandamuri Balakrishna and helmed by Bobby Kolli, also made a notable impact, grossing over Rs 100 crore. Despite facing tough competition, the film showed strong performance, recouping 82 per cent of its production costs within the first six days of its release. It is expected to break even by the end of this weekend, ensuring a profitable run for the film’s investors.

On the other hand, the much-anticipated Game Changer failed to meet expectations, marking a significant disappointment in the festive film lineup. With a gross collection of Rs 170 crore and a share of Rs 88 crore, the film fell far short of its target, which required a share of over Rs 220 crore to break even. This shortfall has resulted in a loss of over Rs 130 crore for those involved in the project. The film’s underperformance has been a blow to producer Dil Raju, though he found some relief in the success of Sankranthiki Vasthunnam, which helped mitigate the financial damage from Game Changer. Both films were produced by Dil Raju.