Telugu Cinema News: A Strong Start, a Brilliant Finish!

As 2024 draws to a close, the year will soon become history. Reflecting on the events of this year, month by month, a blend of sweet and bitter memories flash before our eyes. Telugu cinema, like the Ugadi festival, has offered all kinds of flavors—some spectacular, others tragic. From Pan India blockbusters and record-breaking films to smaller movies that surprised with their success, 2024 has been full of experiences.

Controversies and tragedies aside, the industry saw over 300 films, including translations, hit the screens, with more than 250 of them being Telugu films. However, only a few managed to be labeled as hits. Now, inspired by this success and with immense confidence for the future, Telugu cinema (Reel Rewind 2024) is gearing up to enter the new year with high hopes.

Looking back at the 2024 Tollywood diary, here are the calculations of the successes and failures:

The year began with Hanu-Man and ended on a high note with Pushpa 2: The Rule. Several Telugu stars shined on the pan-India stage, meeting the expectations of movie lovers. Although the lack of releases from big stars like Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, and Pawan Kalyan was noticeable, Prabhas, NTR, Allu Arjun, and others brought huge success to the box office, breaking records along the way. This year also saw young stars pushing the boundaries of experimentation, offering diverse stories that kept the audience entertained. The influence of foreign films on Tollywood was unique and aggressive compared to past years.

A Promising Start to the Year

The Telugu film industry kicked off the year with the short film Sarkaru Naukari, released on January 1. However, it was the Sankranthi releases that set the box office alight. Mahesh Babu's Guntur Karam, Teja Sajja's Hanu-Man, Venkatesh's Saindhav, and Nagarjuna's Naa Samiranga faced off in the festival ring. Of these, Hanu-Man stood out as a major success, achieving over Rs. 300 crore globally despite a limited budget. Guntur Karam saw a good initial collection but struggled to maintain momentum. Saindhav, marking Venkatesh's 75th film, received mixed reviews, while Naa Samiranga earned positive feedback and decent collections.

In the final week of January, Dhanush’s translated film Captain Miller and several smaller films hit theaters but didn’t make much of an impact. February saw over 20 films, but only Sundeep Kishan's Uru Peru Bhairava Kona emerged as a hit. Ravi Teja's Eagle generated interest through promotions but received mixed reviews. Smaller films like Suhas's Ambaji Peta Marriage Band and Sundaram Master garnered appreciation for their efforts.

A Dynamic March

March witnessed an exciting lineup, with Vishwak Sen’s Gami, Sree Vishnu’s Om Bheem Bush, and Sidhu Jonnalagadda’s Tillu Square each leaving a mark at the box office. Tillu Square became the first film in Sidhu's career to cross Rs.100 crore in collections. Meanwhile, Varun’s Operation Valentine failed to live up to expectations. Other March releases, including short films, received mixed reactions, with only Conditions Apply getting good reviews.

Struggles and Surprises in the Mid-Year

April saw a series of films like Family Star, Geetanjali Mali Vadhu, Sriranganeethulu, and Parijatha Parvam create some interest, but none achieved notable success. Family Star, in particular, was a disappointment for Vijay Deverakonda’s fans.

In May, despite the release of around 20 films such as Aa Okkati Adakku, Pratinidhi 2, and Krishnamma, none stood out as box office successes. However, Prasanna Vadhanam, Aarambham, and Gam Gam Ganesha were appreciated for their efforts.

June saw over 25 Telugu films, but only Prabhas's Kalki 2898A.D. made a significant impact. This sci-fi movie, with a massive budget of Rs. 600 crore, went on to gross around Rs. 1200 crore globally, setting records. Other small films, like Music Shop Murthy, failed to leave a lasting impression.

A Strong Second Half

Compared to the first half, the second half of the year saw a greater buzz, especially from big stars. However, smaller films outperformed larger ones in terms of success. July had a slow start with films like Love Mouli and Darling failing to impress, although Peka Medalu and Operation Raavan created some curiosity but didn’t meet expectations.

In August, Ravi Teja's Mr. Bachchan, Ram’s Double iSmart, and Nani’s Saripodha Shanivaram were released, but only Nani's film succeeded, crossing the 100 crore milestone. Small films like Committee Kurrollu and Aay were hits, while others like Buddy and Shivam Bhaje were less successful.

Major Hits in the Fall

September brought attention to Nivetha Thomas’s 35 - Chinna Katha Kaadu and Sri Simha’s Mathu Vadalara 2, both of which garnered appreciation. In the last week of September, NTR’s Devara: Part 1 made waves globally, grossing over Rs. 500 crore and becoming the biggest hit of his career.

October saw mixed reactions to films like Shwag, Ma Nanna Super Hero, Vishvam, and Janaka Aithe Ganaka, with Shwag and Janaka Aithe Ganaka receiving positive feedback. Diwali releases like Kiran Abbavaram’s Ka and Dulquer Salmaan’s Lucky Bhaskar exceeded expectations, with Ka earning Rs. 50 crore and Lucky Bhaskar grossing Rs. 110 crore.

A Record-Breaking December

December ended the year on a high with Pushpa 2: The Rule, starring Allu Arjun. Directed by Sukumar, this pan-India film broke records from day one, earning the highest first-day collections and rapidly surpassing milestones of Rs. 500 crore, Rs. 1000 crore, and Rs. 1500 crore in global earnings. By now, the film has crossed Rs. 1700 crore worldwide, and it's yet to be seen how many more records it will set.

Other December films like Fear, Bachala Malli, and Srikakulam Sherlock Holmes failed to make an impact at the box office.

As the year concludes, Telugu cinema reflects on its highs and lows, gearing up for an even more promising future in 2025.