By Sankranti is the biggest festival season for Telugu cinema, and Sankranti 2026 has once again proved why this period is so important for the box office. Every year, regardless of movie talk or reviews, Sankranti releases get huge openings because families prefer going to theatres during the festival. This year, the competition was intense, with five Telugu films releasing almost at the same time. Most of them received good audience response, and some created record-breaking collections.
According to official posters released by the makers, movies like The Raja Saab, Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, and Anaganaga Oka Raju have delivered impressive box office numbers. Other films such as Nari Nari Naduma Murari and Bharta Mahashayulaku Vignapti also got decent openings, though their official collection posters are yet to be released.
Let us take a detailed look at how Sankranti 2026 movies performed at the box office.
The Raja Saab – Prabhas’ Massive Pan-India Opening
Rebel Star Prabhas starred in the horror fantasy film The Raja Saab, directed by Maruthi. The movie featured Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, and Riddhi Kumar as female leads, with Sanjay Dutt playing a key role. Released on January 14, the film hit theatres in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam.
Even though the movie received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, the craze around Prabhas ensured huge openings worldwide. The pan-India appeal helped the movie cross the ₹200 crore mark within just four days. According to the official first-week poster released by the makers, The Raja Saab collected more than ₹238 crore gross worldwide in its first week.
The makers described the film as a “king-size blockbuster” and thanked fans for the massive support across all centres. Despite mixed talk, the film continued to run strong during the festive season, proving Prabhas’ box office power once again.
Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu – Family Blockbuster for Sankranti
Megastar Chiranjeevi teamed up with hit director Anil Ravipudi for the family entertainer Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu. The movie starred Nayanthara as the female lead, with Venkatesh in an important supporting role. The film was produced by Shine Screens and Gold Box Entertainments.
Released worldwide on January 12 as a Sankranti special, the movie turned into a mega blockbuster within days. Families loved the film’s clean comedy, emotions, and festive vibe. According to official updates, the film crossed ₹150 crore gross in just three days. By the fourth day, it had collected over ₹190 crore worldwide.
The makers confirmed that the film is racing toward break-even in all areas, with additional shows being added due to heavy demand. Packed theatres and houseful boards during Sankranti clearly showed the film’s strong family appeal.
Anaganaga Oka Raju – Naveen Polishetty’s Festival Winner
Star entertainer Naveen Polishetty scored another success with Anaganaga Oka Raju, directed by debutant Mari. Meenakshi Chaudhary played the female lead. The film was produced by Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas.
Released on January 14, the film received a positive response from the very first show. Audiences enjoyed Naveen Polishetty’s performance, comedy timing, and the entertaining storyline. According to official figures, the movie collected over ₹22 crore on its first day itself.
Within two days, Anaganaga Oka Raju earned around ₹41.2 crore gross worldwide. The makers proudly stated that the entire festival atmosphere belonged to “Raju Garu.” The film emerged as one of the biggest surprise winners of Sankranti 2026.
Other Sankranti Releases – Decent Openings, Awaiting Official Numbers
Apart from these three major films, Sharwanand’s Nari Nari Naduma Murari and Ravi Teja’s Bharta Mahashayulaku Vignapti also released during Sankranti. Both films managed to get decent openings, thanks to the festive season and star presence.
However, the makers of these two films have not yet released official box office collection posters. Trade sources suggest average to good performance, but clear figures are still awaited.
Why Sankranti Remains the King of Telugu Box Office
Sankranti continues to be the most powerful season for Telugu films. Even movies with mixed talk manage to earn big due to family audiences, holiday advantage, and festival celebrations. This year proved the same once again. With multiple big stars releasing films together, theatres witnessed heavy footfalls across Telugu states and overseas markets.
From pan-India spectacles to clean family entertainers and youth-driven comedies, Sankranti 2026 offered something for everyone. The box office numbers clearly show that the festival season remains unbeatable for Tollywood.
Final Conclusion
Sankranti 2026 turned out to be a box office bonanza for Telugu cinema.
- The Raja Saab dominated with pan-India collections.
- Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu ruled as a family blockbuster.
- Anaganaga Oka Raju surprised everyone with strong festive earnings.
With more official updates expected for other films, one thing is clear—Sankranti 2026 was a massive success at the Telugu box office, proving once again that festival releases are a goldmine for filmmakers.
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