Prepare for fireworks at the box office again, as Tollywood’s two biggest blockbuster directors — Trivikram Srinivas and Anil Ravipudi — are ready to go head-to-head during the most profitable season of the year: Sankranthi 2026. Trade analysts and industry experts are already referring to this as a reloaded edition of the historic 2020 Sankranthi face-off, when both directors brought out gigantic hits that transformed Telugu cinema’s festive box office scene.
In January 2020, Telugu cinema witnessed a rare and glorious phenomenon. Anil Ravipudi’s Sarileru Neekevvaru, starring Mahesh Babu, and Trivikram’s Ala Vaikunthapurramulo, starring Allu Arjun, hit theaters during the Sankranthi holiday period. Despite the tight competition, both films turned out to be blockbusters, with Ala Vaikunthapurramulo edging slightly ahead in terms of collections and long-run popularity. But the overall outcome was a win-win for the industry, exhibitors, and fans alike.
And now, after a long six years, the situation is repeating itself and the expectation is running extremely high.
2026 Sankranthi: Chiranjeevi, Venkatesh to be at Forefront
According to the recent updates, a high-voltage entertainer being made by the veteran director Anil Ravipudi with a superstar as hero has been officially announced earlier for Sankranthi 2026. The shooting is going on floors this month itself, promising a high-throttle script as well as big commercial value. Anil Ravipudi, known for his comedy-drama expertise and mass connect, is tailoring the script to match Chiranjeevi’s strengths — combining humor, emotion, and action in a way that will resonate with audiences across all age groups.
On the other hand, Trivikram Srinivas, initially supposed to work with Allu Arjun again, has reportedly changed his plans due to scheduling delays. The buzz in the trade is that Trivikram is currently going to join hands with Victory Venkatesh for an intense family drama entertainer, which is being shaped to make an emotional impact on urban as well as rural viewers. The crew is expecting to start filming by June 2025 and aim for a Sankranthi 2026 release.
With two legendary stars — Chiranjeevi and Venkatesh — starring in two eagerly awaited movies under two master directors, this Sankranthi is going to be a celebration of films, fans, and housefulls.
Buyers and Exhibitors Welcome the Clash
What adds strength to this box office battle is how it has been received by distributors and exhibitors. Rather than being apprehensive of the conflict, the buyers are embracing the competition. Both Sarileru Neekevvaru and Ala Vaikunthapurramulo gave a fortune to the buyers in 2020, with there being sufficient space to perform for both during the festive season.
Sankranthi, being probably the most lucrative release period for Telugu movies, has conventionally accommodated two or even three main releases. While colleges and schools are on holiday, families getting together to celebrate, and there is more cinema culture due to the holidays, this season experiences peak visits at theaters in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
With the fan base of both Chiranjeevi and Venkatesh, and the goodwill of Trivikram and Anil Ravipudi, the exhibitors are expecting houseful shows, record openings, and good weekday runs after the first weekend. This has boosted the demand for distribution rights in top areas, and some pre-release business talks are already in progress.
Trivikram vs Anil Ravipudi: A Clash of Styles and Strengths
Although both directors have a track record of producing commercial successes, their methods of storytelling are quite different, making the confrontation even more intriguing.
Trivikram Srinivas is the master of punchy dialogues, emotional intensity, and fashionable direction. His movies tend to mix family drama with philosophical undertones, so they become a success among multiplex viewers as well as family audiences. With Venkatesh, the king of acting out common, earthy characters, Trivikram is likely to create a heartwarming tale with mass appeal.
Conversely, Anil Ravipudi offers energetic storytelling, complete entertainment, and laugh-out-loud scenes, and his films are a success with the B and C center crowds. His working with star actors like Mahesh Babu (Sarileru Neekevvaru) and Balakrishna (Bhagavanth Kesari) proved that he is capable of gaining massy performances along with commercial successes.
This difference in tone and treatment ensures that both movies could appeal to different sections of the audience — enabling them to coexist and thrive without cannibalizing each other’s revenues too much.
Fans Get Ready for a Double Celebration
Sankranthi is festive in itself and then with two megastar movies in pipeline, the audience can look forward to a visual feast. Fan wars on social media, poster competitions, reaction videos for the trailer, and public celebrations at large are to begin months before.
As the release dates creep nearer, anticipate huge promotional events, teaser unveilings, audio releases, and press tours from both parties. The promotion machinery will overdrive itself to make the correct buzz — exactly like how we saw it in 2020, which became one of the most forget-me-not Sankranthi seasons for Tollywood.
Read Also :- Thudarum Breaks Records: Outperforming Its Opening Day Even After 11 Days!
Final Word: The Stage is Set for History to Repeat
Tollywood has a reputation for giving its best during the festival times, and Sankranthi has also been the battleground for film legends to prove themselves. With Trivikram and Anil Ravipudi set to recreate the magic of 2020, Sankranthi 2026 might as well be another tale of success, box office extravaganza, and blockbuster storytelling.
The countdown has started. Fans, set your calendars. The Sankranthi 2026 blockbuster showdown is not only a battle — it’s a celebration of Telugu cinema at its best.
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