The Sankranthi festival is truly something special for fans of Telugu movies. So far, many blockbuster films of the past were released during these festive seasons of Sankranthi; they have mesmerized audiences and broke box office records. As yet another successful year of Sankranthi comes to an end with Sankranthiki Vasthunnam on top, this is a retrospective look at the victorious box office blockbusters from Sankranthi 2000 to 2025.
Sankranthiki Vasthunnam, the family entertainer by Venkatesh and Anil Ravipudi, was the undisputed winner this year. Its heartwarming storyline, coupled with stellar performances, captivated audiences, making it the talk of the trade circles. The film’s consistent dominance at the box office highlights the enduring appeal of festive releases.
The Significance of Sankranthi for Telugu Cinema
Sankranthi, for long, is the most potent period for Telugu cinema. The result of holidays, family gathering, and celebration in general is the best time for a film release.
In the early days, this phase witnessed a cutthroat competition between majorly budgeted films to be at their best before the audience. In post-pandemic times, the significance of Sankranthi has only gone up as filmmakers now strategically plan their releases during this period to attract festival-goers.
Sankranthi Box Office Winners: A Look Back at 25 Years
2000 – Kalisundam Raa
A family drama with Venkatesh and Simran stole the show in the beginning of a constant series of successful Sankranthi releases. Emotional depth and a relatable story had won the hearts of audiences.
2001 – Narasimha Naidu
Balakrishna performed at his best in the action-packed film, which was a complete box office collector during the festival.
2002 – Nuvvu Leka Nenu Lenu
A sweet romantic film, the movie becomes quite delightful with its light-hearted story and melodious audio.
2003 – Okkadu
This action movie by Mahesh Babu made him a superstar of the film industry, and this becomes the Sankranthi classic.
2004 – Varsham
Prabhas and Trisha’s magic formula along with its devastating story helped this film to run like anything.
2005 – Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana
Love story by Siddharth and Trisha directed by Prabhu Deva made a milestone in romantic dramas and became a Sankranthi favourite.
2006 – Lakshmi
Victory Venkatesh proved himself all over again by this family film that clicked well.
2007-Deshamuduru
Style and glamour Allu Arjun brought into it made this a complete hit.
2008-Krishna
Ravi Teja starrer Comedy-drama appealed to the people and turned to be a big festival hit.
2009 – Arundhati
Fantasy thriller by this film starring anushka shetty brought celebrations of Sankranthi to new dimensions.
2010 – Adhurs
NTR Jr. played dual roles and delivered fantastic comedy, which made this movie a box office hit.
2011 – Mirapakay
Ravi Teja was back with Sankranthi with this entertaining action-comedy that left the audience in splits throughout.
2012 – Businessman
Mahesh Babu again showed to be a Sankranthi hit with this slick and stylish action movie.
2013 – Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu (SVSC)
This family drama starred Mahesh Babu and Venkatesh and celebrated the bonding of family; it was the perfect Sankranthi film.
2014 – Yevadu
Ram Charan action thriller was a crowd puller during the festive season.
2015 – Gopala Gopala
This satirical drama, with Venkatesh and Pawan Kalyan, was entertaining in its storyline.
Sankranthi Post-2015: The Time of More Elaborate Blockbusters
Since 2015, Sankranthi has been considered for larger budgets. Movies like Agnyaathavaasi, Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, Sarileru Neekevvaru, and Rangasthalam were released to entertain during the festival season.
Pan-Indian releases also increased the box office prospects of Sankranthi. With movies like RRR and Pushpa, Telugu cinema finally proved that it can be an international industry without losing its identity.
Why Sankranthi Matters for Filmmakers
- Family Audience: Most of the movies that come out during Sankranthi are family-oriented, hence increasing its reach and watchability.
- Holiday Advantage: The festival season holidays are long enough for the audience to watch films, and hence, the collections are higher.
- Healthy Competition: The festival season often witnesses big films clashing at the box office, which creates excitement among fans.
Sankranthi 2026 and Beyond: What to Expect
The future of Sankranthi releases appears brighter than ever. With filmmakers increasingly realizing the potential of this festive window, audiences can expect even bigger and better cinematic experiences. Advanced technologies, innovative storytelling, and the rise of OTT platforms complement traditional theatrical releases, ensuring that Sankranthi continues to be a celebration of cinema.
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Conclusion
From Kalisundam Raa in 2000 to Sankranthiki Vasthunnam in 2025, obviously winners of the festive box office stand for the development of Telugu cinema. These have both entertained the audience as well as etched an identity within the film industry.
Now, as we wait for Sankranthi 2026 and beyond, one thing is sure-the tradition of blockbusters during the festival is here to stay-by bringing the family to celebrate magic on the big screen.
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