Sankranthi 2026 box office clash: Prabhas’ The Raja Saab, Chiranjeevi’s Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, and more set for a festive face-off

Sankranthi 2026 box office clash

Despite the chaos in 2024, it appears that history is about to repeat itself during the Sankranthi season, which has always been a lucrative time for Telugu cinema.

Sankranthi 2026 is already looking like it will be another jam-packed festival, with at least five Telugu films and two significant Tamil-dubbed releases vying for screens and space.

In 2026, Anil Ravipudi returns with Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, starring Chiranjeevi and Nayanthara, expected around Sankranthi though the date hasn’t been confirmed.

Maruthi’s long-delayed horror comedy The Raja Saab, starring Prabhas, Sanjay Dutt and a star-studded cast, is locked for January 9. Ravi Teja’s next with director Kishore Tirumala is also eyeing a festive release.

Then there’s Maari (Anaganaga Oka Raju) with Naveen Polishetty and Meenakshi Chaudhary, confirmed for January 14. And now, Nari Nari Naduma Murari, starring Sharwanand, Sakshi Vaidya and Samyuktha, has also joined the already crowded race.

Adding to the mix are two major Tamil-dubbed releases — Vijay’s Jana Nayagan (January 9) and Sivakarthikeyan’s Parasakthi (January 12).

Some of the biggest names in Telugu cinema, including Venkatesh's Saindhav, Mahesh Babu's Guntur Kaaram, and Nagarjuna's Naa Saami Ranga, competed against Teja Sajja's HanuMan back in 2024.

A flurry of teasing on social media, disputes over theatre allocation, and barely concealed jabs at press conferences ensued.

Also Read: The Raja Saab Trailer: Prabhas’ horror comedy promises thrills, romance, and haunted secrets

Despite being the underdog, HanuMan came out on top with a stunning Rs 295 crore worldwide, while Guntur Kaaram settled for Rs 180.5 crore. The others, like Saindhav, barely made a mark, and Naa Saami Ranga was met with a lukewarm response.

In 2025, things seemed to calm down. A more balanced slate included Shankar’s Game Changer with Ram Charan, Bobby’s Daaku Maharaaj starring Balakrishna, and Anil Ravipudi’s Sankranthiki Vasthunam with Venkatesh. On the Tamil side, Vanangaan and Kadhalikka Neramillai quietly joined the festival line-up. It felt like the industry was finally choosing quality over quantity.