Movie News

Summer is usually the biggest season for Tollywood, but right now, theaters are surprisingly quiet. With no massive star-driven projects dominating the screens, the upcoming April 17 weekend is leaving the floor wide open for six smaller films to test their luck. However, out of the entire lineup, only two village-based stories are making any noise, while the rest are arriving with barely a whisper.

Village Stories Take the Lead

Right now, Paapam Pratap carries a decent amount of buzz. Starring Thiruveer and directed by S.P. Durga Naresh, this comedy-drama takes audiences back to the Godavari districts in 1998. The story follows a simple young man navigating life after his wife leaves him just three days into their marriage. The trailer struck a chord with viewers, setting up decent expectations for its theatrical run.

Following close behind is Thimmarajupalli TV, a project backed by actor-producer Kiran Abbavaram. Directed by V. Muniraju, this rustic suspense drama, set in 1996, features Sai Tej and Veda Jalandhar. The plot revolves around a massive local crisis: the theft of the only television set in an entire village. It’s a fresh concept, and that novelty has generated fair interest among moviegoers looking for something different.

Dubbed Films Face a Silent Release

At the same time, the other four movies are struggling to find people to watch them. Tovino Thomas’s action movie Pallichattambi came out in Malayalam yesterday, but the Telugu version has no promotions at all. It is the same for Mr. X, a spy movie starring Arya. Even though it has many action scenes under the water, most Telugu people do not even know it is coming to theaters this week.

The situation is also the same for Bollywood. Akshay Kumar worked with director Priyadarshan for the comedy movie Bhoot Bangla, but there is no excitement for it in the Telugu states. Finally, Naga Shaurya’s long-delayed movie Bad Boy Karthik is silently coming to theaters. It is an action film about a brother and sister, but nobody is really waiting for it.

In the end, this weekend’s success depends entirely on what people say after the first show. If Paapam Pratap and Thimmarajupalli TV get good talk on Friday morning, they have a great chance to make good money. We will see on Friday which of these small stories wins the hearts of the people.

Vrushakarma has grabbed the attention of movie buffs and raised expectations with its recently launched teaser. Naga Chaitanya’s mystical adventure thriller is directed by Karthik Dandu.

In a recent media interaction, Chaitanya revealed that 85% of the shooting has been completed, and the remaining 15% will be finished shortly. The film is slated for release in the latter part of the year.

Mounted on a budget of Rs. 120 crore, the film features Meenakshi Chaudhary as the heroine and Laapataa Ladies fame Sparsh Shrivastava as the antagonist. The project is produced by BVSN Prasad, with music composed by Ajaneesh Loknath. Stay tuned for more updates on this highly anticipated venture.

Actor Sundeep Kishan’s new film Power Peta was announced today on the occasion of his 16th anniversary in Tollywood. For those unaware, the project was earlier planned with Nithiin and director Krishna Chaitanya, and is now being made with Sundeep Kishan.

Directed by Krishna Chaitanya, the film is billed as a political love thriller. The announcement poster carries a dark and intense tone, featuring a blood-soaked chessboard that hints at themes of power, love, and conflict.

The film is produced by Vijay Chilla and Shashi Devireddy under 70mm Entertainments. Mani Sharma composes the music, while Madhie handles cinematography. Sreekar Prasad is on board as editor, with Ramakrishna and Monika handling production design, and sound design by Sachin Sudhakaran and Hariharan.

Sundeep Kishan is expected to be seen in a more intense role, with the film promising a strong and gripping narrative. More details about the shoot and cast will be revealed soon.

The buddy entertainer Husharu, which was released back in 2018, turned out to be a sleeper hit at the box office. The film featured Tejus Kancherla, Tej Kurapati, Dinesh Tej, Abhinav Medishetti, Rahul Ramakrishna, Daksha Nagarkar, Priya Vadlamani, Hemal Ingle, and Ramya Pasupuleti in key roles.

A sequel is now in the making, and according to reports, the second installment will feature Ashok Galla in the lead role. Sree Harsha Konuganti, who directed the first film, is also helming Husharu 2.

If the news turns out to be true, it will mark a significant move in the actor’s career. Ashok Galla impressed with his debut film Hero and is now looking for that one big box-office hit. It remains to be seen what he has in store next.

Sandalwood star Yash made a lasting impression at CinemaCon 2026 in Las Vegas. At the global event, the actor promoted his upcoming films, Toxic and Ramayana, along with Ramayana producer Namit Malhotra.

Opening up about Toxic, Yash said, “For the first time, I think, we have shot that film in English as well. So, as a concept of the film, it’s very layered. Once again, it’s not a typical gangster action story. For the face value, it would look like a gangster movie with a lot of action. But it has got deep psychology, and it’s got very interesting aspects of human life where you can resonate. And it’s a very unique way to present a dark character.”

Opening up about working with the female director Geetu Mohandas and the team, Yash stated, “It was very exciting, and some of the best technicians, my director, Geetu Mohandas, has really given a new take on a gangster film. And I think I enjoyed it. It’s going to be a visual treat as well as something which makes a huge impact on audience psychology as well.”

Talking about the evolution of Indian cinema, Yash described India as “a world in itself — every few hundred kilometers, there’s a different language and culture,” noting how dubbing and PAN-India storytelling have bridged audiences across regions. For him, Toxic represents this shift, a film rooted in Indian sensibilities yet designed for a global audience. “It’s one of those films that caters to everyone while offering a very unique experience,” he concluded.

Directed by Geetu Mohandas and bankrolled by Monster Mind Creations and KVN Productions, Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grownups also stars Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, Rukmini Vasanth, and Tara Sutaria. The PAN Indian film is set to release on June 4.

The upcoming film Maatrubhumi, starring Salman Khan, has become a hot topic in trade circles after reports emerged that the makers have rejected a massive OTT deal.

At a time when digital platforms are aggressively acquiring big-ticket films, this move has come as a surprise. According to industry buzz, Salman Khan was not pleased with the OTT-first proposal and strongly voiced his preference for a theatrical release.

Salman, known for his massive fan base and box office pull, reportedly believes that a film of this scale deserves the big-screen experience. Respecting his stance, the makers have decided to turn down the lucrative digital offer.

Maatrubhumi is now officially eyeing a theatrical release in August 2026, setting the stage for a potentially big box office outing. Apporva Lakhia is the director of this war drama.

Puri Jagannadh has wrapped up his latest film Slumdog, starring Vijay Sethupathi. While the shoot has been completed, the makers are yet to announce an official release date, leading to growing curiosity in trade circles.

According to reports, the delay is largely due to the pending OTT deal. In today’s scenario, digital platforms play a crucial role in deciding release timelines, especially for mid-to-big budget films.

Since Slumdog has not finalized its OTT partner yet, the makers are said to be holding back on locking a theatrical date. With OTT rights becoming a key revenue stream, producers are taking extra caution before making release decisions.

Until the deal is sealed, the film’s release is expected to remain uncertain. One needs to see which platform bags the rights to this film.