FESTIVAL FORTUNES
India’s 2025 box office kicked off in high gear, powered by a Sankranthi holiday-fueled Telugu-language onslaught that pushed local grosses past the INR10,130 million ($116.6 million) mark. Leading the charge was “Sankranthiki Vasthunam,” starring Venkatesh, a genre-bending blockbuster that towered over the month’s chart with a commanding $23 million haul.
Per Ormax Media, January’s Indian local gross, not counting overseas numbers, was bolstered by three Telugu juggernauts – “Sankranthiki Vasthunam,” “Game Changer,” and “Daaku Maharaaj” – which collectively amassed over $55 million) The trio’s dominance ensured Telugu cinema accounted for a staggering 44% of the month’s box office share.
The success of “Sankranthiki Vasthunam” underscores Telugu cinema’s continued stranglehold on Sankranthi, a peak season…
