Sankranti festival is characterized by a different kind of movie releases, and getting a blockbuster during this period is next to impossible. However, the actor Sharwanand and the director Anil Ravipudi have proved time and again that they recognize the taste of festival goers. Their films arriving during Sankranti always bring success along. Let’s check how this lucky trend has been developed over the years.
Sharwanand’s Pongal Hat-trick
Sharwanand’s success journey during Sankranti started with the release of Express Raja in 2016. The film which was a combination of romance, comedy, and thriller directed by Merlapaka Gandhi, drew attention from the audience with its strange plot and entertaining surprises as the movie was really very popular.
His next move in 2017 was the family drama Sathamanam Bhavati, directed by Satish Vegesna. The movie which was based on family values and emotions became a huge hit of the festival and was praised all over the country.
The saga went on as Sharwanand, who had already been proving his worth in the Sankranti roster, returned only this year with Nari Nari Naduma Murari. In the film, Ram Abbaraju narrated the tale of a man caught between two ladies, who was constantly amused the audience in cinemas. All three pictures came out on the same day, which was January 14, and thus, it only reinforced Sharwanand’s standing as a Sankranti darling even more.
Anil Ravipudi’s Festive Magic
Director Merloni Balachander was the same to Balachander. Although Phani, who made his tryst with humor in the movie “Prema Katha Chithram,” seems to have been swayed by the comedy films made by Mahesh Babu, Mahesh Babu knows how to win against such a positive role. Impressive is the word that best describes his Sankranti track record.
The film F2: Fun and Frustration, starring Venkatesh and Varun Tej, was released on January 12, 2019, and went on to earn more than ₹100 crore. The movie Sarileru Neekevvaru of Mahesh Babu was the next year’s release which got the massive success with total near to ₹200 crore on January 11, 2020.
Anil raised the bar further with Sankranthikiki Vasthunam, released on January 14, 2025. The Venkatesh starrer crossed ₹300 crore at the box office, becoming the biggest hit in both the actor’s and director’s careers. His latest film, Chiranjeevi’s Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, released earlier this month, has also shown strong momentum, collecting over ₹152 crore in just three days. For Anil Ravipudi, Sankranti has clearly become a winning sentiment, and he has often stated that he would love to release a film during the festival every year.
Sankranti: The Big Bet for Filmmakers
In the Telugu film industry, Sankranti is still the most preferred release time. Many producers plan their festive releases very meticulously while others just push their movies into the season hoping to get some of the holiday audience’s attention. Movies with big stars generally control the usual slots, however, the ones with lesser-known actors and mid-budget films also try the festive route, counting on family audiences and holiday crowds.
This year’s Sankranti lineup reflects that trend, featuring big-ticket releases like Prabhas’ The Rajasaab, a Chiranjeevi film, Ravi Teja’s Bharta Mahasayaluku Vigyapthi, along with Sharwanand’s latest outing and Naveen Polishetty’s Anaganaga Oka Raju. Once again, Sankranti has turned into a battleground of entertainment—and for Sharwanand and Anil Ravipudi, it continues to be a season of success.
