HYDERABAD: Telugu cinema is laying the groundwork for a massive box-office showdown as prominent filmmakers lock in dates for the Sankranthi 2027 festive window. Known as Tollywood’s most lucrative theatrical period, the harvest festival consistently delivers peak theater footfalls regardless of genre, driving producers to secure prime calendar slots nearly a year in advance.
The upcoming festival race features high-stakes multi-starrers, mythological universe expansions, and vintage comedy collaborations, setting up an intense box-office battle.
Confirmed Lineup for Sankranthi 2027
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Mahakali (January 8, 2027): Expanding the Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe (PVCU), this mythological superhero feature directed by Puja Aparna Kolluru leads the charge a week ahead of the core festival. Starring Akshaye Khanna as Shukracharya and Bhoomi Shetty in key roles, the film aims to repeat the early-bird advantage leveraged by Hanu-Man.
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January 12 Vidudala (January 12, 2027): Director Anil Ravipudi—a staple of the Sankranthi season—has taken the unique approach of naming his multi-starrer directly after its release date. Starring Venkatesh Daggubati and Nandamuri Kalyan Ram alongside Keerthy Suresh and Krithi Shetty, the family entertainer is produced by Shine Screens.
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Sambarala Yeti Gattu (January 12, 2027): Mounted as a large-scale period action thriller, this Sai Durgha Tej starrer is directed by Rohit K.P. and produced by PrimeShow Entertainment. Designed for a pan-India rollout across multiple languages, it sets up a direct clash with Ravipudi’s multi-starrer on the same day.
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Kaaka (January 13, 2027): Megastar Chiranjeevi reunites with director Bobby Kolli following their previous holiday hit Waltair Veerayya. Backed by KVN Productions, the action drama features Chiranjeevi in two contrasting avatars and is positioned right at the heart of the festival celebrations.
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George Krish (January 14, 2027): Sharwanand teams up with comedy director Srinu Vaitla for this commercial entertainer produced by AK Entertainments. Sharwanand, who has previously scored notable hits during Sankranthi, aims to cap off the primary festival days with a lighthearted family outing.
Potential Additions to the Race
The current schedule may see further additions in the coming months. Reports indicate that Akkineni Nagarjuna is eyeing the festive window for his milestone 100th film (tentatively titled King 100), while updates on Nandamuri Balakrishna’s upcoming project NBK 111 could also reshape the final theatrical layout.
Trade analysts expect theater allocation negotiations to intensify as post-production timelines firm up heading into late 2026.
