Sankranthi 2025: Sankranthiki Vasthunnam has made heads turn at the box office. Be it collections or occupancy, the Venkatesh starrer has sidelined Daaku Maharaaj and Game Changer. Read on...
Sankranthi box office 2025 winner
Last Updated: 02.53 PM, Jan 20, 2025
Sankranthi is a very lucrative time for Telugu cinema, as it is considered the best season to release big-budget films. For the last few decades, star hero films have been released during the second week of January every year, leading to solid competition among the releases. The same happened during Sankranthi 2025, as three biggies Game Changer, Daaku Maharaaj, and Sankranthiki Vasthunnam hit the screens on January 10, 12, and 14, 2025, respectively.
Now that all these films have been released and completed a week of their theatrical run, let's look at who the Sankranthi 2025 winner is. Generally, it is neck and neck every year, but this time, it is the Venkatesh starrer Sankranthiki Vasthunnam that has outperformed the competition and emerged on top. Directed by Anil Ravipudi, this family drama has crossed over ₹100 crore at the box office and has become a sensation.
By the looks of it, Sankranthiki Vasthunnam is expected to touch ₹200 crore gross, as per trade analysts. Made on a moderate budget, Dil Raju, the producer, is set to see triple the profit of the amount spent. Zee5 has bagged the digital rights to the film and will stream it in the second week of February 2025.
On the other hand, Daaku Maharaaj is next in line, ending as a decent hit at the box office. The distributors are in the safe zone and will soon see profits. To date, the Balakrishna starrer has made just over ₹80 crore at the box office. Directed by Bobby Kolli and starring Urvashi Rautela as the female lead, the film has impressed Balakrishna’s fans significantly.
However, the occupancy rate for the film has dropped sharply since Monday, leading to a slowdown. Still, the makers, Sithara Entertainments, are thrilled to be in the safe zone, having secured a solid OTT deal with Netflix. Daaku Maharaaj is expected to premiere on Netflix within a month of its release.
Also Read: Daaku Maharaaj Review: Balakrishna's entertaining mass avatar dethrones the predictable storyline
Lastly, Game Changer, starring Ram Charan, has disappointed one and all. Out of the three films, Game Changer was the most expensive, produced by Dil Raju on a massive budget of ₹400 crore. As of now, the film has earned only ₹125 crore and has performed poorly at the box office.
From the second day of its release, negative word of mouth spread, leading to a decline in viewership, especially among family audiences, who preferred Sankranthiki Vasthunnam. Ram Charan thanked his fans for their support, but Game Changer has ultimately been a disappointment. While Dil Raju is facing massive losses on this project, the success of his other production, Sankranthiki Vasthunnam, is helping him offset these losses.
In conclusion, Sankranthi 2025 has been one-sided, with Sankranthiki Vasthunnam proving once again that a wholesome, entertaining film catering to every section of the audience can bring massive returns. Anil Ravipudi has delivered yet another blockbuster that continues to perform strongly at the box office.