Latest news with #SankranthikiVasthunnam
Pink Villa
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Thandel: Naga Chaitanya's romantic actioner clocks in record TRP on Television premiere
Thandel, starring Naga Chaitanya in the lead role, hit the big screens on February 7, 2025. Following its theatrical run and OTT debut, the movie created history in television, making a record in TRP numbers. Thandel clocks in the second-highest record in TRP Taking to X (formerly Twitter) handle, Thandel's makers confirmed that the movie has become a sensation after its television premiere. The film is said to have clocked in a TRP of 10.32, making it the second-highest record of 2025 in the channel Zee Telugu. Sharing the official post, Geetha Arts penned, 'The Epic Love Story Continues to Reign in Every Heart. A Blockbuster Reception on the Small Screen Too! #Thandel records a sensational rating of 10.32 for its World Television Premiere on Zee Telugu.' Here's the official post: A report by Gulte states that in 2025, only 3 Telugu movies managed to cross double digits in TRP. With Venkatesh Daggubati's Sankranthiki Vasthunnam topping the list, Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2 (Star Maa) came in second, followed by Thandel. Interestingly, Sankranthiki Vasthunnam also premiered on Zee Telugu, making it the highest record in TRP on the channel, with Thandel close behind it. About Thandel Thandel featured the story of Raju, a brave fisherman who accidentally enters Pakistani waters. The movie focuses on the man's passion for fishing and his love for Sathya, also known as Bujji Thalli. Interestingly, it was based on an actual incident endured by a man from Srikakulam. Apart from Chay, the film had Sai Pallavi, Aadukalam Naren, Divya Pillai, Karunakaran, Kalpa Latha, Babloo Prithiveeraj, and many more in key parts. It is available for streaming on Netflix. Naga Chaitanya's next movie Naga Chaitanya is next set to appear in the lead role for the movie, tentatively titled NC24. It is said to be one of the highest-budget films ever made in Chay's career. His character would be seen in a brand new avatar and is expected to be significantly different from his other movies. The upcoming movie is helmed by Virupshaka and Kartikeya director Karthik Varma Dandu, with Sukumar penning the story. As the film is bankrolled by BVSN Prasad, Sukumar, and Bapineedu, it will have cinematography handled by Ragul Dharuman.
India Today
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Thammudu review: Wild ambitions but tamed execution in Nithiin's survival thriller
A one-night survival thriller set against a lush forest backdrop, 'Thammudu' taps into the genre popularised by director Lokesh Kanagaraj with films like 'Kaithi' and 'Maanagaram'. It wants to belong to that space, a commercial action drama packed with urgency, emotion, and atmosphere. On paper, it checks the boxes. The scale is visible, the world is immersive, and the characters are all there. But somewhere between the setup and the payoff, 'Thammudu' slowly detaches itself from the emotional thread it promises to hold on to, turning into a stretched-out series of fight scenes with the core emotions buried deep under the same after the failure of 'Game Changer' and the surprise success of 'Sankranthiki Vasthunnam', producer Dil Raju backs Nithiin in an experimental shift from his usual space. That effort is visible. The film opens with a promising setup: a tragic factory blast in Vizag, an upright IAS officer Jhansi (Laya) who refuses to bow down to pressure, and a looming threat from the villain Azarwal (Saurabh Sachdeva). A trip to Ambaragodugu for the Pagadalamma Thalli Jathara takes Jhansi into the wild, where danger unfolds Jai (Nithiin), an archer with a mysterious past and connection who becomes the shield and protects Jhansi and her family. The stakes are clear, the location is alive, and the story appears set for a high-stakes survival tale. But that spark doesn't last. Visually, 'Thammudu' shines in its natural terrain. The forest landscapes, the raw setting, and the grounded textures feel immersive, but only when the film sticks to its real-world locations. The CG-heavy portions never blend in, weakening the authenticity the story tries to build. The action choreography in the first half adds some momentum, but that energy keeps dipping as the film progresses. And emotionally, there's barely anything to hold on to. What could've been a tight, character-driven story begins to wander. New subplots are introduced randomly, some even right before the climax, while some scenes are stretched far beyond their emotional value. There's a point where Jai tells his niece to keep his identity a secret, only for her to spill it a few scenes later. Then we get an apology scene that barely registers. These scenes exist to add emotional colour, but they're not earned. The beats don't film, losing its core and venturing into random action scenes, becomes its biggest issue. It feels like you're constantly watching a climax. One big fight leads into another, and then another. You reach the forest fight sequence and expect it to be the end. But no, there's still ten more minutes in the city with Azarwal. Structurally, it drags. Emotionally, it stays the performances, Varsha Bollamma emerges with the most layered arc. As Chitra, she is more than just a love interest, she plays a friend who adds warmth, presence, and relevance to Jai's journey. Swasika, too, brings spark as Guthi, a character driven by survival and money and the character stays grounded in personality, not trying to shift the arc. Her face-off with Chitra is one of the film's few high despite a composed and dignified performance, is written as a one-note figure, introduced as powerful, but left with very little agency. Sapthami Gowda is competent, but her role feels like an extension of what we saw in 'Kantara'. There's no reinvention. Nithiin himself tries to anchor the film with restraint, but his character's emotional graph is unclear from the start. Why does he remember his sister only after an accident? If tracing her was so easy, why didn't he do it all these years? These kind of questions make the character's decisions convenient ane emotionally the villain, Azarwal, feels out of place. His quirks are interesting, but his arc is poorly developed. There's a sense that the writing wants to say something deeper, about familial wounds, suppressed memory, power, but none of it takes proper shape. Moments that should carry weight are delivered with so little emotional preparation that they pass by unnoticed. At times, a simple generic moment is overblown. At others, a mass moment is undercut by flat Loknath's background score doesn't do much to elevate the film. The cinematography, credited to KV Guhan, Sameer Reddy, and Setu, works best when it stays grounded in natural light and textures. The CG portions and set-heavy sequences break the rhythm. Prawin Pudi's editing leaves several scenes overlong, particularly in the second half.'Thammudu' isn't short on ambition, it clearly wants to break away from the formula. But in its attempt to deliver a layered action drama, it forgets to build the layers. It plays out like a walk through a wild forest, but instead of feeling the danger and urgency of nature, you feel like you're in a stylised zoo. You're watching the action, but never feeling the stakes.- Ends2 out of 5 stars for 'Thammudu'.
Hans India
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Dil Raju shares vision and confidence ahead of ‘Thammudu' release
After scoring a Sankranthi blockbuster with Sankranthiki Vasthunnam, renowned producer Dil Raju is set to bring Thammudu to theatres on July 4, under the Sri Venkateswara Creations banner. The film, starring Nithiin and directed by Sriram Venu, also features Laya, Varsha Bollamma, and Saptami Gowda in key roles. Ahead of the release, Dil Raju opened up in a candid interaction with the press. Calling Thammudu an 'action-driven emotional drama,' Raju revealed that the film unfolds mostly over one intense day, with 5-6 action sequences, two of which earned it an 'A' certificate due to their violent nature. 'This film is made for the theatrical experience. We didn't cut scenes just for a 'U/A',' he asserted. Raju praised director Sriram Venu, highlighting their long-standing collaboration since Arya. 'I work with people I connect with—not just for money but for trust and creative wavelength,' he said, adding that directors like Anil Ravipudi and Srikanth Addala also share this bond with him. The film, shot over 150 days, was predominantly filmed in forest locations, with a strong focus on sound design by Ajaneesh. Raju confirmed that Netflix has already acquired the film after previewing it. On piracy, Raju stressed tighter industry measures: 'We've already had four arrests. Pirated prints may fetch ₹80K to ₹1 lakh overseas, but they cost us crores.' He also touched upon negative campaigns and reviewer impact, urging critics to consider the producer's effort. 'People say Dil Raju has attitude when I speak out—but it's about survival,' he added. Raju also spoke about nurturing new talent through Dil Raju Dreams, which received over 12,000 applications, and outlined his ambitious plans for upcoming films in 2025–2027, including collaborations with Anil Ravipudi, Hanif Adani, and debut directors. With confidence in its content and execution, Thammudu is poised to make a strong impact this weekend.
India Today
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Game Changer producer says Ram Charan, Shankar didn't call him after film's failure
Producers Dil Raju and Sirish, who are currently promoting their upcoming film 'Thammudu', have brought their previous production 'Game Changer' starring Ram Charan back into conversation. Six months after its release, producer Sirish revealed that neither actor Ram Charan nor director Shankar reached out or extended support to the makers following the film's an interview with Great Andhra, producer Sirish, spoke about the actor and director's response after the film's release and said, 'When 'Game Changer' flopped, did the hero help? Did the director help? They didn't even call to check on us. We are not blaming anyone. We just saved our distributor.'advertisementSirish clarified his relationship with Ram Charan, saying, 'If we take a script and go, if he likes, he will accept. We didn't approach him as of now. We didn't lose the relationship with him because the film failed. We know if we approach him, things will work out.' Talking about the film's impact, the producer added, 'With 'Game Changer', we thought we were finished. 'Sankranthiki Vasthunnam' gave us hope. If that hadn't worked, imagine our situation. We can't disclose the amount, but we lost a lot. With Sankranthiki Vasthunnam, we recovered around 60–70 per cent'Producer Dil Raju, who is also actively promoting 'Thammudu', opened up about 'Game Changer', admitting that it turned out to be a commercial failure for the banner. He added that he feels guilty for not being able to deliver a hit film for Ram the trailer of 'Thammudu': Meanwhile, 'Thammudu', directed by Venu Sriram, stars Nithiin, Saptami Gowda, Laya, and Varsha Bollamma. The supporting cast includes Saurabh Sachdeva, Swasika, Hari Teja, and Srikanth Iyyengar. The movie is set to hit cinemas on July 4.- Ends
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Dil Raju reveals he realised Ram Charan's 'Game Changer' would affect him financially: 'But I was confident Sankranthiki Vasthunnam would be a hit'
Tollywood producer has addressed the box office setback he faced with 's 'Game Changer'. The political action drama, directed by , was one of Ram Charan's most anticipated films following the global success of 'RRR' with SS Rajamouli. However, the film failed to connect with audiences, and Dil has now admitted that it resulted in a financial loss for him. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Dil Raju about the box office failure of 'Game Changer' During a promotional interview with actor Nithiin for their forthcoming film Thammudu, Dil Raju recalled his apprehensions ahead of Game Changer's release on January 10. 'I started realising that the film releasing on 10 January (Game Changer) was going to damage me financially. Even the distributors were feeling low,' he admitted. Dil Raju on Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu - Part 1 Dil Raju about 'Sankranthiki Vasthunnam's success Raju added that he was confident his other film 'Sankranthiki Vasthunnam', which released during the same festive season, would be a success. 'But I was confident that Sankranthiki Vasthunnam would become a hit. I usually know in the editing room whether a film will work or not. My only thought was how much this film is going to damage, and how much the other one is going to save.' About Game Changer S Shankar made his Telugu directorial debut with 'Game Changer'. Ram Charan played dual roles in the film, but the political drama did not resonate well with fans or the general audience. The film also featured Kiara Advani, Anjali, SJ Suryah, Srikanth, Sunil, Jayaram, and Samuthirakani in key roles. Earlier, the film's editor Shameer Muhammed revealed that the initial cut was around 7.5 hours long, and he had to trim it down to approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes. Ram Charan's work front On the work front, Ram Charan is gearing up for the release of 'Peddi', directed by Buchi Babu Sana. The film will also feature Janhvi Kapoor in a key role.
