Telugu cinema is all set to deliver a lineup of big-budget films in 2024, featuring A-list stars and ambitious storylines. Some of the highly anticipated releases include the sequel to director Sukumar and Allu Arjun’s Pushpa, the science fiction film Kalki 2898 AD directed by Nag Ashwin, and director Shankar’s Game Changer starring Ram Charan. Additionally, NTR’s Devara directed by Koratala Shiva and Sujeeth’s OG starring Pawan Kalyan are also expected to make a significant impact at the box office.
Mid-January will mark the release of four star-led films, coinciding with the Sankranti festive season. Mahesh Babu’s Guntur Kaaram directed by Trivikram Srinivas and director Prasanth Varma’s superhero film HanuMan will hit the screens on January 12. The Sankranti season is known for being an auspicious time to release films, as it aligns with the holiday period during the harvest season, when movie watching becomes an integral part of the cultural celebration. Joining the Sankranti lineup are director Sailesh Kolanu’s Saindhav starring Venkatesh, Karthik Gattamaneni’s Eagle starring Ravi Teja, and Akkineni Nagarjuna’s rural entertainer Naa Saami Ranga. In February, audiences can look forward to the release of Tillu Square, the sequel to the comedy DJ Tillu, Vishwak Sen’s Gangs of Godavari, and Varun Tej’s Operation Valentine.
Several other high profile films that are either already in production or set to be launched also hold great promise. These projects include Prashanth Neel’s film starring NTR, Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit with Prabhas, SS Rajamouli’s film with Mahesh Babu, and director Trivikram Srinivas’ film with Allu Arjun. Chiranjeevi’s 156th film directed by Vasshista, which is said to be a fantasy entertainer, and Nandamuri Balakrishna’s 109th film, directed by Bobby, are also among the highly anticipated releases.
In addition to these big-ticket entertainers, audiences can also expect some surprises from new and emerging directors who are exploring local narratives.
Here is a closer look at some of the major films set to hit the theaters in 2024:
Guntur Kaaram
One of the prominent Sankranti releases, Guntur Kaaram, marks the collaboration of writer-director Trivikram Srinivas and Mahesh Babu, after a long hiatus since Khaleja (2010). The mass action entertainer, which is set to release on January 12, features Sreeleela and Meenakshi Chaudhary as the female leads, along with Ramya Krishna and Jagapathi Babu. The film’s music is composed by S Thaman. Mahesh Babu has a successful track record with Sankranti releases, having delivered massive hits with films like Businessman, Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu, and Sarileru Neekevvaru.
Kalki 2898 AD
The spotlight is firmly on this dystopian science fiction film, written and directed by Nag Ashwin. Starring Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, and Disha Patani, with music by Santosh Narayanan, the film is Nag Ashwin’s third project with Vyjayanthi Films, following Yevade Subramanyam and the Savithri biopic Mahanati. The film’s title, which draws from the 10 avatars of Vishnu, along with its glimpse of futuristic weapons, has generated huge anticipation among audiences.
Pushpa 2: The Rule
In the sequel to director Sukumar’s Pushpa: The Rise, Allu Arjun reprises his role as Pushparaj, as he confronts police officer Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat, portrayed by Fahadh Faasil. Titled Pushpa: The Rule, the film also stars Rashmika Mandanna, Anasuya Bharadwaj, and Jagapathi Babu, with music by Devi Sri Prasad. The sequel is expected to build upon the success of the first film, which earned Allu Arjun the National Award for Best Actor. Pushpa: The Rule is scheduled to hit theaters on August 15.
OG
The first glimpse of director Sujeeth’s film starring Pawan Kalyan, OG (aka They Call him OG), has created a buzz with its stylish visuals and background score. The film, which sees Pawan Kalyan in the role of a gangster in Mumbai, features Emraan Hashmi making his Telugu debut as an antagonist. The star-studded cast also includes Priyanka Arul Mohan, Arjun Das, Sriya Reddy, and Prakash Raj. Cinematographer Ravi K Chandran, who previously collaborated with Pawan Kalyan on Bheemla Nayak, is also on board for this project. In addition to OG, Pawan Kalyan is also working on director Harish Shankar’s Ustaad Bhagat Singh and Hari Hara Veera Mallu directed by Krish Jagarlamudi.
Game Changer
Director Shankar’s first Telugu film, Game Changer, is said to be a political action thriller based on a screenplay by Karthik Subbaraj. Featuring Ram Charan in the lead role, the film also stars Kiara Advani as the female lead. This marks a first for Shankar in working with music composer S Thaman, as all of his previous directorial projects featured music by A R Rahman. Game Changer is slated for release in September.
Devara
The first installment of director Koratala Siva’s film, starring NTR, is set to release on April 5 and will mark the Telugu debut of Janhvi Kapoor. Saif Ali Khan plays the antagonist in the film, which features music by Anirudh Ravichander, cinematography by Rathnavelu, and production design by Sabu Cyril. The project also includes editor Sreekar Prasad and action choreographer Kenny Bates, and is expected to feature an extended underwater action sequence.
Thandel
Director Chandoo Mondeti, known for the blockbuster hit Karthikeya 2, leads Thandel, a film set in a seaside location. The film brings together Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi following the success of their film Love Story. Presented by Allu Aravind and produced by Bunny Vasu, Thandel holds great promise, given the past success of Chaitanya and Mondeti’s collaboration on films like Premam and Savyasachi.
Saripodha Sanivaaram
Director Vivek Athreya ventures into the action entertainment genre with Saripodhaa Sanivaaram, featuring Nani and Priyanka Arul Mohan. Teaming up after the rom-com Ante Sundaraniki, Vivek and Nani are exploring a vigilante drama, with SJ Suryah playing the antagonist. Produced by DVV Danayya, the film is set to feature a musical score by Jakes Bejoy.
As the year unfolds, audiences can expect an array of diverse and captivating films from the Telugu film industry. The diverse range of themes, genres, and star power promises to make 2024 an exciting year for Telugu cinema.