The appreciation for Balan: The Boy continues to pour in from notable names in the film industry. After veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan described it as one of the finest films of the last two years, actor Naga Chaitanya has now expressed his admiration for the thriller.
Speaking after a special screening, Chaitanya revealed that the film stayed with him long after the credits rolled.
“Even now, I get goosebumps talking about it. The film constantly surprises the audience and takes the story in directions nobody expects,” he said.
The actor was particularly impressed by the screenplay and the way the narrative unfolds. He also praised director Jeethu Madhavan, stating that Telugu audiences who embraced Manjummel Boys and Aavesham are likely to connect strongly with this film as well.
According to Chaitanya, the film succeeds because of its unique storytelling style, engaging screenplay, and impactful execution.
Backed by strong endorsements from respected filmmakers and actors, Balan: The Boy is entering theatres with tremendous momentum. Annapurna Studios will release the film in Telugu on June 19th.
Directed by Satish Awala, Venkatramayya Gari Thaluka introduces Dinesh Kumar as the lead hero and Divija Prabhakar (daughter of ETV Prabhakar) as the heroine. Muraleedhar Goud and Sudha play the title roles in this family drama produced by Komali Mahender Thotte and Somesh Saripalli under the Komali Creations banner. The film has completed all production formalities and is gearing up for a grand release in July.
Producer Komali’s Statement
Producer Komali said:
“I am a folk singer and have earned my own recognition in the field. With a deep passion for cinema and a dream of producing a film, I faced numerous challenges and hardships to complete Venkatramayya Gari Thaluka. From the day the project began until now, I have gone through immense struggles and sleepless nights. Despite all the difficulties, we are now ready to release the film in July. I sincerely request the support of the media for our movie.”
Director Satish Awala’s Statement
Director Satish Awala said:
“Our film Venkatramayya Gari Thaluka is scheduled for release in July. We will soon finalize the release date and announce it officially through a press meet.
Talking about the story, the film is set in a beautiful village and revolves around a respected family headed by Venkatramayya. In today’s society, relationships have increasingly become tied to money, and human values are often overshadowed by financial considerations. Parents endure countless hardships and sacrifices to raise their children with love and care. However, when parents reach the final stage of their lives, even their own children sometimes struggle to take responsibility for them.
This film highlights the greatness of parents and the importance of family values. Venkatramayya Gari Thaluka is a wholesome family drama designed for audiences to enjoy together in theaters with their loved ones.”
Mega Power Star Ram Charan’s sensational blockbuster Peddi is running successfully in theatres, with 400 Cr+ worldwide gross already. After dominating theatres for nearly two weeks and rewriting several records, the film is now gearing up for a stronger run in its third week with new scenes being added from tomorrow.
The makers have officially announced an updated version of the film, featuring nearly six minutes of brand-new footage. From tomorrow, audiences will get to experience an extra 5 minutes and 56 seconds of content, offering a fresh reason for fans and repeat viewers to return to cinemas.
Adding to the excitement, the Buchi Babu Sana directorial venture will also be available at regular ticket rates from Thursday. The pricing revision is expected to attract a larger section of moviegoers, especially families.
With exceptional word-of-mouth, record-breaking collections, and sustained momentum across territories, the film continues to strengthen its position as the biggest South Indian blockbuster of 2026, and these latest developments could further extend its remarkable box-office dream run.
Produced by Venkata Satish Kilaru under Vriddhi Cinemas banner, with Mythri Movie Makers and Sukumar Writings presenting, Peddi also marks highest grosser for Ram Charan as a solo hero.
The makers of Dynamic Star Vishnu Manchu’s Kannappa have sparked fresh excitement by unveiling a captivating new poster to announce the film’s grand theatrical re-release on June 27th. The poster showcases Vishnu Manchu in a powerful and emotionally charged moment, embracing a Shiva Lingam against a breathtaking backdrop of lush green landscapes and majestic mountains, beautifully reflecting the film’s spiritual depth and devotional core.
Produced by Dr. M. Mohan Babu under the banners of 24 Frames Factory and AVAA Entertainment and directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, Kannappa stood out as one of the most ambitious mythological spectacles in recent times. Mounted on a grand scale, the film impressed audiences with its rich visuals, strong emotional narrative, and an ensemble cast featuring Prabhas, Mohanlal, Akshay Kumar, Mohan Babu, Sarath Kumar, Brahmanandam, and several other notable actors.
The film enjoyed a sensational theatrical run, emerging as a major blockbuster, while its digital premiere further expanded its reach and won widespread appreciation from viewers across different regions.
With the re-release, the makers are set to bring the epic tale back to the big screen, giving audiences another chance to experience its blend of devotion, emotion, action, and mythology in a theatrical setting. Given the film’s enduring popularity and strong fan following, Kannappa is expected to generate significant interest once again and make a strong impact during its return to cinemas.
Bookings for Spider-Man: Brand New Day have officially opened! The Tom Holland starrer will release in India on 30th July, in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.
Hyderabad, 17th June, 2026: The wait is finally over! Bookings for Spider-Man: Brand New Day are now officially open across India. Sony Pictures Entertainment India will release the much-awaited Tom Holland starrer in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam on July 30. The year’s most anticipated blockbuster release, Spider-Man: Brand New Day promises an unforgettable big-screen adventure. To make the experience bigger, bolder, and more immersive than ever, Sony Pictures Entertainment India is bringing the film to audiences across multiple premium large formats, allowing fans to experience every swing, stunt, and spectacle on a grander scale.
Sony Pictures Entertainment India has announced that bookings for Spider-Man: Brand New Day is open across premium large formats, including P[XL], Big Pix, Screen X, ICE, 4DX and, MX4D giving fans the opportunity to experience the film on the biggest and most immersive screens available.
Confirming the release, Shony Panjikaran, General Manager and Head of Sony Pictures Releasing International (SPRI) for India, said that the premium large format roll out is to make Spider-Man’s return to the big screen into a grand event. ” Spider-Man holds a special place in the hearts of Indian audiences, and every new chapter becomes a shared celebration for fans across generations. With Spider-Man: Brand New Day, we wanted to match that excitement by delivering the most immersive theatrical experience possible, while giving audiences the opportunity to secure their tickets early and experience the action, emotion, and spectacle of the film across premium large format screens,” he said.
“The excitement surrounding Spider-Man: Brand New Day reflects how audiences today choose to experience blockbuster cinema. The biggest films have become shared cultural moments that bring people together, making the theatrical experience more relevant than ever. Spider-Man is one of the world’s most loved franchises, and every new chapter is eagerly awaited by fans across generations. We are delighted to partner with Sony Pictures Entertainment India for this much-awaited release and look forward to welcoming audiences to PVR INOX cinemas to experience the film in the environment it was created for, on the big screen, with fellow fans, where every moment feels bigger, more immersive, and truly unforgettable.” shares Mr. Gautam Dutta, CEO – Revenue and Operations, PVR INOX Limited.
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, Spider-Man: Brand New Day stars Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, alongside Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, and Sadie Sink.
Sony Pictures Entertainment India will release Spider-Man: Brand New Day in theatres on 30th July 2026 in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam across all premium large formats in 2D and 3D.
About Spider-Man: Brand New Day: It’s a BRAND NEW DAY for Peter Parker. Fighting crime full-time as Spider-Man in a world that doesn’t remember him—and the pressure of seeing his old friends move on without him—sparks a change in Peter he may not have the power to control. But that transformation might also be the only thing that can stop a shocking new threat to the city and those he loves – a powerful villain no one can even see. The world may have forgotten Peter Parker, but he hasn’t forgotten them.
About Sony Pictures Entertainment: Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. Sony Pictures Television operates dozens of wholly-owned or joint-venture production companies around the world. SPE’s Motion Picture Group production organizations include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, 3000 Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films, AFFIRM Films, Sony Pictures International Productions, and Sony Pictures Classics. For additional information, visit http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html.
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After the success of Subham, young and talented actor Harshith Reddy is returning with his new film Deewana. The film is being produced by Vasudev Koppineni and Sridevi Karyampudi under the Arha Media and V Studios banners. With this beautiful love story, actress Smeha Manimegalai and director Sreekanth Sangishetty are making their debut. Deewana is set for a grand worldwide theatrical release on June 19 through Geetha Film Distributors. Speaking at a media interaction today, director Sreekanth Sangishetty shared several highlights about the film and his journey.
Talking About His Journey into Filmmaking:
About ten years ago, I worked as an assistant on the experimental film Minugurulu, which won a Nandi Award. The script was even archived in the Oscar Library. Later, I spent more than a decade working for a corporate company. During that period, I made small demo films, songs, and short films.
I learned filmmaking mainly by watching movies and interviews. I never formally studied shot division, color palettes, or filmmaking techniques. I simply enjoyed watching films. If I disliked a movie, I would criticize it strongly. Whenever I saw poor writing getting opportunities, I wondered why I wasn’t getting one. That frustration stayed with me.
I always believed my stories were special and wanted to see them on the big screen. I dreamed of people asking, “Who made this film?” after watching my work. Even while sitting at my office job for ten hours a day, my mind was occupied with cinema. I never cared about promotions because I didn’t enjoy the job. I wasn’t good at mathematics, software, or even Excel. What I was good at was dreaming.
The dream remained alive for years. In December 2019, I came up with the idea for an investigative drama. Balancing a job and filmmaking was difficult. At one point, I even quit my job for cinema and put my wife through a lot of hardship. Later, I realized leaving a job wasn’t practical. During the COVID period, I eventually had to quit due to my father’s illness. After that, I started carrying around stories suitable for OTT platforms.
Saying about How Deewana Was Born:
The idea for Deewana came after watching a television anchor on Gemini TV. After completing my MBA, I stopped pursuing jobs and focused on cinema. One morning, while watching television, I saw this anchor and wondered: What would happen if I went and met her? What if a complete stranger approached her? What situations could arise from that encounter? That thought became the seed for Deewana. It had both emotional depth and commercial appeal, and I felt compelled to write it.
Talking about his Writing Process:
Whenever I had an idea, I would immediately write it down. I feared forgetting it. If I couldn’t find paper, I would even scribble it on a matchbox cover. Once the basic story was complete, I would sit at my computer and spend months developing the characters. This process usually took six to seven months. I wrote around ten drafts of Deewana. In fact, the first draft was written nearly twelve years ago. I never had the opportunity to meet big producers. Whenever I narrated the story to smaller producers, they would offer suggestions. Since they were active in the market, I treated their feedback seriously and kept improving the script. Every time I narrated the story, I made further changes and enhancements. After nearly two years, the script reached its final form.
Stories with similar premises can be found in the works of Rabindranath Tagore and Anton Chekhov. Doordarshan’s Katha Sagar also featured many wonderful stories. However, my version is completely different. No one would imagine that my story could become a large-scale commercial film. I knew it could because the strongest commercial aspect of the film is its emotion. The emotional content is immense, and the entertainment revolves around that. The hero experiences one-sided love. In the first half, he openly pursues the heroine in an extroverted manner. In the second half, the one-sided love remains, but the pursuit takes a different emotional route.
I spent years searching for opportunities along with my friends. Eventually, everyone moved on, and I was left alone. One day, a shoot was happening at Ramanaidu Studios, where Allu Aravind garu and Satyanand garu were present. I gathered the courage to approach them and said, “Sir, I want to narrate a story.” They were surprised. I was told that if the story was good, it would become a film; otherwise, even the tea or coffee offered during the meeting would be wasted. When I visited the office, I wasn’t even allowed inside. I didn’t know whether Aravind sir was there or not. Yet, after nearly twenty years, I finally got the opportunity to sit and have coffee with him. I narrated Deewana, and he liked it. Thankfully, that coffee wasn’t wasted.
The film features six songs and three action sequences. I told them that whatever budget they gave me, I would make it work. I even shot a demo for just ₹5,000. Initially, I said the film required 69 shooting days, but I was asked to complete it in 30 days. My friends and I wondered how that would be possible. Eventually, we started shooting. After 42 days, there was still material left to film. Leaving out that content was challenging, but thanks to strong writing and talented actors, we were able to complete the film effectively.
Talking about Harshith Reddy’s performance:
One producer initially suggested making the film on a budget of one crore rupees. Harshith Reddy was known to him. At that point, the project wasn’t finalized. My friend, director Uday, helped connect us. Eventually, Harshith listened to the story. It may feel like a love story from the 1990s, but I made it exactly the way I envisioned it. Deewana is a film made for everyone. Audiences who enjoy love, family emotions, and friendship will connect deeply with it.
More than wondering whether the film has been released successfully, I constantly check whether people are reacting to it. Even if they criticize the film, I am happy because their reaction matters to me. What frustrates me are fake comments. Genuine audience responses, whether positive or negative, are what I value.
On Talent in the Film Industry
The film industry is a fascinating place. Many music directors and writers are sometimes even more talented than directors. If we think we are talented, there are always people who are geniuses beyond us. People like Tarun Bhascker and Trivikram are examples. Music director Eswar and I used to watch films together. He taught himself music. I would narrate my stories to him regularly.
When Allu Aravind sir approved Deewana, I told Eswar about it. He appreciated the writing. Initially, when I asked him to compose music for the demo, the result was disappointing, and I scolded him. He went back, reworked it, and returned with something extraordinary. Even Aravind sir’s team loved it. People often don’t know whether something is copied or inspired, but for a low-budget demo, only a friend would stand by you. Later, when we began composing the film’s songs, Eswar delivered music that was eventually approved and appreciated.
Talking about Future Aspirations
I have several stories that are far more ambitious than what I have made so far. Some of them are technically demanding and futuristic in nature. As a filmmaker, I need to continue making films and growing my skills. Only then will I be able to bring those stories to the screen the way they deserve.
Prominent Director-Producer Sai Rajesh Elected Vice President of the Telugu Film Industry Employees Federation
Prominent director and producer Sai Rajesh has been elected as the Vice President of the Telugu Film Industry Employees Federation, a body that represents 24 workers’ unions within the Telugu film industry. He will now contribute to the industry’s welfare and development in this new leadership role.
Sai Rajesh was unanimously chosen as Vice President by the leaders of all affiliated workers’ unions. He currently serves as the Treasurer of the Telugu Film Directors Association (TFDA).
Previously, Sai Rajesh held the position of Vice President in the Telugu Film Directors Association. He contested and won the last two TFDA elections with an overwhelming majority. During his tenure, he played a significant role in implementing several reforms within the directors’ association and was instrumental in introducing welfare initiatives such as insurance coverage and mid-day meal programs for members.
Recognizing his contributions and commitment to the welfare of film industry workers, the Telugu Film Industry Employees Federation elected him as its Vice President.
Sai Rajesh, who delivered the cult blockbuster film Baby, is currently associated with Chennai Love Story, starring Kiran Abbavaram, as the story writer and producer.
The Tiger Territory came alive in Hyderabad on Monday evening as the grand premiere of Save The Tigers Season 3 unfolded at AMB Cinemas to an electrifying response. What began as a celebration expectedly turned into a laughter-filled evening, with guests, celeb, cast and crew members, and creators soaking in the energy of a franchise that has become a biggest hit in regional OTT entertainment.
The star-studded red-carpet extravaganza drew a host of popular personalities from soap opera to films. It punctuated custom red carpets, high-fashion celeb appearances and exclusive media interactions, and pre-screening get-togethers serving as the ultimate launchpad for the streaming.
The beautiful evening brought together some of the biggest names in entertainment space including the versatile actor Sundeep Kishan, Kamakshi Bhaskarla, Rag Mayur, Bigg Boss Telugu 5 winner VJ Sunny, Kalyan Padala (Bigg Boss Season 9 winner), Chaitanya Rao, Venkatesh Kakumanu, Karthik Ratnam, Aditya Mandala, Srinath Maganti, Jabardasth comedian Mukku Avinash, Nirupam, Kireeti Damaraju, and audiences erupted into laughter throughout the screening.
Performances by Priyadarshi, Vennela Kishore, Jordaar Sujatha, Krishna Chaitanya, Deviyani Sharma, Abhinav Gomatam, and Pavani Gangireddy received an enthusiastic response. The story of three couples and a divine entity (Vennela Kishore) couldn’t have asked for a better reception.
As the makers aptly put it, “A ROAR that made two worlds collide! Call it God’s plan or pure destiny… the TIGERS are back to turn heads, flip tables & own their absolute redemption arc!” The countdown has begun, with Save The Tigers Season 3 set to stream on JioHotstar from June 19.
Save The Tigers has emerged as the biggest Telugu web series in terms of OTT viewership. The first two seasons won audiences love through relatable humor, quirky characters, and family-friendly entertainment. And the much-awaited third season is ready to raise the stakes with a fresh fantasy twist.
Cast: Priyadarshi-Jordaar Sujatha, Krishna Chaitanya-Deviyani Sharma and Abhinav Gomatam- Pavani Gangireddy Created by Mahi V Raghav and Pradeep Advaitham Directed by Sriraam Eragam Produced by Shiva Meka, Sahiti Chintalapudi Writers: Vijay Namoju and DS Gowtham Cameraman: Vishveshwar Silakoti Music: Ajay Arasada Editor: Shravan Katikaneni
