The 2025 Sankranti season is shaping up to be an action-packed festival for Tollywood fans, as film release schedules shuffle and reshuffle in preparation. In an industry where festive releases are a high-stakes game, some heavyweights like Vishwambhara, featuring Megastar Chiranjeevi, have opted to delay their launch. While Game Changer is confirmed for January 10, 2025, and Venkatesh’s new project with Anil Ravipudi is also targeting Sankranti, another veteran entry in NBK 109 is set to join the race. But amid these star-studded releases, one small hero stands undeterred: Sandeep Kishan.
Unlike his big-name counterparts who might tweak their dates to avoid clashing, Sandeep Kishan is stepping confidently into the Sankranti lineup with his film Nakkina, directed by Trinatha Rao. With several blockbuster veterans vying for the holiday audience, Sandeep’s choice to release Nakkina during Sankranti signals both a bold risk and a hopeful bet on his film’s unique appeal.
For years, Sankranti has proven to be fertile ground for smaller films that come in with modest expectations but leave with sizable success. Notable examples include Express Raja, starring Sharwanand, and Shatamanam Bhavati, both of which held their ground against major competitors and became Sankranti hits. And let’s not forget F2, which in 2019 emerged victorious, besting films like Vinaya Vidheya Rama and the much-anticipated NTR starrer. Again, in 2024, Hanuman impressed audiences against heavyweight titles, proving that smaller films can indeed capture the festive audience’s attention.
Now, all eyes are on Nakkina and whether it can pull off a similar success story. Sandeep Kishan’s confidence in going head-to-head with Game Changer, NBK 109, and Venkatesh’s yet-untitled project has sparked excitement among fans and the industry alike. There’s a precedent for underdog films triumphing during the Sankranti festival, and it’s possible Nakkina could follow suit.
In recent years, Tollywood’s audience has shown a penchant for variety, welcoming both big-budget spectacles and small films with fresh storytelling. If Nakkina offers the right mix of entertainment, it could capture the Sankranti spirit and surprise audiences and critics alike. Sandeep Kishan’s decision highlights his faith in the project and his hope that, like Express Raja and Shatamanam Bhavati, Nakkina will charm the audience, even if it’s up against big names like Ram Charan, Venkatesh, and Nandamuri Balakrishna.
With Sankranti 2025 just around the corner, fans can expect a thrilling festival of films, where Tollywood’s biggest stars and emerging talents like Sandeep Kishan will battle it out for box-office glory. Whether Nakkina will become the next Sankranti surprise is yet to be seen, but Sandeep Kishan’s resolve to stand alongside Tollywood’s giants makes him a hero both on-screen and off.
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