SS Rajamouli directed film RRR, starring Ram Charan and NTR, Allu Arjun-starrer Pushpa and Viraata Parvam, starring Rana Daggubati, are among the 15 Telugu films that have announced a theatrical release over the past one week.
After theatres reopened in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in November 2020 after the Covid-19 induced lockdown, several big budget films including Ravi Teja and Shruti Haasan starrer Krack, Sai Dharam Tej starrer Solo Brathuke So Better, Bellamkonda Sreenivas starrer Alludu Adhurs, Ram Pothineni starrer Red, and a few other Telugu films including Kala Poshakulu, Bangaru Bullodu, Jai Sena, Cheppina Evaru Nammaru, 30 Rojullo Preminchadam Ela were released in cinema halls.
In October 2020, the Central government issued orders permitting theatres outside containment zones to reopen with 50% seating capacity. SOPs were issued and several measures such as compulsory thermal screening, sanitising vital touchpoints, leaving the vacancy of adjacent seats, floor markers at counters to ensure social distancing, complete online ticket booking system while doing away with papers and availability of PPE kits for purchase were implemented in cinema halls.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs allowed cinema halls to operate at a higher seating capacity. Currently, theatres have been operating with 50% seating capacity. The Andhra Pradesh government in December 2020 announced a restart package for theatres, and waived off electricity charges for months of April, May, and June.
Uppena
Releasing on February 12, Uppena directed by Buchi Babu Sana marks the acting debut of Panja Vaishnav Tej, Telugu actor Sai Dharam Tej’s brother and actor Chiranjeevi’s nephew. The film also stars actor Krithi Shetty, last seen in Tamil film Seveli (2017), and Vijay Sethupathi, the Tamil actor most recently seen in Master (2020), in pivotal roles. The music has been composed by Devi Sri Prasad. Uppena is produced by Naveen Yerneni and Y Ravi Shankar under the banner of Mythri Movie Makers in association with Sukumar Writings.
Check
Releasing on February 19, Check starring Nithiin, Rakul Preet Singh, and Priya Prakash Varrier is a thriller drama film written and directed by Chandra Sekhar Yeleti. The story revolves around the protagonist (played by Nithiin), who is imprisoned after being falsely accused of crimes he did not commit and eventually learns to play chess in prison. While Singh plays the role of his lawyer, Varrier plays a role in a flashback sequence. Check is produced by V Anand Prasad, under the Bhavya Creations banner. The music is composed by Kalyani Malik.
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Jathi Ratnalu
Releasing on March 11, Jathi Ratnalu stars Naveen Polishetty, Priyadarshi Pulikonda and Rahul Ramakrishna. The political comedy-drama, written and directed by Anudeep K V is produced by director Nag Ashwin under the Swapna Cinema banner. Polishetty plays the role of Jogipet Srikanth, a prisoner, along with Priyadarshi and Ramakrishna as his fellow prisoners.
Seetimaarr
Releasing on April 2, Gopichand, Tamannaah Bhatia and Digangana Suryavanshi starrer Seetimaarr is directed by Sampath Nandi. The sports action film is produced by Srinivasa Chitturi under the banner of Srinivasa Silver Screen.
Tuck Jagdish
Releasing on April 16, actor Nani starrer Tuck Jagdish directed by Shiva Nirvana, also features Ritu Varma, Aishwarya Rajesh and Jagapathi Babu in pivotal roles. The character of Nani is named as Jagdish Naidu aka Tuck Jagdish. The film is produced by Sahu Garapati and Harish Peddi under the banner of Shine Screens, and S Thaman has composed the music for the film.
Viraata Parvam
Releasing on April 30, Viraata Parvam stars Ranna Daggubati along with Sai Pallavi in the lead roles. The historical drama revolves around the Naxalite movement that took place in Andhra Pradesh during the 1990s. Directed by Venu Udugula, and co-produced by D Suresh Babu and Sudhakar Cherukuri under the banner of Suresh Productions, the film also features Priyamani, Nandita Das, Naveen Chandra, Zarina Wahab, Easwari Rao, and Sai Chand in other important roles.
Pushpa
Releasing on August 13, Pushpa stars Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna in the lead roles. The action thriller film is set against the backdrop of smuggling of erra chandanam (red sandalwood) and is loosely based on true events along with some added drama elements, family emotions in its storyline. Written and directed by filmmaker Sukumar, the film is produced by Naveen Yerneni and Y Ravi Shankar under the banner Mythri Movie Makers while the music is composed by Devi Sri Prasad. The team is currently shooting in the forest areas of Maredumilli near Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh.
Maha Samudram
Releasing on August 19, Maha Samudram features actors Sharwanand, Siddharth, Aditi Rao Hydari and Anu Emmanuel. The romantic action drama is an intense love story set in the backdrop of the port city Vizag (Visakhapatnam). The film is about the bond between two best friends (played by Sharwanand and Siddharth) from Vizag, the women in their life, and the intensity of love. Maha Samudram is written and directed by Ajay Bhupathi, who has earlier directed the 2018 Telugu romantic action-drama RX 100.
F3
Releasing on August 27, F3 is a sequel to the 2019 comedy film F2: Fun and Frustration starring Venkatesh Daggubati, Varun Tej, Tamannaah and Mehreen Pirzada who are reprising their roles in the upcoming sequel. The film is directed by Anil Ravipudi, produced by Shirish under the banner of Sri Venkateswara Creations and presented by Dil Raju while Devi Sri Prasad has composed the music for the film.
RRR
Releasing on October 13, RRR is a multistarrer pan-India film featuring actors NTR, Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Samuthirakani and Allison Doody amongst other actors from Indian cinema. The “period actioner” that portrays the fictional take on the lives of Telugu freedom fighters Komaram Bheem and Alluri Seetharama Raju’s lives before they started their fight for independence. Directed by SS Rajamouli, produced by DVV Danayya the film will also release in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada.
