The first half of 2025 has been a mixed bag for Telugu cinema. While some high-budget films made it to theatres, many of them didn’t quite meet audience expectations. The second half of the year, however, looks far more promising. With several major releases lined up, Telugu cinema is heading into one of its most competitive phases at the box office.
After the release of Hari Hara Veera Mallu, all eyes are now on Kingdom, which is expected to hit theatres soon. But it’s the month of August that’s drawing intense attention. Two major pan-India films, Coolie and War 2, are both scheduled to release on the same day. This high-profile clash is being called just the beginning of the fireworks.
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Come September, the Dussehra holiday season is gearing up for an even bigger showdown. OG and Akhanda 2 are both eyeing the same festive release window, setting up a fierce competition. Despite earlier rumors of a date shift to avoid box office overlap, both production houses have now confirmed their release timelines and are moving ahead without backing down.
OG has wrapped up its shoot, and post-production is progressing at a fast pace. The makers have officially announced a release date of September 25. Meanwhile, Akhanda 2 has completed its final talkie portions in Bhadrachalam. Director Boyapati Srinu recently revealed that only one song remains to be filmed and confirmed the team is aiming to finish by mid-August.
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Among Telugu fans, the hype for Akhanda 2 is off the charts. The buzz is being compared to the anticipation for Pushpa 2. NBK fans are confident the sequel will dominate the box office, citing the original film’s 50-day successful theatrical run. They believe Akhanda 2 will build on that legacy and surpblock expectations.
To add more fuel to the fire, Balakrishna’s fans are now claiming that Pawan Kalyan’s Hari Hara Veera Mallu is struggling due to the surprise success of the animated movie Mahavatar Narsimha. With the animation film pulling large crowds, they argue that Pawan Kalyan could face even tougher times against Balakrishna, widely regarded as the on-screen Narasimha.
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With both OG and Akhanda 2 planning wide India releases during Dussehra, this could be one of the most critical weekends for Telugu cinema in recent memory. The extended holiday is expected to give both films a strong push, but the box office will reveal who emerges victorious. For now, fans are bracing for an explosive face-off, both on and off the screen.
