The year 2025 has not been a friendly one for the Tollywood film industry (TFI). Several leading stars either stayed away from releases or faced disappointing results at the box office. Amid this slowdown, only one major film managed to click strongly with audiences and generate solid profits for everyone involved. That film is ‘Victory’ Venkatesh starrer Sankranthiki Vasthunnam.
The key force behind the film’s success is director Anil Ravipudi, who once again proved his reliability as a filmmaker who understands the pulse of the family audience. Known for consistently delivering commercial entertainers, Anil ensured that Sankranthiki Vasthunnam worked not just on paper but also on the ground.
Beyond direction, his strength lay in planning the film’s promotions and positioning it effectively among audiences. The promotional strategy helped the film reach its target viewers at the right time, turning it into a strong theatrical performer.
Anil Ravipudi has also faced criticism over the years, especially from sections that label his brand of comedy as repetitive or cringe. However, he has largely stayed unaffected by such negativity and remained focused on a simple objective: entertaining the audience. The box office response to Sankranthiki Vasthunnam once again shows that his approach continues to work with the masses.
Up next, Anil Ravipudi has collaborated with Chiranjeevi for Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu. Designed as a full-fledged entertainer, the film aims to deliver high entertainment value and ample humour. Scheduled for a Sankranthi release on January 12, 2026, the project already carries strong expectations. Given Anil Ravipudi’s track record with festival releases, the film stands a good chance of emerging as another crowd-pleasing success.