In many parts of India, the Pongal and Sankranti harvest festivals are celebrated this week. Four massive stars from the southern Indian film industry will compete for audience attention during one of the busiest Indian festival release windows.
Pritish Bagdi
Sri Venkateswara Creations/PVP Cinema/Bayview Projects LLP/ Zee Studios/Mythri Movie Makers
Vijay appears in Vamshi Paidipally's Tamil-language action family drama "Varisu," which will be released on January 11th. Its Telugu-language dubbed version "Varasudu" will be released in India on January 14. Rashmika Mandanna, R. Sarathkumar, Prabhu, and Prakash Raj round out the heavyweight cast.
Also due a Jan. 11 release is H. Vinoth's Tamil-language action heist film "Thunivu," starring Ajith Kumar, which will also release in its Telugu-dubbed version "Thegimpu" on the same day. Manju Warrier and Samuthirakani also appear in the film.
Chiranjeevi stars in K.S. Ravindra's Telugu-language action comedy "Waltair Veerayya," which also stars Ravi Teja, Shruti Haasan, Rajendra Prasad, and Catherine Tresa. The film and its Hindi-language dub will be released on January 13, with previews beginning on January 12.
Nandamuri Balakrishna, Shruti Haasan, and Duniya Vijay star in Gopichand Malineni's Telugu-language action drama "Veera Simha Reddy," which is set to be released on January 12.
All of the films are produced by well-known industry figures. "Varisu" is produced by Dil Raju's Sri Venkateswara Creations ("Sarileru Neekevvaru") and Prasad V. Potluri's PVP Cinema ("Evaru"); "Thunivu" is produced by Zee Studios and Boney Kapoor's Bayview Projects ("Valimai"); and both Telugu titles are produced by Naveen Yerneni, Y.
Because there are so many big-ticket titles releasing at the same time, distributors have adopted a variety of promotional strategies. In the United Kingdom, for example, "Varisu" distributor Ahimsa Entertainment is running a digital advertising campaign in 75 London locations.
Lyca Productions, which is distributing "Thunivu" in the United Kingdom and Europe through Boleyn Cinemas, has a promotional van for the film touring London landmarks such as Big Ben and Tower Bridge.