HT Rewind 2024: How Pushpa 2 The Rule, HanuMan, Kalki 2898 AD brought about a Tollywood renaissance after a dull 2023
Hindustan TimesAfter a lukewarm 2023, which saw more misses than hits, Tollywood seems to have redeemed itself in 2024. Not only did the year see a Telugu film becoming the highest-grosser for the year, it also became the first year to have two over ₹1000 crore grossers release within months of each other. After Devara: Part 1, things perked up in the final quarter with Kiran Abbavaram-starrer KA and Dulquer Salmaan-starrer Lucky Baskhar also joining the list of this year’s top films at ₹53 crore and ₹106 crore. Even as the film continued to break barriers at the box office, bringing in over ₹1500 crore till date, becoming the highest-grossing Hindi, Telugu and Indian film for the year, coming third only to Dangal and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, the film’s lead was arrested in the fan death case and released on interim bail. Top 4 Telugu ₹ 1000+ grossers Figures Baahubali 2: The Conclusion ₹ 1788 crore Pushpa 2: The Rule ₹ 1500 crore + counting RRR ₹ 1230 crore Kalki 2898 AD ₹ 1042 crore Despite the off-screen troubles, Pushpa 2: The Rule became the second Telugu film to earn over ₹1000 crore and the fourth after Baahubali 2, RRR, and Kalki 2898 AD.