Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi's latest film, "Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu," has achieved a significant box office milestone, grossing an estimated 109 crore rupees worldwide within its first three days of release. The action-comedy entertainer, which hit theaters on Monday, January 12, capitalized on the festive Sankranthi season to draw large audiences.^[1][2][3][4] ### Strong Opening Weekend Performance "Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu" demonstrated robust performance at the box office, particularly in its home market. On its third day, the film collected approximately 21 crore rupees at the Indian box office. This brought its cumulative three-day net collection in India to roughly 84 crore rupees.^[3] Including an estimated 25 crore rupees (USD 2.75 million) from overseas markets, the film's total worldwide gross surged past the 100 crore mark to approximately 109 crore rupees.^[3] The movie's release during the Sankranthi festival, a period known for high cinema attendance in the Telugu states, significantly contributed to its strong opening.^{[1][2][3][5][4][6]} The film saw a strong opening day, collecting 32.25 crore rupees, not including 9.35 crore rupees from paid premieres.^[7][4] Despite a minor dip on its second day, earning 18.75 crore rupees, collections rebounded on the third day with 19.25 crore rupees, a trend that reverses typical weekday declines.^[7][4][6] This steady performance is attributed to decent word-of-mouth from audiences and the holiday season.^[1][5][6] Exhibitors in the Telugu states have added extra shows and screens to meet the high public demand.^[5][4] ### Key Cast and Crew Behind the Success Directed by Anil Ravipudi, "Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu" features Chiranjeevi in the lead role as Shankara Vara Prasad, an NIA agent.^{[8][9][2][10][4]} Nayanthara plays the female lead, Sasirekha, a wealthy businesswoman.^{[1][9][10][4]} The film also includes a special extended cameo by veteran actor Venkatesh Daggubati, alongside Catherine Tresa and Sachin Khedekar in other significant roles.^{[1][9][2][10][5][6]} Anil Ravipudi is known for his successful commercial entertainers and has a history of delivering hits during the Sankranthi season.^[2][10][6] The film is a collaborative effort produced by Sahu Garapati and Sushmita Konidela.^[10][5] The music for the film is composed by Bheems Ceciroleo.^[9][10] ### Chiranjeevi's Resurgence and Audience Reception The success of "Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu" marks a significant positive turn for Chiranjeevi's recent filmography. His previous film, "Bholaa Shankar," released in August 2023, recorded one of his lowest opening weekend collections, grossing approximately 36 crore rupees worldwide over three days.^[1][11] Another earlier film, "Acharya," was a commercial failure, grossing 76 crore rupees against a 140 crore rupee budget.^[12] Critics have offered mixed reviews for "Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu," with some noting that the film heavily relies on Chiranjeevi's star presence and comic timing rather than a strong, unique storyline.^[8][10][6] However, audiences have generally found it to be a good entertainer, especially suitable for families during the festive period.^[1][5][6] One netizen on X praised the film, stating, "Thank You @AnilRavipudi for showing the legend as he should be. Mana Shankar Vara Prasad garu mana Chiranjeevi Ni mana andariki malli gurthu chesindi."^[2] ### Industry Impact and Future Outlook The film's strong box office run is setting new benchmarks. It is rapidly approaching the 2 million bookings mark on BookMyShow, making it one of the fastest regional films to achieve this feat.^[5] Its success extends to the global market, where it has already cleared the $2 million milestone in North America.^[5] With the ongoing Sankranthi holidays, industry analysts expect "Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu" to maintain its momentum and continue to attract significant footfall. The film is positioned to become one of the highest-grossing films in Telugu cinema history.^[3][5] Its ability to draw crowds despite mixed critical reception highlights the enduring appeal of Chiranjeevi and the strategic timing of its release. The film's performance underscores the power of star appeal and the impact of holiday releases in the Indian film industry.

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