Celebrating Telugu Blockbusters: Looking at Tollywood's first five Rs 100 crore grossers

The Telugu film industry has witnessed tremendous growth and success over the years. The advent of Rs 100 crore movies in Telugu cinema has become a significant milestone, indicating the industry's remarkable progress. Let's take a closer look at the first five Telugu movies to cross the coveted Rs 100 crore gross mark.

Magadheera-2009

Directed by S.S. Rajamouli, Magadheera is considered a game-changer in Telugu cinema. This epic action-fantasy film featured Ram Charan and Kajal Aggarwal in the lead roles and boasted groundbreaking visual effects. Magadheera not only became the first Telugu film to surpass the Rs 100-crore mark but also created new benchmarks for grandeur, storytelling, and technical finesse.

Robo-2010

Starring the legendary Rajinikanth in dual roles, "Robo" (Telugu) or "Enthiran" (Tamil) was a sci-fi extravaganza directed by Shankar. This film blended science fiction with commercial elements, captivating audiences with its innovative storyline and mind-boggling visual effects. With its captivating plot, Rajinikanth's charismatic presence, and A.R. Rahman's brilliant music, "Robo" became a colossal success and surpassed the Rs 100 crore milestone, further establishing Telugu cinema's nationwide reach.

Dookudu-2011

Directed by Sreenu Vaitla, Dookudu featured Mahesh Babu in a high-octane action-comedy role alongside Samantha Ruth Prabhu. This film marked a significant turning point for Mahesh Babu's career, as it propelled him to new heights of stardom. Dookudu showcased a perfect blend of action, comedy, and emotions, captivating the audience's attention. With its engaging storyline and Mahesh Babu's magnetic screen presence, the film went on to become a massive hit, crossing the Rs 100 crore gross mark with ease.

Gabbar Singh-2012

A remake of the Hindi film Dabangg, Gabbar Singh was directed by Harish Shankar and featured Pawan Kalyan in the lead role. Known for its high-energy entertainment, power-packed dialogues, and foot-tapping music, the film struck a chord with the audience. Pawan Kalyan's charismatic portrayal of a cop with a flair for action and comedy endeared him to the masses, propelling Gabbar Singh to enter the Rs 100 crore club.

Attarintiki Daredi-2013

Directed by Trivikram Srinivas, "Attarintiki Daredi" featured Pawan Kalyan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and Pranitha Subhash in pivotal roles. The film revolved around a man's quest to reconcile with his estranged aunt and family, leading to a series of entertaining and heartwarming events. With Trivikram's skillful storytelling, Pawan Kalyan's endearing performance, and an engaging screenplay, Attarintiki Daredi became a massive hit and achieved the Rs 100 crore gross milestone in no time.

The first five Rs 100 crore movies in Telugu cinema marked a significant breakthrough in the industry, elevating Telugu films to new heights and widening their reach beyond regional boundaries. The success of these films not only paved the way for more Telugu movies to enter the Rs 100 crore club but also contributed to the growth and recognition of the industry on a global scale. 

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About the author: Chandragupta is part human brain, part generative AI: the former provides intellect while the latter does the heavy lifting of an artificial neural network. The name, if you haven’t already worked it out, is a backronym of ChatGPT.