2025 Indian Box Office Kicks Off with Telugu Blockbusters Dominating
India's 2025 box office surge began with a flurry of Telugu films released during the Sankranthi holiday, propelling local earnings past INR10.13 billion ($116.6 million). Leading the charge was "Sankranthiki Vasthunam," a genre-bending blockbuster starring Venkatesh that topped the monthly chart with an impressive $23 million haul.
As per Ormax Media, January's Indian local gross, excluding overseas figures, was driven by three Telugu juggernauts: "Sankranthiki Vasthunam," "Game Changer," and "Daaku Maharaaj." Together, they amassed over $55 million, with Telugu cinema commanding a staggering 44% of the month's box office share.
The success of "Sankranthiki Vasthunam" highlights Telugu cinema's continued dominance during Sankranthi, a peak season known for delivering high-grossing films. The film's unconventional genre-blending resonated strongly with audiences, proving that festival season remains a lucrative time for Telugu tentpoles. Typically, Tamil-language cinema also enjoys significant success during this period with the Pongal festival holidays coinciding with Sankranthi. However, this year, Tamil's sole breakout was "Madha Gaja Raja," which achieved a commendable $5.7 million tally.
Meanwhile, Hindi-language Bollywood had a slow start to 2025, with only "Sky Force" emerging as a hit in January with $11.5 million. This kept the industry's market share below 30%, while Tamil films accounted for 12% of the month's earnings and Malayalam productions secured 9%.
Empowering Women at Cannes with the She Pavilion
The Cannes Film Festival will introduce the She Pavilion, a hub dedicated to women's empowerment. This initiative, spearheaded by Yes She Cannes, follows the success of their Her Club Cannes debut last year. While focused on female empowerment, the pavilion will be open to all genders, providing a networking hub and safe space for industry professionals navigating the festival. The programming will include panels and exclusive events aimed at elevating underrepresented voices in the film industry.
"This hub is not just another venue – it's a community, a place for collaboration and empowerment," said Yes She Cannes founder Faith Elizabeth. "By creating the She Pavilion, we are ensuring that women at Cannes have a place where they feel supported, connected, and empowered to take up space in the industry."
Taps: An LGBTQ+ Drama Premiering on YouTube
Actors Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal will present "Taps," an LGBTQ+ relationship drama, for its YouTube premiere. Directed by Arvind Caulagi and produced by Sudhanshu Saria in collaboration with the Kashish Film Festival and Lotus Visual Productions, the short film explores the journey of a couple toward reconciliation. Starring newcomers Ullas Samrat and Rohit Mehra, "Taps" received the Kashish QDrishti Film Grant prior to its festival run.
"Cinema can shift perspectives," said Chadha. "‘Taps’ peels back the layers of identity, love, and self-acceptance. We want people to open their hearts a little more." Fazal added, "The film captures something intimate, raw, and real. It reminds us that love isn't just about who we love but how we love — with honesty, courage, and resilience."
Producer Saria, known for "Loev," drew parallels between the two projects. "It felt like the perfect way to build on ‘Loev’s' legacy in queer cinema by supporting another story that normalizes queer representation." Co-producer Neeraj Churi stated, "Stories like ‘Taps’ are about representation and holding a mirror to society, asking if we are ready to accept love in all its forms."
Kaushaljis vs Kaushal: A Family Comedy on JioHotstar
Jio Studios, Merry Go Round Studios, and Mumbai Talkeez unveiled the trailer for their upcoming family comedy "Kaushaljis vs Kaushal." Directed by Seemaa Desai, the film follows 27-year-old Yug Kaushal as he leaves his small-town life for the urban landscape of Delhi. When his critique of his parents' traditional lifestyle unintentionally leads them to consider a mutual separation while embracing modernity, Yug must deal with the unexpected consequences of his actions.
The film, produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Umesh Shukhla, Ashish Wagh, and Parag Desai, explores themes of urbanization and changing family dynamics through a comedic lens. It will stream on JioHotstar, the platform formed by the merger of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar, from February 21.