Top 10 Highest-Grossing Best Tollywood Movies at the Box Office

Top 10 Highest-Grossing Best Tollywood Movies at the Box Office

Telugu cinema also referred to as Tollywood, consists of movies made in that language. It is India's second-largest center for film production. Filmmaker Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu has been making short films since 1909 and traveling to several Asian countries to market his works. He is known as the Father of Telugu cinema since he created the silent film Bhishma Pratigna in 1921, which is usually regarded as the first Telugu feature film. The 1933 Second Venice Film Festival awarded Sati Savitri, which was directed by Chittajallu Pullayya, an honorary certificate.

One of the biggest creators of mythical, fantasy, and dramatic movies in the Tollywood industry. This genre was invented by filmmakers like K. V. Reddy, B. Vittalacharya, and Kodi Ramakrishna. The best feature film award for 1956 went to Tenali Ramakrishna, which won the All India Certificate of Merit. According to a 2013 IBN Live survey, Mayabazar was the best Indian movie ever made. Adavi Ramudu, starring N. T. Rama Rao, was the first movie to gross one crore in 1977. The first Telugu film to earn more than 10 crores at the box office is K. Raghavendra Rao's 1992 film Gharana Mogudu, which stars Chiranjeevi.

In this blog, we will be reviving the nostalgic movies that ruled the box office its amazing performances, and breaking the records of the cinema. The highest-grossing Telugu movies are listed here, along with their simultaneous and dub versions. 

1. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017)

The 2017 Indian epic action film Baahubali 2: The Conclusion was directed by S. S. Rajamouli, who also co-wrote the script with V. Vijayendra Prasad. Under Arka Media Works, Shobu Yarlagadda and Prasad Devineni produced it. It was concurrently filmed in Tamil and Telugu. Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah, Ramya Krishna, Sathyaraj, Nassar, and Subbaraju are the ensemble cast members in the movie. The story takes place in medieval India and centers on the conflict between Amarendra Baahubali and Bhallaladeva, the latter of whom plans to assassinate the former by having Kattappa do it. The son of Amarendra comes back to take revenge years later.

The movie had a reported budget of 250 crores ($37 million), making it the most costly Indian movie ever. With a global gross of Rs. 1,810 crores ($267 million), the movie briefly eclipsed PK (2014) to hold the record for the highest-grossing Indian movie of all time. In barely ten days, it became the first Indian movie ever to earn over 1,000 crores. It broke numerous box office records in India, topping Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi to become the most successful movie ever. It is now the top-grossing movie in India, the second-highest-grossing Indian movie globally, and the 39th-highest-grossing movie of 2017.

2. RRR (2022)

The epic action-drama RRR was written by V. Vijayendra Prasad and S. S. Rajamouli, and it was directed by S. S. Rajamouli in 2022. D. V. V. Danayya of DVV Entertainment produced it. N. T. Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan, Alia Bhatt, Shriya Saran, Samuthirakani, Ray Stevenson, Alison Doody, and Olivia Morris are among the actors who appear in the movie. It revolves around the friendship between Alluri Sitarama Raju (Charan) and Komaram Bheem (Rama Rao), two real-life Indian rebels who fought the British Raj.

RRR, which cost 550 crore rupees ($72 million), is the most costly Indian movie ever made. RRR was theatrically released on March 25, 2022, and the film won acclaim for Rajamouli's director, scripting, and cast members' performances. The most enormous opening-day revenue for an Indian film was broken by RRR. The movie broke multiple records at the box office, becoming the third-highest-grossing Indian movie and the second-highest-grossing Telugu movie globally with a total worldwide gross of 1,200 crores (US$175.47 million). It afterward became the highest-grossing Indian movie in Japan. At the 47th Saturn Awards, it received nominations in three categories and won the Best International Film award.

3. Baahubali: The Beginning (2015)

S. S. Rajamouli co-wrote and directed the 2015 Indian epic action film Baahubali: The Beginning, which was also co-produced by Shobu Yarlagadda and Prasad Devineni under the banner of Arka Media Works. Tamil and Telugu versions of the movie were simultaneously shot. In the first of two films, Sivudu, a fearless young man, helps his love Avantika in freeing Devasena, the former queen of Mahishmati who is now imprisoned under the cruel tyranny of king Bhallaladeva. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion brings the narrative to a close.

The movie, which cost 180 crores ($28 million), was the most costly one being created in India at the time of its release. The Hindi and Malayalam dubs of the movie also had their global premieres on July 10, 2015, as well. It ranked as the fifth-highest-grossing movie in India, the thirteenth-highest-grossing Indian movie globally, and the third-highest-grossing South Indian movie with a global box office gross of 581-650 crore ($93-101 million). The National Film Award for Best Feature Film and the National Award for Best Special Effects are only two of the recognitions it has garnered. It received five prizes at the 63rd Filmfare Awards South.

4. Saaho (2019)

Sujeeth wrote and directed the 2019 Indian Telugu-Hindi bilingual action movie Saaho, which was made by UV Creations. In addition to Jackie Shroff, Chunky Pandey, and Shraddha Kapoor, it also stars Prabhas in the lead role. Prabhas and Shraddha Kapoor are making their cinematic debuts in Telugu and Hindi, respectively, with Saaho. The movie centers on two undercover agents who are looking for a burglar who stole 2000 crore (US$284 million). They quickly conclude that the case is connected to the murder of a crime boss and a growing gang conflict over control of a megalopolis.

The movie received mixed reviews from critics, who gave it high marks for the acting, visual effects, cinematography, soundtrack, plot, and action scenes but low marks for the storyline, directing, and length. Saaho, which earned 419 crores (US$59.5 million)—439 crores (US$62.34 million) against its budget of 350 crores (US$50 million)—was a box office hit despite receiving mixed reviews.

5. Pushpa: The Rise (2021)

Sukumar is the writer and director of the action drama movie Pushpa: The Rise - Part 01, which will be released in 2021. Along with Fahadh Faasil, who makes his Telugu debut, Rashmika Mandanna, and Jagadeesh Prathap Bandari, Allu Arjun plays the film's lead role. The first of two cinematic segments shows the ascent of a low-wage worker in a red sandalwood smuggling ring. Red sandalwood is a rare wood that only grows in the Seshachalam Hills of the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Release day for Pushpa: The Rise was December 17, 2021. The movie did well financially, earning between 350.3 and 373 crores at the box office. The movie became the highest-grossing Indian movie in 2021 and is one of the all-time best-grossing Telugu movies.

6. Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020)

Trivikram Srinivas is the writer and director of the 2020 Indian Telugu action drama film Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, popularly known as the initialism AVPL. Critics praised the cast's acting, Thaman's music, and Trivikram's screenplay and directing, and the movie debuted to excellent reviews. 

The movie had a good box office performance, earning between 26 and 80 crores worldwide. It went on to become one of the highest-grossing Telugu films of all time as well as one of the biggest Indian box office hits of 2020. The National Film Award for Best Music Direction went to Thaman. Ten South Indian International Movie Awards, including Best Telugu Film, went to the movie. Shehzada, a Hindi-language remake, is currently in the works.

7. Sarileru Neekevaru (2020)

Anil Ravipudi is the writer and director of the 2020 Indian Telugu action comedy, Sarileru Neekevvaru. It is made by AK Entertainment, G. Mahesh Babu Entertainment, and Sri Venkateswara Creations. Mahesh Babu, Rashmika Mandanna, and Vijayashanti are the movie's main actors, and Prakash Raj and Rajendra Prasad play minor parts. The soundtrack was written by Devi Sri Prasad, while R. Rathnavelu was in charge of the filming.

The movie opened on 2050 screens around the world on January 11, 2020, to coincide with Sankranti. The picture was economically successful with a $75 million budget, earning more than 260 crores worldwide. It was praised for its humor, actors, cinematography, and action scenes. However, the screenplay and excessive length garnered criticism. The movie has reportedly made US$37.39 million, ranking it as the forty-first-highest-grossing movie globally of 2020, according to the box office tracking website Box Office Mojo.

8. Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2020)

Anil Ravipudi is the writer and director of the 2020 Indian Telugu action comedy film Sarileru Neekevvaru. It is made by AK Entertainment, G. Mahesh Babu Entertainment, and Sri Venkateswara Creations. The movie opened on 2050 screens around the world on January 11, 2020, to coincide with Sankranti. The picture was economically successful with a $75 million budget, earning more than 260 crores worldwide.

It was praised for its humor, actors, cinematography, and action scenes. However, the screenplay and excessive length garnered criticism. The movie has reportedly made US$37.39 million, ranking it as the forty-first-highest-grossing movie globally of 2020.

9. Rangasthalam (2018)

Sukumar wrote and directed the 2018 Telugu-language period action drama movie Rangasthalam. Ram Charan, Samantha Akkineni, and Aadhi Pinisetty feature in the Mythri Movie Makers production, which was created by Y. Naveen, Y. Ravi Shankar, and C. V. Mohan. The 1980s are the backdrop for the imaginary village of Rangasthalam. It tells the tale of two brothers, Chittibabu (Charan) and Kumar Babu (Pinisetty), who rebel against the corrupt cooperative society headed by its president Phanindra Bhupathi and the local government of their town (Babu).

The movie, which cost 60 crores to produce, was released worldwide on March 30, 2018. The movie was a commercial hit, earning a total of 216 crores, ranking it among the highest-grossing Telugu movies. The National Film Award for Best Audiography was also given to it. Rangasthala, a Kannada dub of the movie, was released on July 12, 2019. According to Film Companion, the movie is among the 25 Greatest Telugu Films Of The Decade.

10. Bharat Ane Nenu (2018)

Bharat is the title of Koratala Siva's 2018 Indian Telugu-language political drama film Bharat Ane Nenu, which was written and directed by Koratala Siva. Mahesh Babu and Kiara Advani are the movie's stars (in her Telugu debut). The story revolves around Bharat, an Oxford student who, after the death of his father, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, returns to India. 

After becoming the new chief minister and becoming disenchanted with the corruption he sees, Bharat seeks to overhaul the system, leading to controversies and gaining enemies along the way. The movie opened in theatres on April 20, 2018. At the box office, Bharat Ane Nenu collected between 187.6-225 crore.

With remarkable achievements, performances, and storylines, these Tollywood films won the heart of the audience worldwide and upgrade the standards of this industry prominently!