Nani's The Paradise Sets Landmark Theatrical Deal: Mythri Movie Makers Secure Nizam Rights for Massive Actioner

BY SACNILK

The collaboration between Natural Star Nani and director Srikanth Odela has become one of the most anticipated projects in Tollywood's 2026 calendar. Titled The Paradise, the film serves as a high-stakes reunion for the duo following their 2023 blockbuster, Dasara. While the project has been under wraps for some time, recent market developments have highlighted just how massive this spectacle is going to be. In a major development for the trade circuit, the theatrical rights for the Nizam region have reportedly been bagged by Mythri Movie Makers. Industry insiders suggest the deal was closed for a reported ₹37 crores, an unprecedented figure for a Nani starrer in this territory. This deal serves as a strong market signal, indicating high distributor confidence in Srikanth Odela's vision and Nani’s box office pull. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The scale of The Paradise is significantly larger than anything Nani has attempted before. The film is being produced on a staggering reported budget that has now escalated into the ₹160 to ₹200-crore range. To put this into perspective, this budget effectively triples the cost of Nani's other concurrent franchise, HIT: The Third Case, which was made for a reported ₹70 crores. The spike in production costs is attributed to director Srikanth Odela's meticulous action choreography and the ambitious nature of the shoot. On the casting front, Nani is set to appear in a rugged transformation as a raw, heavy-bearded fighter named Jadal (or Dhagad). The film also marks the intense Telugu debut of Bollywood actor Raghav Juyal, who plays the primary antagonist, Vikram Malik. Adding further weight to the ensemble is veteran actor Mohan Babu, who portrays a character named Shikanja Malik, alongside Kayadu Lohar and Sonali Kulkarni in pivotal roles. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) While fans were initially expecting an August release, the latest industry buzz indicates a shift in the timeline. Originally locked for August 21, 2026, the film is reportedly facing production delays as approximately 30 to 35 shooting days are still pending. Trade reports now reveal that the team is targeting a late September release, specifically September 24 or 25, 2026. This extra time is believed to be necessary to ensure the high-octane action sequences meet the global standards the makers are aiming for.

BY SACNILK

The upcoming August 2026 box office window is shaping up to be one of the most crowded and high-stakes periods for South Indian cinema in recent memory. Within a span of just eight days, four major superstars are bringing their highly anticipated projects to the big screen. This lineup creates a massive logistical challenge for theater owners and a feast for moviegoers, but it also raises important questions about whether such a close release schedule is a benefit or a risk for the industry. The wave begins on August 14 with Suriya's Vishwanath and Sons. Directed by Venky Atluri, this film stands out from the rest as it is a nuanced family drama and sports-romance rather than a typical mass-genre entertainer. Suriya plays an international pistol-shooting champion in a bilingual project shot in both Tamil and Telugu. While it gets a head start by releasing almost a week earlier, it will need to maintain strong word-of-mouth to survive the onslaught of three massive action films arriving just days later. The real explosion happens on August 20, when two of Malayalam cinema's biggest stars, Dulquer Salmaan and Prithviraj Sukumaran, go head-to-head. Dulquer's I'm Game, directed by Nahas Hidayath, is a pan-Indian action-thriller exploring themes of cricket betting and fantasy gaming. On the same day, Prithviraj's Khalifa hits theaters. Subtitled The Bloodline, this underworld saga features an extended cameo by Mohanlal, which has already sent expectations soaring. These two films will compete directly for screen space in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and international markets like the Middle East. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The pressure intensifies just 24 hours later on August 21, with the release of Nani's period action-drama, The Paradise. Directed by Srikanth Odela and featuring music by Anirudh Ravichander, this film is set in the 1980s slums of Secunderabad. While Nani is expected to dominate the Telugu states, the overlap with the other releases is undeniable. In an interesting twist, actress Kayadu Lohar finds herself as the female lead in both I'm Game and The Paradise, meaning she will literally be competing against herself at the box office on the same weekend. A clash of this magnitude acts as a double-edged sword for the industry. On the positive side, it creates a massive surge in overall footfalls, turning the weekend into a festival-like atmosphere. The wide variety of genres—ranging from Suriya's family sports drama to the gritty underworld themes of Khalifa and the period setting of The Paradise—ensures that there is something for every type of moviegoer. The real challenge, however, lies in how the screens are distributed once the word of mouth kicks in. Unlike a solo release where a hit can monopolize every screen in a city, these four films will have to fight to retain their shows from the very first day. An average film that might have survived in a solo window could see its screens replaced much faster in this scenario, as theaters will have three other high-demand alternatives ready to take over. It effectively becomes a survival of the fittest scenario where only the strongest content will thrive. Furthermore, the marketing costs for each production house will skyrocket as they fight for the audience's attention in a cluttered space. While Nani's The Paradise may hold the upper hand in the AP-TG region and Dulquer's I'm Game might lead in Tamil and Malayalam markets, the overlap in the Telugu-Tamil bilingual space for Suriya and the pan-Indian aspirations of the others will lead to a fragmented box office. Ultimately, the success of this August madness will depend on whether the quality of the content can sustain four different narratives simultaneously, or if one dominant film will eventually push the others out of the race.

BY SACNILK

Hyderabad, February 27 - Natural star Nani has been in great form at the box office for the last couple of years and in the hope of extending that winning streak, he reunited with his Dasara director Srikanth Odela for an action thriller film The Paradise. ## The Paradise has been shaping up as one of the most anticipated Telugu movies of the year and it will feature Nani in a completely new avatar. Meanwhile, the makers will take the audience into the world of The Paradise with the first look glimpse named Raw Statement which will be released on March 3rd. ## Ahead of the first look glimpse, it has been revealed that The Paradise will also be dubbed in the Spanish language, making it probably the first Telugu movie to have simultaneous release in this language. Additionally, the movie will be released in English, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali, and Kannada with the original Telugu version. ## Nani's popularity has soared over the last few years with back-to-back successful films. By the looks of posters, The Paradise seems to be a perfect film for the actor to go beyond boundaries and the makers are seemingly leaving no stone unturned to make sure it reaches its target audience. ## The film is produced by Sudhakar Cherukuri under the banner of SLV Cinemas. Anirudh Ravichander has scored the music of the much-anticipated blockbuster which is said to be Nani's costliest film. The release date is not yet finalized. ## Stay tuned...