Ram Charan-Jr NTR's 'RRR' establishes Tollywood as India's new cinema powerhouse

Coming close on the heels of the success of the Allu Arjun-starrer 'Pushpa: The Rise', which was 2021's highest-grossing film pan-India, 'RRR' has made it amply clear that Telugu commercial cinema is the new entertainment leader in post-COVID India.

BENGALURU: The resounding theatrical success of 'RRR', from the two Telugu-speaking states to the United Kingdom, where it roared past Jake Gyllenhaal's 'Ambulance' and Tom Holland's 'Uncharted', has established Tollywood as India's new cinema powerhouse.

With its worldwide earnings touching Rs 652 crore on its sixth day, far surpassing even the collections of 'The Kashmir Files', 'RRR' has proved that SS Rajamouli's competition is himself -- after edging out his own 'Baahubali: The Beginning' from the No. 2 all-time blockbuster spot, he has only 'Baahubali: The Conclusion' to dislodge to establish 'RRR' as Indian cinema's highest-ever grosser.

Coming close on the heels of the success of the Allu Arjun-starrer 'Pushpa: The Rise', which was 2021's highest-grossing film pan-India, 'RRR' has made it amply clear that Telugu commercial cinema is the new entertainment leader in post-Covid India, especially when compared with much-hyped commercial duds such as '83', 'Gangubai Kathiyawadi' and 'Bachchan Pandey'.

'The Kashmir Files' has been the only exception, but it owes much of its success to the manner in which it was adopted by the BJP and supported by its state governments with tax exemptions, especially after Prime Minister Narendra Modi endorsed it wholeheartedly.

Not only films, Telugu movie stars, such as Prabhas, Allu Arjun, Jr NTR and Ram Charan, have become well-known names across the country.