Cinema , September 27, 2025: The ₹100 crore opening day. Once considered an unattainable feat, it has now become the gold standard for blockbuster films success , and South Indian cinema is leading the charge.
From mythological epics to gritty gangster sagas, Telugu-language films have consistently shattered records, turning release days into nationwide spectacles. The latest entrant into this elite club is Pawan Kalyan’s high-octane thriller They Call Him OG, which stormed past ₹101.50 crore in India on its debut, cementing its place among the country’s biggest cinematic launches.
The Power List: India’s Biggest Films and Day-One Grossers
| Rank | Film Title | Day 1 India Gross | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pushpa 2: The Rule (2024) | ₹209.20 Cr | Telugu |
| 2 | RRR (2022) | ₹156.00 Cr | Telugu |
| 3 | Baahubali 2 (2017) | ₹153.00 Cr | Telugu |
| 4 | KGF Chapter 2 (2022) | ₹134.50 Cr | Kannada |
| 5 | Kalki 2898 AD | ₹116.00 Cr | Telugu |
| 6 | Salaar (2023) | ₹107.10 Cr | Telugu |
| 7 | Saaho (2019) | ₹105.00 Cr | Telugu |
| 8 | Adipurush (2023) | ₹102.50 Cr | Hindi |
| 9 | They Call Him OG (2025) | ₹101.50 Cr | Telugu |
What’s Driving the Southern films Box Office Boom?
The dominance of Telugu cinema in this list is no coincidence. It’s a result of:
- Pan-India Strategy: Films are now released in multiple languages with synchronized marketing blitzes.
- Visionary Direction: Filmmakers like SS Rajamouli, Sukumar, and Prashanth Neel have redefined scale and storytelling.
- Star Power: Icons like Allu Arjun, Prabhas, and Pawan Kalyan command massive fan bases across regions.
- Event-Level Releases: These films are treated like festivals, with pre-release hype rivaling national holidays.
Beyond Bollywood: A Shift in Cinematic Gravity
While Bollywood once held the monopoly on mass openings, the tide has turned. With only one Hindi-language film (Adipurush) making the ₹100 crore cut, it’s clear that regional industries, especially Telugu are now setting the pace.
Upcoming releases like Pushpa 3, Devara, and Kalki 2 are expected to push the envelope even further, potentially rewriting the record books once again.
