\r\nRam Gopal Varma hits the Censor Board hard. The Censor Board, over the past few weeks, has been hogging the media limelight for all the wrong reasons.\r\nThe way it delayed and refused to pass Tamil films, Vijay\'s Jana Nayagan and Sivakarthikeyan\'s Parasakathi for theatrical viewing, awarding the censor certificate drew flak from one and all.\r\nIn the midst of all this, Ram Gopal Varma took the Censor Board head-on with this following post.\r\nCENSOR BOARD is OUTDATED\r\nNot in the context of just @Actor_Vijay &lsquo;s #JanaNayagan &lsquo;s censor issues but in an overall manner,&nbsp; it is truly foolish to think that the censor board is still relevant today\r\nIt has long outlived it&rsquo;s purpose, but it&rsquo;s being kept alive out of laziness to debate it&rsquo;s relevance now , and it is the film industry as a whole which is mainly responsible for this\r\nWe live in a time where a 12-year old with a phone can watch a terrorist execution filmed on a GoPro, a 9-year-old can stumble upon hardcore porn, and a bored retiree can binge extremist propaganda, indulge in conspiracy theories ,&nbsp; from anywhere in the world, uncut, uncensored, algorithmically pushed. All of it is available instantly, anonymously, and without a gatekeeper.\r\nAt the same time, everybody in every wake of society speak in abusive language from new channels to YouTubers and from other apps ..If you quote that age old belief that cinema is a powerful medium , don&rsquo;t ignore the fact that the social media has far more reach than cinema .and it is full of political venom, communal poison, character assassinations, live, uncensored shouting matches in the name of debates.\r\nAnd in this reality, for the honourable censor board to believe that cutting a word in a film, trimming a shot, or blurring a cigarette will &ldquo;protect society.&rdquo; is a Joke\r\nThe censor board was born in an era of scarcity when images were rare, access was limited, and the state controlled the media . Cinema halls were crowd points. Newspapers had editors. Television had schedules. Control made sense then.\r\nBut today, any form of a control is impossible because no one can no longer decide what people should or should not see\r\nIn such times as now, censorship doesn&rsquo;t prevent exposure&hellip; it only insults the viewers .\r\nWe are supposed to have smartness to decide who should rule us but not what we want to see or hear ???\r\nWhat the censor board actually does now is not protection, but only theatrics&nbsp; . It&rsquo;s a ritual of authority in Oscar worthy performances where scissors replace thinking, and moral pretence moves around in a disguise called responsibility.\r\nThe same society that freely scrolls through graphic violence on social media suddenly becomes &ldquo;concerned&rdquo; when a filmmaker shows something in a theatre\r\nThis hypocrisy is dangerous\r\nCensorship assumes people are children forever as if they aren&rsquo;t even aware what all things children have access to?\r\nCinema is not meant to be a classroom where lessons are taught . They are mirrors , view points , expressions and opinions meant to entertain\r\nThe job of the authorities is not to edit or cut them out, but to trust citizens enough to decide for themselves ,which is the main point of freedom of speech and expression, guaranteed under the constitution\r\nIf the argument is &ldquo;think of the children or adults who are like children &ldquo;it takes very less intelligence to understand that they cannot be protected by blunt scissors wielded by committees ,whose own personal tastes pass off as public morality also not to forget their bias and agendas .\r\nAge classification makes sense. Warnings of the content makes sense. Censorship does not.\r\nContinuing to defend the relevance of the censor board today is like insisting on a watchman for a building whose walls have already been broken and everyone can see what&rsquo;s inside\r\nThe world has already moved on to so many platforms which are unfiltered and unsupervised and so the painful question is whether the authorities have the courage to admit that they are obsolete, and more than that, whether we as a film industry collectively have the will to question them on the same\r\nSo instead of raising this topic once in a while over a particular film , the fight should be with that particular system of thinking which created the censor board\r\n

Movie News

RGV takes Censor Board head-on

Ram Gopal Varma hits the Censor Board hard

\r\nPrabhas\'s latest film, The Raja Saab, has made a thunderous impact at the box office, collecting over â‚¹112 crore worldwide on its first day, despite receiving mixed reviews. The horror comedy has set a new benchmark for horror fantasy films, with its impressive global debut.\r\nThe film\'s Indian box office collection stood at â‚¹72 crore including Thursday Premiers, with â‚¹62 crore coming from Telugu, â‚¹7 crore from Hindi, and â‚¹3 crore from Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam markets combined. Overseas markets contributed â‚¹30 crore to the film\'s global collection.\r\nThe Raja Saab boasts an ensemble cast, including Prabhas, Sanjay Dutt, Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Boman Irani, Riddhi Kumar, and Zarina Wahab. Directed by Maruthi, the film combines horror, comedy, and fantasy elements, promising an entertaining ride for audiences.\r\nThe film\'s paid previews on Thursday earned â‚¹10 crore, laying the groundwork for its grand opening. With its impressive first-day collection,The Raja Saab is expected to perform well in the coming days.\r\n

The Raja Saab Blazing Start

The Raja Saab First Day Worldwide Boxoffice Collection

TG govt allows hike in ticket rates for Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu. Chiranjeevi's Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu is releasing on 12 Jan 2026. Expectations are high on the project directed by Anil Ravipudi as Chiranjeevi is starring in a hilarious entertainer after a longtime.
In the meantime, Telangana government allowed hike in ticket rates for the film ahead of its release. As per the GO released here are the revised ticket rates.
According to the GO, ticket rates for the premiers will be Rs 600 while for single screens, it has been increased by Rs50 for single screens and by Rs 100 for the multiplexes.
Premiere Shows
All theatres: â‚¹600
Regular Shows
Single-screen theatres: â‚¹227
Multiplexes: â‚¹395
The revised ticket rates will be place for one week and the theatres who are screening the film at these rates must contribute 20% odf the increased revennue to Employees Federation Welfare Association Account.
The bookings for Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu will be opening in few hours from now. Nayanthara is the female lead and Venkatesh is playing a cameo in the film for which music is scored by Bheems Ceciroleo.

MSG: TG govt delights on ticket rates

TG govt allows hike in ticket rates for Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu

\r\nSivakarthikeyan\'s highly anticipated historical drama Parasakthi has received a UA certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), paving the way for its release on January 10, Today. The film, directed by Sudha Kongara, stars Sivakarthikeyan, Jayam Ravi, and Sreeleela, and explores themes of social realities and resistance set in 1960s Madras.\r\nThe production house, Dawn Pictures, celebrated the news with a special post on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, \"A fire that speaks to all ages #Parasakthi censored with a U/A &ndash; striking theatres worldwide from Jan 10.\" The film\'s certified runtime stands at two hours, 42 minutes, and 43 seconds.\r\nParasakthi had faced uncertainty due to the hold-up in receiving censor clearance, but the CBFC has finally granted the film a UA certificate. The censor board had initially suggested several cuts, including some key portions of the film, which led the team to approach the Revising Committee. After reviewing the revised version, the committee granted the censor certificate.\r\nWith Jana Nayagan still caught in a legal battle over its censor issues, Parasakthi is set to enjoy an almost solo festival weekend. If the film opens with positive word of mouth, it has the potential to achieve massive box office collections. The film features a star-studded cast, including Atharvaa, Ravi Mohan, Daali Dhananjaya, and Rana Daggubati, and is produced by Dawn Pictures.\r\nParasakthi is a Tamil historical drama film directed by Sudha Kongara, starring Sivakarthikeyan, Jayam Ravi, and Sreeleela. The film explores themes of social realities and resistance set in 1960s Madras. With its UA certificate and solo release, Parasakthi has major advantage at the box office.\r\n

Parasakthi Solo Pongal Release In TN

Parasakthi Clears Censor Hurdle Gets UA Certificate

\r\nSivaji\'s social drama Dhandoraa has concluded its theatrical run, earning a disappointing Rs 2 crore at the box office. The film, released amidst heavy competition during Christmas, received positive reviews but failed to generate buzz due to lack of star power. The controversy surrounding Sivaji\'s comments on women\'s dressing also impacted the film\'s performance.\r\nDespite the poor box office collection, Dhandoraa has generated interest among audiences, who are now eagerly awaiting its OTT release on Amazon Prime Video. The film will stream in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi languages from January 14, 2026.\r\nDhandoraa is set in a small village where the caste system is prevalent. Sivaji plays a man who harbors deep hatred towards people outside his caste, but undergoes a transformation after his daughter falls in love with a man from another caste and is killed by the villagers. The film explores themes of love, caste, and personal growth, featuring strong music and realistically shot scenes.\r\nThe film boasts a talented cast, including Nandu, Navdeep, Bindu Madhavi and Ravi Krishna, and is directed by Muralikanth Devasoth. Despite its poor theatrical performance, Dhandoraa\'s OTT release is expected to give it a new lease of life.\r\n

Dhandoraa Official Streaming Date

Dhandoraa To Stream On Prime From January 14

Here are the first day collections of The Raja Saab. Prabhas' The Raja Saab directed by Maruthi which released on 9 Jan 2026 amidst huge expectations got the negative talk right from the early premiers.
The film starred Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Riddhi Kumar as the female leads and Sanjay Dutt in an important role. The music for the film is tuned by Thaman and it is directed by Maruthi.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Here are the Day 1 collections of The Raja Saab.
The Raja Saab collected Rs 45 crore in India on Friday, along with an additional Rs 9.15 crore from special shows held across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala on Thursday. With this, the film&rsquo;s total collection in India stands at Rs 54.4 crore.
The Raja Saab had an overall 57.16% Telugu Occupancy on Friday, January 09, 2026.
The Raja Saab Day 1 Telugu (2D) Occupancy in Theaters
Morning Shows: 50.92%
Afternoon Shows: 50.82%
Evening Shows: 57.70%
Night Shows: 69.20%
&nbsp;
The Raja Saab State Wise Gross Collection
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="83" valign="top">
Day
</td>
<td width="76" valign="top">
Karnataka
</td>
<td width="76" valign="top">
APTG
</td>
<td width="75" valign="top">
Tamil Nadu
</td>
<td width="82" valign="top">
Kerala
</td>
<td width="91" valign="top">
Rest Of India
</td>
<td width="96" valign="top">
Day Total
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="83" valign="top">
Day 0
[Thursday]
</td>
<td width="76" valign="top">
â‚¹ 2.5 Cr
</td>
<td width="76" valign="top">
â‚¹ 8.25 Cr
</td>
<td width="75" valign="top">
â‚¹ 0.23 Cr
</td>
<td width="82" valign="top">
â‚¹ 0.01 Cr
</td>
<td width="91" valign="top">
â‚¹ 0.01 Cr
</td>
<td width="96" valign="top">
â‚¹ 11 Cr
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="83" valign="top">
Day 1
[1st Friday]
</td>
<td width="76" valign="top">
â‚¹ 5.58 Cr
</td>
<td width="76" valign="top">
â‚¹49.35 Cr
</td>
<td width="75" valign="top">
â‚¹ 1.33 Cr
</td>
<td width="82" valign="top">
â‚¹ 0.14 Cr
</td>
<td width="91" valign="top">
â‚¹ 7.5 Cr
</td>
<td width="96" valign="top">
â‚¹ 63.9 Cr
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="83" valign="top">
Total
</td>
<td width="76" valign="top">
â‚¹ 8.08 Cr
</td>
<td width="76" valign="top">
â‚¹ 57.6 Cr
&nbsp;
</td>
<td width="75" valign="top">
â‚¹ 1.56 Cr
</td>
<td width="82" valign="top">
â‚¹ 0.15 Cr
</td>
<td width="91" valign="top">
â‚¹ 7.51 Cr
</td>
<td width="96" valign="top">
â‚¹ 74.9 Cr
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;

The Raja Saab First Day Collections

Here are the first day collections of The Raja Saab

\r\nJaya Krishna first look from Srinivasa Mangapuram released. Superstar Krishna\'s grandson, Jaya Krishna is making his on screen debut under the direction of Ajay Bhupathi of RX100 and Mangalavaram fame.\r\nThe film is titled Srinivasa Mangapuram and today the makers released the first look. Mahesh Babu released the first look of Jaya Krishna from the film and wished the makers all the best. The first look showed Jaya Krishna in a stylish avatar riding a bike and getting ready to fire on his enemies with his gun.\r\nHe with his curly hair looked handsome and intense expressions turned fierce according to the situation. He donned a wrist band and a black T-shirt. The film stars yesteryear actress Raveena Tandon\'s daughter Rasha Thadani as the female lead. This happens to be Rasha\'s debut in Tollywood.\r\nGV.Prakash Kumar is the music director and the film is bankrolled by P.Kiran on his Chandamama Kathalu banner. Ashwini Dutt is presenting the film.\r\n

SM First Look: Jaya Krishna on fire

Jaya Kishna first look from Srinivasa Mangapuram released

\r\nKarthi\'s upcoming film Vaa Vaathiyaar is facing a new challenge, with the Madras High Court directing a public auction of the movie\'s rights to recover â‚¹21 crore in alleged unpaid dues owed by the film\'s producer to the financier. The film, originally scheduled for release on December 12, 2025, has already faced several delays and hurdles.\r\nThe court\'s decision comes after the Official Assignee of the High Court filed an execution petition, requesting that K.E. Gnanavel Raja of the production house settle dues amounting to â‚¹21.78 crore. The release date now depends on the outcome of the auction and the settlement of the dues.\r\nThe film\'s producer had entered into an agreement with businessman Sunderdas for financial cooperation, but Sunderdas was declared insolvent in 2014, and the Official Assignee was appointed to realize his debts. The court has taken a tough stance, refusing to relax the conditions imposed earlier, and has directed the Official Assignee to proceed with auctioning the film\'s rights.\r\nVaa Vaathiyaar is an action-comedy film directed by Nalan Kumarasamy, starring Karthi and Krithi Shetty, along with Rajkiran, Sathyaraj, Anandaraj, Karunakaran, and GM Sundar. The film\'s release is currently uncertain, with the court maintaining that it cannot be released in any form until the outstanding dues are fully cleared. The postponement of Vijay\'s Jana Nayagan has opened up a festive release window, and filmmakers are recalibrating their film\'s release.\r\n

Vaa Vaathiyaar Faces New Hurdle 

Court Orders Auction of Vaa Vaathiyaar Film Rights

\r\nThe producer of Thalapathy Vijay\'s Jana Nayagan has issued a statement on the controversy surrounding the film\'s release, which was postponed hours before its worldwide release on January 9. The film\'s production house, KVN Productions, has clarified the situation, citing developments beyond their control.\r\nAccording to the producer, the film was submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on December 18, 2025, and was reviewed by the examining committee. The committee recommended a U/A 16+ certificate with minor changes, which were incorporated and resubmitted. However, just days before the planned release, the film was referred to a Revising Committee due to a complaint.\r\nThe production house approached the High Court, which directed the CBFC to issue a U/A certificate. However, the CBFC obtained an interim stay, and the film\'s release remains uncertain. The producer has apologized to audiences, distributors, and stakeholders, emphasizing the emotional toll on the team and expressing faith in the judicial process.\r\nThe producer has also expressed gratitude to fans for their anticipation and support, highlighting Thalapathy Vijay\'s dedication to his craft and the film\'s significance as his farewell project. The team remains hopeful that the film will reach audiences soon, bringing laughter and entertainment to fans worldwide.\r\n

Jana Nayagan Team On Censor Issue

Jana Nayagan Film Producer Breaks Silence on CBFC Row

The Telugu film industry is facing a major issue with premiere shows, which is affecting the theatrical footfalls and creating a negative impression among audiences. Exhibitors in the Telugu states are unhappy with the trend of screening premieres on the night before a big film's release day, as it impacts the entire opening day occupancy. The flat ticket pricing for these shows is also causing concern, leading to a decline in footfalls.
The exhibitors are requesting the movie teams to end premieres and midnight shows, and bring back the benefit shows from 5 AM like before. They believe that screening premieres just for the sake of selling tickets for big prices is not a good idea, especially when the success rate in the industry is very low. The exhibitors are worried about the considerable decline in footfalls because of these premiere shows and flat/huge ticket prices.
Even though there were instances where films like Baahubali 2, Arjun Reddy and Hanuman were premiered before day. The trend of screening premieres became a normal from biggies from Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2, and it's causing damage to the theatrical footfalls. The exhibitors are appealing to the big producers and distributors to find a proper solution to this issue. They want to bring back the old system of benefit shows, which used to be held at 1 AM or 5 AM.
The main thing about previous day Premiers is, if the film gets positive talk, then everything's good. But, if it gets mixed or weak talk, Then it affects the first day bookings and collections. The premiere shows are not only affecting the exhibitors but also the audiences, who are getting a negative impression due to the flat ticket pricing. The exhibitors believe that the movie teams should think multiple times before screening premieres and focus on providing a good experience to the audiences.

Exhibitors Are Against Premiers

The Premiere Problem How Its Affecting Big Films

\r\nBollywood director Bejoy Nambiar\'s latest film, Tu Yaa Main, has generated buzz with its teaser release. The film stars Adarsh Gourav and Shanaya Kapoor as social media influencers competing for likes and subscribers in the digital era. The teaser showcases their chemistry and swag as influencers, but things take a deadly turn when they\'re attacked by a crocodile in a swimming pool.\r\nThe 2-minute-15-second teaser introduces Shanaya as Miss Vanity, a popular influencer with 2.3 million followers, and Adarsh as Aala Flowpara, a rapper from Nalasopara with 6K followers. Their collaboration sparks romance, but the crocodile\'s appearance shifts the tone to survival mode.\r\nTu Yaa Main promises a fresh take on modern storytelling, blending romance, suspense, and survival. Bejoy Nambiar\'s direction and the chemistry between Adarsh and Shanaya are expected to make this a thrilling ride. The film releases on February 13, 2026, clashing with Shahid Kapoor\'s O Romeo.\r\nThe teaser has impressed netizens, praising the chemistry between the leads and the unique plot. With Anand L Rai and Himanshu Sharma producing, Tu Yaa Main is set to be a Valentine\'s Day treat for audiences.\r\n

Interesting Teaser Of Tu Yaa Main Out

Tu Yaa Main Teaser Offers A Thrilling Ride

\r\nHigh Court shocks The Raja Saab on ticket rates hike. Prabhas\' The Raja Saab directed by Maruti, hit the screens in an extravagant manner on 9 Jan 2026. The makers got permission from Telangana government after a long delay for the hike in ticket rates for the regular shows though the government did not give permission for the early premiers.\r\nEven as the makers became happy with the TG government\'s delay, the makers got a huge shock from Telangana High Court. The High Court after hearing the petition filed by advocate Vijay Gopal, questioning he government and makers for increasing the ticket rates every time, The High Court made tough observations.\r\nThe High Court remarked \" Recently Cinematography Minister went on record that there won\'t be any hike in ticket rates. Even then every now and then ticket rates are getting increased. This is not the first time, we have been hearing the petition on ticket rates memo. Even after so many observations, why are you not changing. 20 years back entire Hyderabad used to have the same ticket rates. But now everything ticket rates are getting increased. Commoners are getting affected due to this. We also went to films and we know the ticket rates\"\r\nIt expressed anger on The Telangana government\'s GO increasing the ticket rates. He asked GP why he is coming up with memos cleverly during big films. It said Home Ministry secretary has no right to issue orders regarding ticket rates.\r\nIt directed that old ticket rates should be in effect immediately as per GO 120 and ticket rates should be below Ts350. It directed TG government not to give memos increasing ticket rates for films.\r\n

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