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Watch out for these Telugu Sankranti releases

The Sankranti festival has always been celebrated on a grand scale in Andhra Pradesh. During this three-day harvest festival, a number of films are released and this year is no different. Here's a look at the festival releases, from January 12 to 14.

Paramaveera Chakra
Cast: Nandamuri Balakrishna, Amisha Patel, Sheela
Director: Dasari Narayan Rao
Releases on January 12

Dasari Narayan Rao helms this film with Nandamuri Balakrishna (also called Balayya) in the lead. It is Dasari's 150th film. Balayya is riding high as his last film Simha did well. Amisha Patel returns to Telugu cinema after five years with Paramaveera Chakra, while Sheela is the second heroine.

Balayya, who has a double role, is said to have done some risky stunts for this film. One of the highlights is the Ravana-Brahma role in a song harking back to mythology. Brahmanandam, Ali and Ramaprabha form the rest of the cast.

Mani Sharmaa composes music and Vijay Kumar is the Director of Photography. The film has been produced by C Kalyan. The audio function was graced by eminent personalities including director K Balachander, who specially flew down from Chennai for it.

Dasari would have taken all the efforts to make this 150th film a movie to remember. Recently, Balayya prayed for the success of the film at the Srikalahasti temple.

Mirapakai

Cast: Ravi Teja, Deeksha Seth, Richa Gangopadhyay
Director: Harish Shankar
Releases on January 13

Ravi Teja returns with another entertainer this Sankranti (his previous Sankranti releases have done well). In Mirapakai (Chillies), he shares space with two pretty women: Deeksha Seth and Richa Gangopadhyay.

Harish Shankar (of Shock fame) directs Ravi Teja and the film is produced by Ramesh Puppala. The rest of the cast comprises of Chandra Mohan, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Sunil, Ali, Brahmaji, Dharmavarapu and Rao Ramesh.

Thaman S scores the music. RD Rajasekhar handles the camera and Goutham Raju is the editor. A number of people like Sirivennela Sitarama Sastry, Chandra Bose Bhaskara Bhatla, Ram Jogaiah Sasty, Ananth Sriram and Sahiti have writen the lyrics.

Since Ravi Teja's films combine action, comedy and a bit of romance, one can expect Mirapakai to have the perfect spice to perk up the film.

Anaganaga O Dheerudu

Cast: Siddharth, Shruti Haasan, Lakshmi Manchu
Director: Prakash Kovelamudi
Releases on January 14

This swashbuckling, adventure saga is the first collaboration of Walt Disney with K Raghavendra Rao (KRR). So this is Disney's first foray in South India.

AOD is written and directed by Prakash Kovelamudi, KRR's son and last seen as an actor in Mahesh Dattani 's Morning Raga.

The film stars Siddharth and introduces Shruti Haasan (Kamal Haasan's daughter) and Lakshmi Manchu (Mohan Babu's daughter).

The story goes like this: When the island of Angarajyam falls under the rule of the evil queen Irendri, the only hope for people is Moksha a nine year-old girl. Will the brave swordsman Yodha protect Moksha from Irendri? The film also explores the mysterious connection between Irendri and Priya, the gypsy girl who was Yodha's former lover.

It's a tale of courage, valour, friendship and heroism. AOD is an action fantasy, mounted on a scale unprecedented in Indian cinema.

M M Keeravani, Koti, Mickey J Meyer and Salim-Suleiman compose the film's music.

It also has some daring stunts by Siddharth.

Golconda High School

Cast: Sumanth, Swati
Director: Indraganti Mohankrishna
Releases on January 14

Based on an English novel by Harimohan P, titled The Men Within, Indraganti Mohankrishna helms Golconda High School.

Produced by Rammohan (he had also produced Mohankrishna's Ashta Chamma), GHS stars Sumanth and Swathi. With the central them of cricket, the film is also all about life, motivation, inspiration and life management skills.

Since it revolves around cricket, the audio release function was held at Jayasimha's Academy (a coaching centre for youngsters in memory of the stylish cricketer who played for the state and India who passed away some years ago).

Kalyani Malik composes music, Senthil Kumar is the Director of Photography, Shravan is the editor and Ravindra the art director. There's much action to look forward to in the film.