Sankranti releases, 2010

Sankranti heralds the harvest season both in the fields as well as in the Telugu film industry.

This year there are four films releasing on January 13 (Bhogi) and January 14 (Sankranti). Barring one, the others are all biggies starring Venkatesh and Trisha (Namo Venkatesha), NTR Jr, Nayantara and Sheela (Adhurs) and Ravi Teja, Priyamani, Naresh, Sunil and Shiva Balaji (Shambo Siva Shambo).

The fourth film, Om Shanti's cast comprises Kajal Agarwal, Navdeep, Nikhil, Aditi Sharma and Bindhu Madhavi.

Om Shanti, the first release on January, directed by debutant Prakash, is produced by Seshu Priyanka Chalasani under the Three Angels banner (which had produced the critically acclaimed Baanam last year). The film is about five characters, five stories, and one truth.

The five characters are played by Kajal Agarwal (at her zenith now especially after Magadheera), Navdeep (last seen in Arya 2), Nikhil (the Happy Days guy who scored a decent hit with Yuvatha), Aditi Sharma (starred more than a year ago with Uday Kiran in Gunde Jhallumandi) and Bindu Madhavi (the simple girl of Avakkai Biryani who glammed up in Bumper Offer).

Ilayaraja -- not often heard in Telugu cinema -- has scored the music for the film. Nagaraju Gandham has penned the dialogues, while J Vincent is behind the film's cinematography.

NTR Jr's comeback after his accident during election time last yea has been in the making for quite a while.

The movie is in the news because of the presence of two glamorous heroines Nayanthara and Sheela.

V V Vinayak directs this film and it's the third time he and NTR have worked together after Aadi and Samba.

Mahesh Manjrekar is said to essay the role of the villain in the film. Devisriprasad has composed the music while the camera work is by Chota K Naidu (whose work in Kotha Bangaru Lokam was much appreciated).

Venkatesh returns with Trisha in tow (after Adavari Matalaku Ardhale Verule in 2007) in this film directed by Srinu Vaitla, which releases on January 14.

It's supposed to be an entertaining film with Brahmanandam playing a significant role. Given the director's penchant for comedy, one can expect a laugh riot from this one as well.

The lead pair plays roles different from their earlier films. The film was shot in Hyderabad and Europe while some songs were filmed in Iceland (perhaps the first Telugu film to have a song shot in that country) and Bangkok.

Devisriprasad has composed the music whose audio was released a few days ago in Bangkok, and on January 11 in Hyderabad.

Sankranti has proven to be a favourable time for Venky as films released around this time have done pretty well. Venkatesh will be surely looking for a hit considering the lukewarm response to Eenadu (the Telugu remake of the Hindi film A Wednesday released last year).

The Telugu remake of the Tamil hit Nadodigal directed by the same director Samuthirakani is releasing on January 14.

Here the tale of friendship and sacrifice is enacted by Raviteja, Allari Naresh, Shiva Balaji and Sunil. National Award-winning Priyamani gives them company. Roja plays a pivotal cameo.

Bellamkonda Suresh is the producer while Sundar Babu is the music director.

It would be interesting to see how the Tamil film has been adapted to suit the Telugu audience.