Imagine a festival feast, with each new dish more delicious than the last. That’s what Tollywood has been serving up lately with its creative, grand reveals. This time, the team behind Sankranthiki Vasthunnam, starring Victory Venkatesh and directed by Anil Ravipudi, has served a delightful surprise for fans, blending nostalgia with excitement.

Music composer Ramana Gogula, known for iconic soundtracks in films like Badri, Johny, and Lakshmi, is making his return with this project after an 18-year gap. For the first single from Sankranthiki Vasthunnam, titled Godari Gattumeeda, Gogula lends his unique vocals, adding a nostalgic spark to the track. Composed by Bheems Ceciroleo and penned by Bhaskarabhatla, this song is sure to bring back memories while setting a lively tone for the film.

Set to hit theaters during Sankranthi 2025, Sankranthiki Vasthunnam promises a gripping plot full of thrilling twists, with a triangular narrative that teases elements of crime. Produced by Shirish and presented by Dil Raju under the Sri Venkateswara Creations banner, the film brings together Aishwarya Rajesh and Meenakshi Chaudhary as the female leads, with Sameer Reddy on cinematography and a talented crew to bring this festive entertainer to life.

With a lineup like this and Gogula’s return in the mix, fans have every reason to be excited. And as Tollywood keeps raising the bar for film promos, we can only wonder—what’s next? Maybe they’ll bring in the fireworks or a marching band!

In the vibrant world of Tollywood, the discussion about whether celebrities do enough to support smaller films has recently taken center stage. Actor Rakesh Varre brought the issue into the limelight by expressing his dissatisfaction at a event, highlighting how challenging it is to garner celebrity endorsements for smaller film events, with many not even responding to invitations. This statement sparked a debate, drawing varied opinions from within the industry and among fans on social media platforms.

On the other of the argument, renowned producer Dil Raju offered a different perspective, suggesting that celebrities are often caught up in their own hectic schedules and commitments. According to him, if their time allows, they do make an appearance at such events, indicating that it’s more about timing than a lack of willingness to support. This back-and-forth has opened up a broader conversation about the dynamics of support within the film industry, especially when it comes to films with smaller budgets and lesser-known casts.

Many top actors in Tollywood have a history of supporting smaller films in various ways. For instance, the esteemed Chiranjeevi has made appearances at events like the trailer launch of ‘Zebra’ starring Satyadev, asserting that he’s always ready to lend his presence if invited with warmth and affection. Similarly, Mahesh Babu is known to use his Twitter platform to praise films that catch his eye, helping to boost their visibility irrespective of their size.

The role of social media in promoting films has been embraced by stars like Prabhas, who shares teasers and trailers of films he enjoys, predominantly through Instagram. Allu Arjun, Naga Chaitanya, and Nani are among others who actively engage with and promote smaller projects, demonstrating a willingness to support the broader industry beyond their own filmography. Whether it’s hosting the team at their home, attending pre-release functions, or simply using their social media influence, these gestures signify a form of encouragement that can significantly impact a film’s reach and success.

Rana Daggubati stands out as a monumental figure in this aspect, often going the extra mile to assist small films behind the scenes. His efforts to support struggling filmmakers, including managing promotions and even making personal appearances, underscore the potential impact of star power on smaller projects. Sandeep Kishan’s recount of offering Rana’s contact as a lifeline for promotion highlights the pivotal role such support plays in the industry.

However, the feasibility of securing such celebrity endorsements remains a challenge for many filmmakers. The industry’s dynamics often mean that only projects with certain familiar faces or directors manage to attract big names for their promotions. While scheduling conflicts and practical limitations are understandable, the debate underscores a larger issue of accessibility and the collective responsibility towards nurturing diverse storytelling within Tollywood. The undeniable benefit of celebrity support for small films lies in the promotional boost and increased audience reach it provides.

In an era dominated by OTT platforms, drawing audiences to theaters requires more than just quality content; it demands visibility and buzz, often generated through star-studded endorsements. As the industry grapples with balancing the scales between blockbuster hits and smaller ventures, the importance of such support cannot be overstated. Despite the challenges, the notion that ‘small films are dying’ due to lack of support is countered by the argument that it’s these very films that keep theaters alive beyond the sporadic releases of big-ticket movies.

The industry’s sustainability and growth are reliant on the success of films across the spectrum. Echoing the sentiments of Megastar Chiranjeevi, the prosperity of the film industry hinges not just on the triumphs of major releases but on the collective success of all films, big and small alike.

The trailer of the upcoming streaming series, ‘Freedom at Midnight’ was unveiled on Saturday, and it promises a solid period drama unravelling what went down in the final moments of India’s independence. The trailer opens with Clement Attlee, the then Prime Minister of the UK declaring the independence of India. It then shows its key characters, the founding fathers of the nation including Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and the Former Governor-General of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The trailer then nose dives into full-blown chaos as Jinnah demands the creation of a separate state of Pakistan. On the other side of the world, British officials grapple with the task of granting independence to India, and drawing a line between India and Pakistan, which continue to scar generations of the neighbouring nations.

The series stars Sidhant Gupta as Jawaharlal Nehru, Chirag Vohra as Mahatma Gandhi, Rajendra Chawla as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Arif Zakaria as Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Ira Dubey as Fatima Jinnah, Malishka Mendonsa as Sarojini Naidu, Rajesh Kumar as Liaquat Ali Khan, KC Shankar as V.P. Menon, Luke McGibney as Lord Louis Mountbatten, Cordelia Bugeja as Lady Edwina Mountbatten, Alistair Finlay as Archibald Wavell, Andrew Cullum as Clement Attlee, Richard Teverson as Cyril Radcliffe in pivotal roles.

Produced by Emmay Entertainment (Monisha Advani & Madhu Bhojwani) in association with StudioNext, Freedom at Midnight boasts a stellar team behind the scenes. Nikkhil Advani spearheads this project as the showrunner and director, while the story is penned by a talented team, including Abhinandan Gupta, Adwitiya Kareng Das, Gundeep Kaur, Divya Nidhi Sharma, Revanta Sarabhai, and Ethan Taylor.

The series is based on the eponymous book by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre.

‘Freedom at Midnight’ is set to stream from November 15 on Sony LIV.

Actress Malaika Arora took to social media to wish her “baby boy,” Arhaan Khan on his 22nd birthday.Taking to her Instagram, the actress shared a heartfelt note expressing her love and pride for him, accompanied by a collection of unseen childhood photos. In the caption, Malaika wrote, “Happy birthday my baby boy mama loves u the mostesttttttttttttttt @iamarhaankhan.”

The first photo captures a candid moment with Malaika hugging Arhaan warmly as they pose together. In another, the mother-son duo enjoys a stroll in a park. The third image, a collage, shows Arhaan as a young boy, while the final picture features him playing with their pet dog, Casper.

Malaika’s friends from the industry quickly filled the comments section with birthday wishes for Arhaan. Twinkle Khanna dropped heart emojis, while Sophie Choudry wrote, “Aww, the pics! Happy bday @iamarhaankhan… Biggest hug.” Seema Sajdeh also wished Arhaan, writing, “Happy birthday my Arhaan.”

Malaika has a tradition of making her son feel special on his birthday with heartfelt posts.

Last year, the ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ star shared a touching video of Arhaan from his childhood. In her message, she wrote, “My baby boy is 21 today… and my wish for you is simple: have the best life imaginable. Live life to the fullest. Laugh, giggle, cry if you must… play as hard as you work. Be sincere. Make time for the people and things you adore. Sleep soundly and have the best dreams.” She added, “Always keep that toothy smile, and never stop making us laugh with your corny humor. Know that you are loved. Happy birthday, my sweet boy. Mama loves you the most and is so proud of you.”

Arhaan is Malaika’s son with ex-husband Arbaaz Khan. The couple, who married in 1997, separated in 2017.

Arbaaz married makeup artist Shura Khan in December 2023.