Sankranti 2025 box-office clash: Screen allocation row erupts over Prabhas’ The Raja Saab

As Sankranti 2025 approaches, competition for cinema screens has intensified, with five major releases lined up for the festive window. Among them, Prabhas-starrer The Raja Saab has become the centre of a controversy over screen allocation, triggering strong reactions from fans ahead of its clash with Vijay’s Jana Nayakudu on January 9.

The Raja Saab and expectations in Telugu states

The Raja Saab is one of the most awaited releases of the season, marking Prabhas’s return in a vintage avatar. The film has generated significant buzz across the Telugu states, where the actor enjoys a massive fan following. However, its release has been overshadowed by concerns over limited screen availability, especially in key urban centres.

Jana Nayakudu gains edge in Telugu markets

Despite being a dubbed Tamil film, Jana Nayakudu has reportedly secured a substantial number of screens in Hyderabad and other major Telugu markets, largely due to its distribution by PVR Inox. This has led to disappointment among Prabhas fans, who argue that a straight Telugu release with strong local demand should have been prioritised during the festive period.

Limited Tamil Nadu release for The Raja Saab

The situation is reversed in Tamil Nadu, where The Raja Saab is facing restricted release conditions. The film is scheduled to open a day later, on January 10, reportedly due to competition from multiple Tamil releases. Fans have expressed displeasure over the delay, pointing to Prabhas’s pan-Indian appeal and questioning the uneven release strategy across states.

Fan backlash and industry debate

Prabhas’s fans have taken to social media to criticise distributors and exhibitors, alleging preferential treatment towards Jana Nayakudu. The debate has once again highlighted long-standing industry concerns over dubbed films receiving priority screen space over local-language productions during peak festival seasons.

With Sankranti traditionally being one of the biggest box-office periods of the year, trade analysts say the final impact will depend on opening-day occupancy and audience response, even as the screen allocation controversy continues to dominate online discussions.