From the first movie that hit the ₹1 crore mark to the epic that crossed ₹1500 crores, we take a look at the biggest game-changers in Tollywood's box office history.
This mythological classic, directed by KV Reddy, hit theatres on March 27, 1957. It featured a huge star cast including NTR, ANR, Savitri, and SVR. The film was a sensation, becoming the first to collect ₹1 crore—a massive achievement back then, almost like earning ₹2000-3000 crore today.
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First ₹10 Crore Movie - Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari
Director K. Raghavendra Rao's fantasy entertainer was the first to earn ₹10 crores. Starring Chiranjeevi and Sridevi, the film released on May 9, 1990. It completely changed the maths for Telugu cinema, becoming an industry hit. Made on a budget of ₹2 crores, it collected ₹10 crores, with its total run earning ₹15 crores.
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First ₹25 Crore Movie - Samarasimha Reddy
This faction-based movie starring Balakrishna, Anjala Zaveri, and Simran was the first to collect ₹25 crores. It released during Sankranti in 1999 and became a massive hit, turning Balakrishna into an undisputed superstar. Directed by B. Gopal, the film's final collection was ₹30 crores.
Mahesh Babu and Ileana's 'Pokiri' was the first film to touch the ₹50 crore milestone. Directed by Puri Jagannadh, it released on April 28, 2006, and completely shook the box office. This movie really showed Tollywood the true potential of collections, grossing a total of ₹70 crores.
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First ₹100 Crore Movie - Magadheera
Rajamouli's 'Magadheera' was the first Tollywood film to rake in ₹100 crores. The movie, starring Ram Charan and Kajal, released on July 31, 2009. It actually set two records at once—it was not only the first to hit ₹100 crores but also the first to cross the ₹150 crore milestone.
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First ₹500 Crore Movie - Baahubali
Prabhas's 'Baahubali' became the first Telugu film to collect a staggering ₹500 crores. Directed by Rajamouli, this epic featured a star-studded cast including Rana, Anushka, and Tamannaah. It released on July 10, 2015, and set a rare milestone, eventually collecting a total of ₹650 crores.
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First ₹1000-₹1500 Crore Movie - Baahubali 2
The sequel, 'Baahubali 2', became the first Telugu film to cross the ₹1000 crore mark. Released on April 28, 2017, it broke all Indian cinema records. It hit two milestones at once, becoming the first Indian film to earn ₹1000 crore and also the first to cross ₹1500 crore. The film's total collection stands at ₹1810 crore. With this, Prabhas has three milestone records to his name.
