The summer of 2025 proved another tough season for Tollywood, echoing the struggles of recent years as no top star films made it to theaters. After a disastrous April filled with flops, May’s box office saw a rare spark with the releases of Nani’s HIT: The Third Case and Sree Vishnu’s Single. While the industry as a whole missed major blockbusters, these two films offered much-needed relief and stood out as the bright spots in an otherwise underwhelming lineup.
Nani’s “HIT 3” opened May on a high note with strong collections and critical buzz. Its gritty crime narrative and Nani’s intense performance drew attention, but the film’s heavy violence led to a drop-off with family audiences—its numbers dipped after the first week, and the movie ultimately found more success with urban, youth audiences than as an all-ages hit. Even so, it proved to be one of the month’s rare box office winners, grossing an estimated ₹118–120 crore worldwide by the end of its run, putting it among the top 5 earners of the year.
In contrast, Sree Vishnu’s “Single,” a light-hearted romantic comedy, turned out to be the unexpected winner of the summer. Released amidst low expectations, it gained traction thanks to entertaining chemistry between Sree Vishnu and Vennela Kishore and a premise that connected especially well with youth. The film maintained steady collections all month across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, finishing with worldwide earnings estimated at ₹25–30 crore and an excellent profit margin for a mid-budget film. Its long legs at the box office established it as the season’s most persistent performer.
Other notable releases failed to make a significant impact. Mohanlal’s Malayalam thriller “Thudarum” received decent response but couldn’t reach the box office heights of his previous hits. The much-publicized “Bhairavam,” starring Bellamkonda Sreenivas, Nara Rohit, and Manchu Manoj, saw a decent opening weekend but failed to sustain its momentum. Suriya’s “Retro” fared worst, opening to poor reviews and box office receipts and quickly being labeled a disaster. Samantha’s small film “Subham,” despite her backing as a producer, also failed to live up to expectations.
Altogether, the lack of big-ticket releases from major Telugu stars left a void, and May’s overall box office fortunes rested heavily on unexpected successes from Nani and Sree Vishnu. Their films provided the only real bright spots in an otherwise lackluster start to the Tollywood summer, underscoring the industry’s urgent need for both strong scripts and top star power in the months ahead.