2021 saw minimum number of releases but better than year 2020. With Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments allowing for 50%, 75% and 100% occupancies over time, we saw producers managing to release their films at different times of the year. Below are the films that performed lower than the expectations from trade and film Industry. We considered only theatrical releases for this list as OTT releases would generally make their money with appropriate deals prior to release.
Alludu Adhurs
Sankranthi 2021 season started with Krack, Red becoming good hits for their investments and Alludu Adhurs registering first flop of the year. Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas decided to try his luck at box office with Santhosh Sreenivas as director and Nabha Natesh as leading lady. But this movie failed miserably at drawing crowds.
Check
Nithiin decided to change his impression among the audiences and gave Chandrasekhar Yeleti, his next film. Movie Check could not gain initial opening as well as other Nithiin films. Critics praised the first half but film did not garner any positive moth talk.
Bangaru Bullodu
Allari Naresh did get a critical and box office hit with Naandi but his long time pending release film, Bangaru Bullodu registered another flop for him at the box office.
Republic
Deva Katta returned back to direction with this film. Panja Sai Tej after delivering back to back successful films like Chitralahari and Prathi Roju Pandage, tried his luck with a serious political movie. Republic failed to garner positive word of mouth in its theatrical release window. But managed positive feedback from audiences after OTT release.
Kapatadari
Senior Sumanth tried his luck at the box office with remake of Kannada hit Kavuludari, Kapatadari. Film failed to register an opening day collection as well. Lack of publicity and sufficient word of mouth turned out to be defects for the film.
Rang De
Nithiin and Keerthy Suresh came together for the first time for Rang De. Movie took a good initial but critics and audiences panned director Venky Atluri for relying on his pet theme for this romance as well. Devi Sri Prasad music also did not help the movie much.
Wild Dog
Akkineni Nagarjuna gave a new director Ashishor Solomon, a chance to prove himself. The writer-turned-director worked with the actor on his much praised and well received Oopiri, as one of the writers. This movie producers decided against releasing it on OTT platforms directly hoping for better box office response. But movie failed miserably in garnering an opening for Nagarjuna's standards.
Lakshya
After Love Story, senior distributor and exhibitor turned producer Narayan Das Narang produced this film Lakshya with Naga Shourya in the lead role. Surprisingly, the team chose to not promote it extensively. Not many know that such a movie released as well.
Paagal
Vishwak Sen registered a disaster at the box office with Paagal film. Even though he promoted it extensively helping it to record a good number on opening day, movie failed to carry on with the momentum.
Nutaokka Jillala Andhagadu
Avasarala Srinivas starred in this remake of a Kannada film, Ondhu Mottaya Kathe. Movie team did not promote it much and movie failed to get any positive word of mouth.
Skylab
Nithya Menon produced the movie Skylab and it is her first film as a producer. Movie theme got critical acclaim but audiences did not show up at the theatres. Movie might have a good recovery on OTT platforms. Satyadev received praises for his performance and young director Vishvak Khanderao received critical acclaim along with Nitya Menon.
Sridevi Soda Center
Sudheer Babu registered another flop in his career with this film. Palasa 1978 movie director Karuna Kumar directed this film. Movie could not get positive word of mouth for people to watch it in theatres.
A1 Express
Film remained another disaster for actor Sandeep Kishan. Movie is a remake and producers did promote it well enough but audiences did not show interest in watching the film.
Gaali Sampath
Writer turned director Anil Ravipudi wrote story for Gaali Sampath film. But the Rajendra Prasad, Sree Vishnu starrer film failed to impress audiences as an emotional dark comedy.
Chavu Kaburu Challaga
Movie released with a good hype but Karthikeya starrer did not reach the expectations of the audiences. Lavanya Tripathi, Aamani and Karthikeya received praises for their performances but film failed to get good word of mouth.
Aranya
Rana Daggubati worked three years for the film and he even shot for it after recovering from ill-health. Prabhu Solomon's Pan India film failed to even register a good opening.
Mosagallu
Vishnu Manchu promoted the film extensively and collaborated with Hollywood technicians for the film. Kajal Aggarwal, Suniel Shetty also associated with the film but it ended up being another disaster for the actor.
Maha Samudram
Movie released with hype as Siddharth returned to Telugu Cinema post a decade break. But the movie did not get positive word of mouth even though Aditi Rao Hydari and Sharwanand performances garnered critical acclaim. Director Ajay Bhupathi tried to make a movie on the script for three years post RX100 success, yet movie became.a failure.
Sreekaram
Sharwanand did not have a positive year at the box office. His flop streak continued with the film Sreekaram and even though hit music helped it get good initial, movie had a bad word of mouth.
Anubhavinchu Raja
Raj Tarun delivered another flop with Anubhavinchu Raja at the box office.
Pushpaka Vimanam
Anand Devarakonda tried to impress audiences with Pushpaka Vimanam after his OTT release Middle Class Melodies became a hit. Critics and audiences panned the film.
Raja Raja Chora
Critics considerably praised Sree Vishnu's Raja Raja Chora but the film ended a flop at the box office. Film's second half received maximum negative feedback from the audiences even though idea and concept received praises.
Tellavarithe Guruvaram
Sri Simha after a critically acclaimed film like Mathu Vadalara tried his hand at dark comedy. But audiences did not like it as much as makers anticipated.
Shashi
Adhi Saikumar continued his disaster streak with this film, Movie had a hit single and enough buzz. Prior to release, the buzz dropped down post trailer release.
Kondapolam
Vaishnav Tej registered his first flop with the film, Kondapolam. Rakul Preet Singh acted in this film and Krish directed it. Still movie remained a head turner at the box office.
Status of Pushpa and Shyam Singha Roy will be decided post the holiday season. With on going ticket prices issue in Andhra Pradesh majority of theatres are choosing to remain close. Hence, these movies will end up with lower collections than anticipated.
Alludu Adhurs
Sankranthi 2021 season started with Krack, Red becoming good hits for their investments and Alludu Adhurs registering first flop of the year. Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas decided to try his luck at box office with Santhosh Sreenivas as director and Nabha Natesh as leading lady. But this movie failed miserably at drawing crowds.
Check
Nithiin decided to change his impression among the audiences and gave Chandrasekhar Yeleti, his next film. Movie Check could not gain initial opening as well as other Nithiin films. Critics praised the first half but film did not garner any positive moth talk.
Bangaru Bullodu
Allari Naresh did get a critical and box office hit with Naandi but his long time pending release film, Bangaru Bullodu registered another flop for him at the box office.
Republic
Deva Katta returned back to direction with this film. Panja Sai Tej after delivering back to back successful films like Chitralahari and Prathi Roju Pandage, tried his luck with a serious political movie. Republic failed to garner positive word of mouth in its theatrical release window. But managed positive feedback from audiences after OTT release.
Kapatadari
Senior Sumanth tried his luck at the box office with remake of Kannada hit Kavuludari, Kapatadari. Film failed to register an opening day collection as well. Lack of publicity and sufficient word of mouth turned out to be defects for the film.
Rang De
Nithiin and Keerthy Suresh came together for the first time for Rang De. Movie took a good initial but critics and audiences panned director Venky Atluri for relying on his pet theme for this romance as well. Devi Sri Prasad music also did not help the movie much.
Wild Dog
Akkineni Nagarjuna gave a new director Ashishor Solomon, a chance to prove himself. The writer-turned-director worked with the actor on his much praised and well received Oopiri, as one of the writers. This movie producers decided against releasing it on OTT platforms directly hoping for better box office response. But movie failed miserably in garnering an opening for Nagarjuna's standards.
Lakshya
After Love Story, senior distributor and exhibitor turned producer Narayan Das Narang produced this film Lakshya with Naga Shourya in the lead role. Surprisingly, the team chose to not promote it extensively. Not many know that such a movie released as well.
Paagal
Vishwak Sen registered a disaster at the box office with Paagal film. Even though he promoted it extensively helping it to record a good number on opening day, movie failed to carry on with the momentum.
Nutaokka Jillala Andhagadu
Avasarala Srinivas starred in this remake of a Kannada film, Ondhu Mottaya Kathe. Movie team did not promote it much and movie failed to get any positive word of mouth.
Skylab
Nithya Menon produced the movie Skylab and it is her first film as a producer. Movie theme got critical acclaim but audiences did not show up at the theatres. Movie might have a good recovery on OTT platforms. Satyadev received praises for his performance and young director Vishvak Khanderao received critical acclaim along with Nitya Menon.
Sridevi Soda Center
Sudheer Babu registered another flop in his career with this film. Palasa 1978 movie director Karuna Kumar directed this film. Movie could not get positive word of mouth for people to watch it in theatres.
A1 Express
Film remained another disaster for actor Sandeep Kishan. Movie is a remake and producers did promote it well enough but audiences did not show interest in watching the film.
Gaali Sampath
Writer turned director Anil Ravipudi wrote story for Gaali Sampath film. But the Rajendra Prasad, Sree Vishnu starrer film failed to impress audiences as an emotional dark comedy.
Chavu Kaburu Challaga
Movie released with a good hype but Karthikeya starrer did not reach the expectations of the audiences. Lavanya Tripathi, Aamani and Karthikeya received praises for their performances but film failed to get good word of mouth.
Aranya
Rana Daggubati worked three years for the film and he even shot for it after recovering from ill-health. Prabhu Solomon's Pan India film failed to even register a good opening.
Mosagallu
Vishnu Manchu promoted the film extensively and collaborated with Hollywood technicians for the film. Kajal Aggarwal, Suniel Shetty also associated with the film but it ended up being another disaster for the actor.
Maha Samudram
Movie released with hype as Siddharth returned to Telugu Cinema post a decade break. But the movie did not get positive word of mouth even though Aditi Rao Hydari and Sharwanand performances garnered critical acclaim. Director Ajay Bhupathi tried to make a movie on the script for three years post RX100 success, yet movie became.a failure.
Sreekaram
Sharwanand did not have a positive year at the box office. His flop streak continued with the film Sreekaram and even though hit music helped it get good initial, movie had a bad word of mouth.
Anubhavinchu Raja
Raj Tarun delivered another flop with Anubhavinchu Raja at the box office.
Pushpaka Vimanam
Anand Devarakonda tried to impress audiences with Pushpaka Vimanam after his OTT release Middle Class Melodies became a hit. Critics and audiences panned the film.
Raja Raja Chora
Critics considerably praised Sree Vishnu's Raja Raja Chora but the film ended a flop at the box office. Film's second half received maximum negative feedback from the audiences even though idea and concept received praises.
Tellavarithe Guruvaram
Sri Simha after a critically acclaimed film like Mathu Vadalara tried his hand at dark comedy. But audiences did not like it as much as makers anticipated.
Shashi
Adhi Saikumar continued his disaster streak with this film, Movie had a hit single and enough buzz. Prior to release, the buzz dropped down post trailer release.
Kondapolam
Vaishnav Tej registered his first flop with the film, Kondapolam. Rakul Preet Singh acted in this film and Krish directed it. Still movie remained a head turner at the box office.
Status of Pushpa and Shyam Singha Roy will be decided post the holiday season. With on going ticket prices issue in Andhra Pradesh majority of theatres are choosing to remain close. Hence, these movies will end up with lower collections than anticipated.