Ravi Teja’s latest film, Irumudi, has become the biggest commercial success of his career, crossing the Rs 200 crore mark worldwide. The father-daughter drama, directed by Shiva Nirvana, was released in theatres on August 21, 2026, and is now set to stream on Netflix from September 18.
The film stars Ravi Teja as Trinadh, an alcoholic father who takes Ayyappa Deeksha for his daughter Manikanta, played by Baby Nakshatra. Priya Bhavani Shankar plays his wife Kaveri, while Sai Kumar appears as Guruswamy. The supporting cast includes Ajay Ghosh, Swasika, Ramesh Indira, and Sunil.
Produced by Naveen Yerneni and Y. Ravi Shankar under the Mythri Movie Makers banner, the film features music by G. V. Prakash Kumar, cinematography by Vishnu Sharma, and editing by Prawin Pudi. It was shot extensively in Sileru, a small town on the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha border.
A Career-Defining Performance
Ravi Teja’s performance as Trinadh has been widely praised. The actor, known for his energetic mass roles, delivered a restrained and emotional performance. The film earned him his first Rs 150-crore grosser as a lead and became his highest solo hit.
Shiva Nirvana said he wanted to present Ravi Teja in a new light. ‘I deliberately wanted to work on an intense script, and when it worked, it gave me the confidence that my intentions had paid off,’ the director said. ‘Ravi Teja sir has this relatable masculinity. He has made deep connections with every kind of audience.’
Baby Nakshatra’s performance as Manikanta also received significant praise. National Award-winning actor Dhanush personally video-called the young actress to commend her work. He told her he wanted to learn acting from her, calling her performance natural, beautiful, and wonderful.
Box Office Triumph
Irumudi was made on a budget of approximately Rs 35 crore. The film collected Rs 184.2 crore net in India and Rs 22.45 crore overseas. Its worldwide gross reached Rs 239.81 crore. It registered a total footfall of 1.45 crore, making it the most-watched Telugu film of 2026 in theatres.
The film’s success was driven by strong word-of-mouth. It maintained momentum well into its fourth week, with families and women audiences contributing significantly. The film ranked as the second most profitable Telugu release of 2026, with a return on investment of 426.3 percent.
Several celebrities praised the film. Vijay Deverakonda called it a must-watch for its gripping storytelling and message. Rashmika Mandanna said the film hit her in ways she did not see coming. Chiranjeevi and Ram Charan met Ravi Teja and the team to congratulate them on the film’s success.
Controversies and Criticism
The film faced objections from the Andhra Pradesh Teachers’ Federation, which alleged that certain scenes portrayed government schools and teachers in a negative light. The APTF demanded the removal of those scenes and an apology to the teaching community.
The Akhila Bharata Ayyappa Deeksha Prachara Samithi also raised objections. The organisation alleged that the film hurt the sentiments of Ayyappa devotees and misrepresented Guruswamis. It demanded an unconditional apology from the team and asked them to seek forgiveness at Sabarimala.
The makers have not publicly responded to the allegations. Despite the controversies, the film’s theatrical run remained strong.
Critical Reception
Critics offered mixed reviews. The Times of India noted that the film was a sincere take on fatherhood, with a strong second half. The Hindu praised the contrasting parenting approaches shown in the film. India Today called it a socially conscious, emotionally driven film anchored by a strong lead performance.
Some critics felt the first half was crowded with too many antagonistic characters. The narrative was occasionally uneven, but the emotional core of the father-daughter relationship held the film together. The climax was widely described as powerful and heart-wrenching.
Ravi Teja said the film earned him more respect than any other project in his career. ‘Irumudi is not another hit film or blockbuster for me. It earned me the respect of every filmmaker and every audience member,’ he said. ‘I have a heart of stone and I normally don’t cry. But after watching Irumudi, I cried for the first time.’
The film is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on September 18, 2026, in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam.
