The Tamil and Telugu film industries are witnessing a slew of star-studded releases during the Pongal holidays. While Vijay’s Varisu is battling it out with Ajith’s Thunivu at the Tamil box office, Telugu stars Chiranjeevi and Ravi Teja have come up with the action comedy Waltair Veerayya. Here’s all you need to know about the big releases on Makar Sankranti/Pongal 2023.

Varisu

Directed by: Vamshi Paidipally

Cast: Vijay, Rashmika Mandanna, Sangeetha, Prakash Raj, R. Sarathkumar and Sangeetha

Language: Tamil

Directed by Vamshi Paidipally, Varisu revolves around Vijay Rajendran (Vijay), a happy-go-lucky person whose life changes after being disowned by his millionaire father. After seven years, Vijay’s mother requests her son to come back when his father is diagnosed with cancer. Upon his return, Vijay finds his family in disarray and decides to bring everyone closer to each other.

This is Vijay's 66th film in a leading role. Like most of his films, Varisu is also high on comedy and entertainment. The music composed by S. Thaman is also ruling the charts.

Thunivu

Directed by: H. Vinoth

Cast: Ajith Kumar, Veera, Manju Warrier, Samuthirakani and Pavani Reddy

Language: Tamil

Directed by H. Vinoth, this heist thriller sees Ajith in the role of a dreaded gangster called Dark Devil. He is pitted against another criminal, Radha (Veera), who is planning to hijack a bank. But Dark Devil takes siege of the bank and the police are baffled as they try to find out more about the real motive behind his action.

Thunivu is currently leading the occupancy in Tamil Nadu during the Pongal holidays, according to trade reports. It is Manju Warrier’s second Tamil film after Asuran (2019).

Waltair Veerayya

Directed by: K. S. Ravindra

Cast: Chiranjeevi, Ravi Teja, Shruti Haasan, and Catherine Tresa

Language: Telugu

Telugu star Chiranjeevi plays the titular character in K.S. Ravindra’s Waltair Veerayya. Ravi Teja, Shruti Haasan and Catherine Tresa also feature in pivotal roles in this action comedy.

Waltair Veerayya is a notorious smuggler on the watchlist of RAW. A new ACP, Vikram Sagar (Ravi Teja), comes to town whose sole agenda is to eradicate the smuggling business in his jurisdiction.

Vikram challenges Waltair’s monopoly in Visakhapatnam, leading to a show-off between the charismatic criminal and the cop.

Veera Simha Reddy

Directed by: Gopichand Malineni

Cast: Nandamuri Balakrishna, Shruti Haasan, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Honey Rose and Duniya Vijay.

Language: Telugu

Nandamuri Balakrishna plays the double role of a father and son in Gopichand Malineni’s revenge drama Veera Simha Reddy. S. Thaman has scored the music for this action entertainer.

Jai (Nandamuri) runs a restaurant in Istanbul and stays with his mother (Honey Rose). He falls in love with Eesha (Shruti Haasan), the daughter of a business magnate. Jai’s father, Veera (also played by Nandamuri), is a ganglord in Pulicherla who arrives in Turkey to participate in his son’s marriage. However, gets embroiled in a bitter clash with his rivals.