So far, 'NTR' is the only big release confirmed for Sankranthi 2019. Both Megastar Chiranjeevi's 'Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy' and Prabhas' 'Saaho' are expected to be ready only for Summer. Unless Allu Arjun works at a breakneck speed to okay a project and shoot for it, he won't be ready for Pongal.

This leaves Mahesh25 as the only biggie ready for January 2019. As things stand, the untitled Vamshi Paidipally-Mahesh Babu film will be there in the box-office race.

Had the project started in April, it would have been ready for either Dasara or a bit later. But since it has got pushed to June, Sankranthi is its first big option. It is in this film that Nandamuri Balakrishna will face the stiffest competition.