An uncle, a veteran in the business, and his nephew, also in the same business, fight for market share with similar products in the festival season. They both claim inheritance to a rich legacy left behind by the family head and both device plans to outwit the other. Meanwhile, another businessman with a similar background also has thrown down the gauntlet.

Who will win this do-or-die contest with a combined budget of ₹120 crore?

No, this is not a typical Tollywood story line. Telugu film goers are anxiously awaiting Sankranti, when the scion of NTR fight for market share in the season considered to be the biggest opportunity to make money.

Junior NTR, NTR’s grandson (son of Harikrishna), is coming out with Naannaku Prematho on January 13, followed by Balakrishna (NTR’s son)-starrer Dictator . In production for the last few months, both the big budget films kicked off a huge debate on social media, with supporters of both the stars launching a war of words.

Balakrishna, also a TDP MLA, has the support of the ruling party and its cadre, while Junior NTR has a good support base among the younger generation for his acting and dancing talents.

Meanwhile, Nagarjuna, son of late Akkineni Nageshwara Rao, is coming out with Soggade Chinni Naayana after a hiatus, on January 15. Two more small films too are slated for the season.

Exhibition problem The problem is availability of screens. The producers and distributors are scrambling to book theatres that are in short supply. Though Andhra Pradesh and Telangana together have about 2,400 theatres, only half of them are considered to be “good” and are modernised.

“There are reports that theatre owners in Andhra Pradesh are getting messages (from leaders of some ruling Telugu Desam Party) asking them to avoid giving screens to Junior NTR’s film. There’s a huge hype generated for his film as it is directed by Sukumar,” a source in the film industry, who doesn’t want to be named, told BusinessLine .

Junior NTR and his father N Harikrishna fell out of favour with TDP president and AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu over the last few years. On the other hand, Balakrishna became a legislator and married his daughter off to Chandrababu’s son Lokesh.

The Junior NTR’s camp is a bit apprehensive about this. “They are out to make our film less acceptable,” an associate worked for the film said.

Junior NTR has a day’s advantage. “It will make a lot of difference. Almost all the screens in the two States are going to show his film. The number will come down in the next two days to accommodate the other two major films,” he said.

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