Pokiri remains one of the most sensational films in the history of Telugu cinema.
As the film completes 20 years, it stands as a landmark achievement and a true game-changer for everyone associated with it.
Released in 2006, Pokiri arrived at a time when the U.S. market for Telugu cinema was still evolving. Interestingly, Athadu, starring Mahesh Babu, had performed better overseas than in India, creating early demand for his next release.
Riding on that momentum, Pokiri’s U.S. rights were acquired for around â¹72 lakh by Great India Films. The investment surprised many, as Mahesh Babu’s market in the U.S. was not yet firmly established.
However, with assurance from Manjula Ghattamaneni—one of the film’s producers—that any potential losses would be compensated, the buyers went ahead with the deal, which was considered high at the time.
In those days, exhibition rights were sold territory-wise. The buyers adopted a similar strategy, selling rights across several regions while retaining a few areas for their own direct release. This approach proved highly effective.
By the end of its full run, the investors reportedly made a massive profit of around â¹1.25 crore through a combination of rights sales and direct earnings.
For that time, this was a huge return and stood as a remarkable, record-setting achievement for a Telugu film in the U.S. market.
Similarly, exhibitors across regions also made substantial profits—often earning more than double or even triple their investments—though exact figures were not tracked due to the lack of a proper reporting system back then.
Directed by Puri Jagannadh, Pokiri became a trendsetter in overseas business, significantly strengthening Mahesh Babu’s market in the U.S. Watching the film in theatres back then was nothing short of a celebration.