Tollywood

Top 5 Tollywood Movies That Ran for the Highest Number of Days in Theaters

Ansgar
June 25, 2025
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Tollywood, the Telugu film industry, is known for its passionate storytelling, powerful performances, and long-lasting cinema culture. While today’s films often run for weeks or months, some old classics stayed in theaters for hundreds of days—a rare feat in the modern digital age.

These legendary films earned love from the audience and remained in theaters for over a year in some cases, making them unforgettable. Here’s a look at the top 5 classic Tollywood movies that ran for the most number of days in theaters.

Mayabazar (1957) Days in theaters: Over 100 days (many centers)

Mayabazar is considered one of the greatest Indian films ever made. With mythological themes, stunning performances, and technical brilliance (even in black-and-white), the movie created magic.

It had a long run in theaters and was re-released several times, each time receiving a huge response. It’s a timeless tale based on the Mahabharata and is still cherished by Telugu audiences today.

Lava Kusa (1963) Days in theaters: Over 200 days in many centers

Lava Kusa is another mythological classic based on the Ramayana. The emotional story of Lord Rama and his sons struck a chord with the audience. NTR’s performance as Rama was especially praised.

The movie became a household name and ran for months in theaters, setting records during its time.

Sankarabharanam (1979) Days in theaters: Over 365 days (1 full year)

This musical drama celebrated Indian classical music at a time when disco and western styles were popular. Sankarabharanam surprised everyone by becoming a massive hit.

It not only ran for a whole year in some theaters but also won national awards. It was an artistic and commercial success, inspiring future generations to appreciate classical traditions.

Magadheera (2009) Days in theaters: Over 750 days (in some centers, including re-releases)

Though not as old as others on this list, Magadheera is considered a modern classic. With a fantasy reincarnation theme and spectacular visuals, the film became a massive blockbuster.

It ran for over 750 days in some single screens (especially in areas like Kurnool) and was a turning point in modern Telugu cinema.

Pathala Bhairavi (1951) Days in theaters: 100+ days

One of the earliest fantasy-adventure films in Tollywood, Pathala Bhairavi captured the imagination of audiences with its magical story, stunning visuals, and memorable music.

The film was a huge box office success and ran for more than 100 days—a big achievement in those days.