Nandamuri Balakrishna’s much-awaited next collaboration with filmmaker Gopichandh Malineni has finally received its official title. The Telugu historical action drama, which had been referred to as ‘NBK111’ during production, has now been named ‘Dada’. The title was unveiled on September 6 along with a glimpse of the film, giving fans their first major update on the project. The makers have also locked December 24, 2026 as its theatrical release date.
A star-studded cast and crew
Balakrishna will lead the film, with Manchu Manoj, Kajal Aggarwal and Swasika Vijay playing important roles. The project is backed by producer Venkata Satish Kilaru under the Vriddhi Cinemas banner. S. Thaman has been brought on board to compose the music and background score, while Arvind S. Kashyap is handling cinematography. The film reunites Balakrishna with Gopichandh Malineni following their earlier collaboration.
Christmas Eve turns into a three-way battle
The December 24 release date puts ‘Dada’ directly in the middle of a major box office showdown. Balakrishna’s film will arrive on the same day as Shah Rukh Khan’s Hindi film ‘King’ and Nagarjuna’s Telugu project ‘King100’, both of which had already announced their Christmas Eve release plans.The crowded holiday window is expected to make the period particularly competitive, with several major international releases also lined up around Christmas.
More big releases around Christmas
The box office battle will begin even before the December 24 releases. ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Dune: Part Three’ are scheduled to arrive on December 18, setting up an anticipated clash that has already attracted considerable attention. Meanwhile, Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black and Kevin Hart’s ‘Jumanji: Open World’ is targeting December 25, adding another major title to the holiday release calendar.
What to expect from ‘Dada’
Details about the plot of ‘Dada’ are still being kept under wraps. However, the film is reportedly structured across two timelines, moving between an ancient historical setting and 1990s Mumbai.With its period elements, action-driven premise and Balakrishna at the centre, the project is shaping up as an ambitious addition to the Telugu star’s filmography. Its December 24 arrival will now place it in direct competition with two highly anticipated films led by Shah Rukh Khan and Nagarjuna.
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