“Mirai,” the fantasy action-adventure starring Teja Sajja, has emerged as one of 2025’s most significant commercial successes in Telugu cinema. After hitting the ₹100 crore mark worldwide in just 8 days and currently standing at ₹105.26 crore globally, the film demonstrates how effective visual storytelling combined with mythological themes can captivate modern audiences. With ₹67.85 crore earned in India net collections by day 9, Mirai has proven that regional cinema can compete on a grand scale when technical excellence meets compelling storytelling.

Current Box Office Performance Overview

Category	Details
Title	Mirai
Release Date	September 12, 2025
Current Status	Day 9 in theaters
India Net Collection	₹67.85 crore
Worldwide Gross	₹105.26 crore
Budget	₹60 crore
Profit Margin	13% (Budget recovered)
Current Ranking	8th highest Telugu grosser of 2025
Target for Top 5	₹120 crore needed

Box Office Trajectory and Market Performance

Mirai kicked off its box office run on a strong note but later couldn’t maintain the expected pace compared to Teja Sajja’s previous blockbuster HanuMan. However, the film’s performance tells a more complex story of steady commercial success rather than explosive growth.

The film’s opening weekend showcased impressive numbers, with ₹13 crore on Day 1, ₹15 crore on Day 2, and ₹17 crore on Day 3. This consistent growth pattern during the crucial first weekend established a solid foundation for sustained box office performance.

Within five days, Mirai surpassed Vijay Deverakonda’s Kingdom to become the 9th highest-grossing Telugu film of 2025, and by day 8, it had officially gained the success tag by recovering its ₹60 crore budget. The film’s ability to maintain steady collections during weekdays, earning approximately ₹6 crores on day 5, demonstrates strong audience retention and positive word-of-mouth.

Visual Effects Revolution: Setting New Standards

The film’s most significant achievement lies in its groundbreaking visual effects work. Reviews consistently praise the film as “a true visual masterpiece” with “stunning VFX and CGI that easily surpass expectations”. The visual spectacle has become the film’s primary selling point, with audiences specifically highlighting the technical excellence.

The budget reportedly increased from ₹30–40 crore to about ₹60 crore, owing to extensive VFX and plans for a pan-India release. This investment in visual effects has paid dividends, with critics noting that “the VFX is Hollywood-level, sometimes even surpassing it, and this alone makes the film a standout”.

The film’s approach to mythology through modern visual storytelling techniques has created a unique viewing experience. Unlike other movies that simply borrow elements from the Ramayana, Mirai weaves them into the narrative meaningfully, from the Sampaadi bird sequences to the portrayal of Mirai as a powerful weapon.

Critical Reception and Technical Excellence

Professional critics have been particularly impressed with the film’s technical achievements. Times of India gave the film 3.5 stars out of 5, praising the performances, visuals, action sequences and cinematography, while acknowledging some screenplay limitations.

The background score deserves special mention, as it’s fresh, impactful, and elevates crucial scenes, separating the film from the usual action-fantasy fare. The musical composition by Gowra Hari has been consistently praised across reviews, contributing significantly to the film’s immersive experience.

The action set pieces, especially the train fight, the “Book of Sound” segment, and the depiction of Sampati stand out, even if the liberal use of AI and VFX occasionally feels excessive. This balanced criticism reflects the film’s ambitious approach to visual storytelling.

Audience Response and Market Impact

Mirai had an overall 45.80% Telugu occupancy on Saturday, September 20, 2025, with night shows achieving 59.87% occupancy, indicating strong audience retention even in its second week. The sustained interest demonstrates the film’s appeal beyond opening weekend curiosity.

The multilingual release strategy has shown mixed results, with an overall 20.58% Hindi occupancy, suggesting that while the film resonates strongly with Telugu audiences, it faces challenges in penetrating other linguistic markets effectively.

Social media has become the new film critic, and Mirai’s Twitter footprint is glowing with enthusiasm. Netizens label it “big screen worthy,” lauding its ambition and technical finesse. This organic digital marketing has contributed significantly to the film’s sustained commercial performance.

Industry Position and Future Prospects

Mirai is currently the 8th highest-grossing Telugu film of 2025 at the worldwide box office and needs to earn a total of ₹120 crore to become a hit. The film’s trajectory suggests it will likely achieve this milestone, positioning it among the year’s most successful regional releases.

However, competitive challenges lie ahead. Next Thursday (September 25), Pawan Kalyan’s much-awaited magnum opus, OG, is hitting theatres. Undoubtedly, the Teja Sajja starrer will suffer damage and miss the century due to Pawan’s biggie. This competition will test the film’s staying power in theaters.

The Telugu market led the performance, with strong occupancy in Hyderabad, Vizag, and Warangal, with trade experts noting that strong regional support is keeping the film afloat. This regional strength provides a foundation for continued commercial success despite upcoming competition.

Production Innovation and Technical Achievement

The film’s production journey reflects the evolution of regional cinema’s technical capabilities. Filming took place at Ramoji Film City and other Hyderabad locations, with night shoots for talkie portions concluding in December 2024, demonstrating extensive pre-production planning.

Writer-director-cinematographer Karthik Gattamneni goes time-trotting and globe-trotting, moving from the Himalayas, Varanasi, Morocco, Hyderabad and Japan to hidden temples, the Kumb Mela and faraway islands. This ambitious scope required sophisticated visual effects work to create believable diverse locations.

Performance Analysis and Character Impact

Teja Sajja delivers a top-notch performance, adding depth and energy to the narrative, with many rating his work 9/10. His ability to carry a VFX-heavy film while maintaining emotional authenticity has been crucial to the film’s success.

Teja Sajja once again steps into a superhero-like role and pulls it off with ease. His portrayal of Vedha carries both charm and intensity, especially in the emotionally charged and action-heavy sequences. This consistent performance quality has helped maintain audience investment throughout the film’s nearly three-hour runtime.

Market Challenges and Opportunities

While the film has achieved commercial success, it faces specific market challenges. The mix of fantasy sci-fi and mythology will fascinate the Telugu cinema audience and Teja Sajja admirers, but the Hindi belt may be underwhelmed. This linguistic barrier highlights the ongoing challenge of creating truly pan-Indian content.

The film gets increasingly fanciful, with loud background music and Sanskrit chants constantly on, making it heavy going and losing the boyish flair that Sajja brings to his scenes. These critiques suggest areas for improvement in future productions.

Future Implications for Telugu Cinema

Mirai’s success has broader implications for the Telugu film industry. The market is watching Mirai with eagle-like fervor, with initial indications for a big opening weekend, fueled by family and youth audiences attracted to its fantasy value. This demographic appeal suggests a viable market for high-concept fantasy films.

The film’s approach to mythology through modern storytelling techniques may influence future productions. Mirai is ambitious, visually stunning, and mythologically rich, with strong performances and purposeful storytelling making it a memorable watch. This template of combining traditional narratives with contemporary technical excellence offers a roadmap for sustainable commercial success.

Final Assessment and Industry Impact

Mirai represents a significant achievement in Telugu cinema’s evolution toward technically sophisticated storytelling. With ₹67.85 crore in India net collections and worldwide gross of ₹105.26 crore, the film has demonstrated that audiences appreciate ambitious visual storytelling when executed with technical competence.

The film’s success in recovering its budget and generating profit within its first week establishes it as a commercially viable model for future fantasy productions. Mirai is crafted with precision, with a well-paced screenplay that keeps audiences engaged with a mix of mythology, action, and emotional drama.

For the Telugu film industry, Mirai’s box office performance validates the investment in high-quality visual effects and mythological storytelling. The film’s ability to compete in an increasingly crowded marketplace while maintaining profitability offers valuable lessons for producers considering similar ambitious projects.

As the film continues its theatrical run, its ultimate success will depend on maintaining audience interest despite upcoming competition. However, its achievement in establishing new technical standards and proving commercial viability for mythology-based fantasy films ensures its significance in Telugu cinema’s ongoing evolution toward global competitiveness.