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Even months after its release, the fever for Allu Arjun’s rustic, ruthless red sanders smuggler hasn't cooled down. But "Pushpa 2" isn't the only game in town. To understand what is "hot" in Telugu cinema right now, you have to look at a triumvirate of recent and upcoming juggernauts. Let’s be clear: Pushpa 2 is a cultural event, not just a movie. Directed by Sukumar, the film picks up where Pushpa: The Rise left off. Allu Arjun reprises his role as Pushpa Raj—a man who started as a coolie and became the king of the illegal sandalwood trade.

In Tollywood today, you aren't "hot" unless you make the audience forget their problems for three hours and leave them chanting your hero’s name. By that measure, the Telugu film industry is currently on fire.

So, as of this moment, which film holds the crown? While the answer fluctuates with new releases, one title has remained a relentless force in theaters and on streaming platforms: