Key Highlights

  • Chiranjeevi has publicly praised Ravi Teja's "phenomenal" performance in the blockbuster spiritual drama 'Irumudi'.
  • The Mega Star said Ravi Teja carried the character Trinadh "entirely on his shoulders".
  • Directed by Shiva Nirvana, 'Irumudi' released worldwide on August 21 and crossed Rs 100 crore by August 25.
  • The film features Priya Bhavani Shankar as the female lead and child artiste Nakshathra as Ravi Teja's daughter.
  • 'Irumudi' is Ravi Teja's 77th film; the title honours a devotee's sacred offering to Lord Ayyappa.

Telugu Mega Star Chiranjeevi has stepped forward with a full-hearted tribute to actor Ravi Teja and the entire team of 'Irumudi', calling the star's performance in the film "phenomenal" and celebrating what has quickly become one of the biggest Telugu box office stories of the year. In a warm, personal message on X, Chiranjeevi's words carried a rare weight — coming not just from a fellow actor, but from one of the industry's most respected voices.

'You Carried Trinadh Entirely on Your Shoulders'

Taking to his X timeline, Chiranjeevi wrote, "Heartiest congratulations to my dear brother Ravi on the blockbuster success of #Irumudi. Thoroughly enjoyed the film from beginning to end. What a phenomenal performance @RaviTeja_offl, you carried Trinadh character entirely on your shoulders."

For Ravi Teja, whose career has been defined by decades of mass entertainers and comic timing, receiving this level of acknowledgement for a performance rooted in devotion and drama is significant. Chiranjeevi's phrasing — "carried Trinadh entirely on your shoulders" — is exactly the kind of endorsement that reframes a film's narrative from a commercial success into a milestone performance.

Warm Words for the Director and the Rising Child Star

Chiranjeevi's appreciation extended beyond Ravi Teja. He specifically praised director Shiva Nirvana for the depth and emotional texture of the storytelling, and reserved a particularly heartfelt line for the young child artiste Nakshathra, who plays Ravi Teja's daughter in the film.

"Director @ShivaNirvana, you have done a wonderful job presenting the film with such depth and emotion. Blessings to #BabyNakshathra for a very bright future, My warm congratulations to the entire cast and crew, and to producers Naveen Yerneni and Ravi Shankar of @MythriOfficial, on this well-deserved success," Chiranjeevi wrote.

Mythri Movie Makers Respond With Gratitude

The makers of the film were quick to respond. Mythri Movie Makers replied on X, saying, "Thank you so much, Megastar @KChiruTweets Garu. To get such beautiful appreciation from you means the world to the team of #Irumudi."

That short response captured the emotional current of the exchange — a legendary star from one generation extending public appreciation to the leading man and creative team of another, receiving heartfelt acknowledgment in return.

The Story Behind the Success

'Irumudi' is a rare hybrid — a film that combines devotion, family drama and thriller elements into a single narrative canvas. It hit screens worldwide on August 21, 2026, and quickly built momentum through word-of-mouth reception, family audience turnout and strong critical acknowledgement.

The film features Priya Bhavani Shankar as the female lead, and by August 25, it had roared past the Rs 100 crore mark at the box office, making it one of the biggest Telugu successes of the year.

77 Films In, Still Setting Milestones

'Irumudi' is Ravi Teja's 77th film — a staggering number for any actor, and one that speaks to his enduring bankability across genres. The film was tentatively referred to as #RT77 during production before being officially titled 'Irumudi'.

The title itself carries deep spiritual significance. Irumudi symbolises a devotee's sacred offering and surrender to Lord Ayyappa — a two-part cloth bundle carried on the head during the Sabarimala pilgrimage. For a mass entertainer built around a devotional core to embrace this title reflects the film's serious tonal ambitions and its respect for the tradition it draws from.

Why It Matters

Chiranjeevi's endorsement lands at a particularly meaningful moment. Ravi Teja has spent his career being loved for high-energy commercial films, but 'Irumudi' represents a different creative gear — a performance grounded in devotion, emotional weight and character interiority. Chiranjeevi calling that performance "phenomenal" is essentially the industry's most senior voice validating a shift in Ravi Teja's creative register.

Industry Impact

'Irumudi's Rs 100 crore-plus performance also strengthens the case for genre-hybrid Telugu filmmaking. In a market often defined by pure mass entertainers or pure devotional films, 'Irumudi' has demonstrated that audiences will show up in droves for a project that blends devotion, family emotion and thriller pacing — provided the anchor performance and direction do justice to the ambition. For Mythri Movie Makers, already among the most powerful production houses in Telugu cinema, the film cements yet another crossover win.

The Bigger Picture

'Irumudi' is now more than a blockbuster — it's a moment. For Ravi Teja, it's a career-defining performance turning point endorsed publicly by an industry legend. For Shiva Nirvana, it's proof that emotional depth and mass appeal can co-exist. And for Telugu cinema at large, it's a reminder that when performances, direction and cultural resonance align, the audience will always be there — sacred offering in hand.

Also Read: Chiranjeevi's Mega158 Titled Kaaka, Set for Sankranthi 2027