Telugu star Nani's highly anticipated action drama "The Paradise" has cleared a major pre-release milestone, receiving an 'A' certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The certification arrived just over a week before the film's worldwide theatrical release, confirming a final runtime of 2 hours and 49 minutes.
The 'A' rating restricts theatrical screenings to adult audiences only, reflecting the film's intense, action-heavy content. As of now, the makers have not issued any official statement regarding the certification, and details of any cuts mandated by the board, if applicable, have not been made public.
A Demanding Project for Nani
Ahead of the film's release, Nani has been candid about the toll the project took on him personally, describing "The Paradise" as the most demanding production of his 18-year career. Speaking at a press interaction, he said, "The Paradise is the most tiring film of my career, both physically and mentally. If there has been a film for which I have worked very hard in these 18 years of my film career, it is The Paradise." This level of personal investment adds significant weight to pre-release expectations, particularly given his established track record in the action genre following "Dasara."
Why It Matters: Advance Bookings as an Early Indicator
Advance ticket sales have emerged as a strong early signal of audience anticipation ahead of the film's release. According to trade tracking platform Sacnilk, "The Paradise" could potentially gross around ₹50 crore on its opening day, based on current booking trends. This kind of pre-release momentum is often viewed within the industry as a reliable indicator of a film's opening weekend trajectory, particularly for large-scale, multi-language releases.
Strong Domestic and International Booking Numbers
In the Telugu market, advance bookings have already crossed the 3.5 lakh ticket mark, a figure trade analysts expect to climb further in the final 48 hours leading up to release, as last-minute bookings typically surge closer to a film's premiere.
The film's international performance has also been notable, with advance bookings in the United States reaching approximately $650,000. Industry trackers anticipate this figure could cross the $1 million mark once full booking windows open, reflecting the growing overseas demand for large-scale Telugu action films among diaspora audiences.
About 'The Paradise'
Directed by Srikanth Odela, marking his second collaboration with Nani following the commercial success of "Dasara," "The Paradise" is a period action drama centered on a marginalized tribal community's long-denied fight for basic rights, tracking the rise of a leader who challenges deeply entrenched systemic oppression. The film is produced by Sudhakar Cherukuri under the SLV Cinemas banner, with Ishan Saksena serving as co-producer.
The film will release simultaneously across eight languages-Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, English, Spanish, Bengali, Kannada, and Malayalam-reflecting an ambitious multilingual rollout strategy aimed at maximizing its reach across both domestic and international markets.
What Lies Ahead
With CBFC certification now secured and advance bookings showing strong early momentum, "The Paradise" appears well-positioned for a significant opening ahead of its September 24 release. As bookings continue to build in the final stretch before launch, trade analysts and fans alike will be closely watching whether the film's real-world opening day numbers align with current projections, particularly given Nani's own description of the project as the most demanding of his career.