Tollywood has changed. It's not just about the slapstick Brahmanandam chases anymore, though honestly, we still love those. If you've been scanning the marquee for new comedy Telugu movies lately, you've probably noticed a shift. It's weirder. It’s more situational. It’s leaning heavily into that dry, "I can’t believe he just said that" vibe.
January 2026 has been a literal explosion for the genre. Between the Sankranti rush and some surprise OTT drops, there is almost too much to track. People think comedy is just a filler between action sequences. They're wrong. Right now, comedy is the main event.
Why Everyone Is Obsessed With Anaganaga Oka Raju
Naveen Polishetty is basically the king of "relatable chaos" right now. His latest outing, Anaganaga Oka Raju, which hit theaters on January 14, 2026, is the perfect example of why this genre is evolving. Directed by Maari (Kalyan Shankar), it isn't just a collection of jokes. It’s a satire on village politics and romantic desperation.
Naveen plays a guy who is basically a professional drifter. He has no plan. Then he falls for a woman played by Meenakshi Chaudhary who actually has her life together. To prove he’s not a total loser, he runs for local elections.
The first half is an absolute laugh riot. It’s fast. The dialogues are sharp. But what most people get wrong is thinking it’s just a "pilla jamindar" clone. It’s actually much more grounded. It made over 5.5 crore on its first day, which is huge for a movie that doesn't rely on massive explosions or six-pack abs.
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The Ravi Teja Pivot: Bhartha Mahasayulaku Wignyapthi
Ravi Teja has had a rough couple of years. We can admit that, right? But Bhartha Mahasayulaku Wignyapthi (or BMW, because Tollywood loves a cheeky acronym) feels like the vintage "Mass Maharaja" we missed. Released on January 13, 2026, this one is a marital comedy-drama.
Kishore Tirumala directed it, and he’s usually great with these soft-focus family entertainers. Ravi Teja plays Ram Satyanarayana, a wine businessman who gets into a "situation" abroad with Ashika Ranganath while his wife (Dimple Hayathi) is back home.
Is it a bit dated? Maybe. But the supporting cast saves it. Sunil and Vennela Kishore are in top form here. The comedy comes from the sweat-inducing tension of a man trying to hide a massive lie. It’s a "stress-comedy," and honestly, the audience at Sudarshan 35mm was losing their minds during the interval block.
Recent Hits and Misses in 2025-2026
It hasn't all been roses. Let’s look at the data because the box office tells a brutal story.
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- The Raja Saab: Prabhas tried the horror-comedy route. It did massive numbers (over 180 crores worldwide) but the critics were split. It’s more "horror" than "comedy" in some parts, which confused the family crowd.
- Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu: Chiranjeevi teamed up with Anil Ravipudi. You know what you’re getting with Ravipudi—loud, energetic, and slightly over-the-top. It crossed the 100 crore mark in four days, proving that big-star comedy still pays the bills.
- Little Hearts: This 2025 release was a sleeper hit. It was a nostalgic rom-com that didn't try too hard. People loved the chemistry between Mouli Tanuj and Shivani Nagaram.
The OTT Goldmine: Gurram Paapi Reddy
If you missed the theater rush, the small screen is where the real experimentation is happening. On January 16, 2026, Zee5 dropped Gurram Paapi Reddy.
This isn't your typical family-friendly flick. It’s a heist comedy. Naresh Agastya plays a conman who tries to dig up a corpse in the Srisailam forest. Why? Because there's money involved, obviously. Faria Abdullah joins him, and the chemistry is surprisingly snappy. It’s dark, it’s quirky, and it feels like something directed by Guy Ritchie if he grew up in Hyderabad.
The trend is clear: new comedy Telugu movies are moving toward "crime-comedy" or "satire." The audience is tired of the same four comedians doing the same four routines. We want stakes. We want the jokes to come from the plot, not just a random song break.
How to Find the Best New Comedy Telugu Movies
Don't just trust the trailers. Seriously. Tollywood trailers are notorious for putting every single funny line in the two-minute teaser, leaving you with a boring two-hour movie.
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Check the writing credits. If you see names like Vivek Athreya or Tharun Bhascker involved, even in a small way, it’s probably going to be witty. If the movie stars Satya or Vennela Kishore in a lead-adjacent role, the "timing" is usually guaranteed.
What to Watch Right Now (Early 2026)
- Anaganaga Oka Raju – For the Naveen Polishetty energy.
- Gurram Paapi Reddy – If you want something edgy on Zee5.
- Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi – Releasing late January with Eesha Rebba and Tharun Bhascker. Expect rural sarcasm.
- Bhartha Mahasayulaku Wignyapthi – For a classic Ravi Teja experience.
The industry is currently in a "Sankranti Hangover," but the lineup for the rest of 2026 looks solid. We're seeing more crossovers—actors from the "indie" Telugu scene moving into big-budget comedies. It’s a good time to be a fan.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on digital premiere dates. Most of these films are hitting Netflix or Zee5 within 35 to 40 days of their theatrical run. If you see a movie like Anaganaga Oka Raju trending on Twitter (or X), it’s usually because the "clean" comedy is winning over the family audience who skipped the theater.
Start by checking your Zee5 or Netflix subscription for Gurram Paapi Reddy or the upcoming digital debut of Ravi Teja's BMW in mid-February. If you're heading to the cinemas, prioritize the Naveen Polishetty starrer for a guaranteed laugh riot that doesn't rely on crude tropes.