Nandamuri Balakrishna’s much-anticipated Akhanda 2 hit an unexpected roadblock on Thursday night, just hours before its scheduled release. What was supposed to be a celebratory Friday morning for fans across the Telugu states instead turned into confusion, cancelled shows, and theatre standbys.
For weeks, the makers had aggressively promoted the film, with Balakrishna touring multiple cities. Preview shows were ready to roll when the team suddenly announced that the release had been postponed due to “unavoidable circumstances”. But court documents suggest a far deeper issue.
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The Court order that stopped Akhanda 2 in its tracks
According to Hindustan Times, Eros International Media Limited revealed that the Madras High Court had passed an injunction order restricting the release of Akhanda 2 in any form whether it be theatrical, digital, or commercial.
The dispute traces back to a long-running arbitral award against 14 Reels Entertainment, the production house behind the film. Eros is the award holder of a ₹28-crore money decree, which it says remains unpaid.
Eros argued before the court that 14 Reels’ attempt to release Akhanda 2 amounted to an indirect effort to evade financial obligations determined by law. They sought urgent intervention to prevent the makers from commercially exploiting the film until the award was honoured.
A Division Bench of Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice C. Kumarappan agreed, issuing an order preventing any release or distribution of the film until further notice.
Makers express shock, seek time to resolve issue
On Thursday night, 14 Reels Entertainment posted an emotional statement on X (formerly Twitter):
“With a heavy heart, we regret to inform you that Akhanda 2 will not be releasing as scheduled due to unavoidable circumstances… We are working tirelessly to resolve the matter at the earliest.”
The production house acknowledged the disappointment among fans, promising an update soon.
About Akhanda 2: Thaandavam
Akhanda 2: Thaandavam is the sequel to Balakrishna’s 2021 blockbuster Akhanda, directed by Boyapati Srinu. The film features:
Nandamuri Balakrishna
Samyuktha
Aadhi Pinishetty
Harshaali Malhotra
Music by Thaman S has already created strong buzz online. However, with the injunction in place, the new release date remains uncertain. For now, Balakrishna fans can only wait as one of the year’s biggest Telugu releases hangs in limbo.
