Akhil Akkineni’s Lenin enjoyed a steady run during its first week, ending the actor’s long spell of box-office disappointments.

Although the film is not a massive blockbuster, it has delivered a much-needed commercial success for Akhil and restored confidence in his market.

The real challenge, however, begins this weekend.

Lenin will face competition from nearly nine new releases, including Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated Hollywood epic The Odyssey.

In Hyderabad and other metropolitan cities, audience attention is expected to shift towards Nolan’s film. However, Lenin could continue to perform well in Tier-2 towns and rural centres, where Telugu films generally enjoy stronger support.

Among the new Telugu releases, only Oh Sukumari, starring Thiruveer and Aishwarya Rajesh, has generated some pre-release buzz. The remaining films have largely flown under the radar.

If positive word of mouth continues, Lenin has a good chance of posting another respectable weekend and extending its theatrical run despite the fresh competition.