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Tollywood facing poverty of themes
Undoubtedly T-town stars could have learnt a lesson or two in the last one year since stars in larger-than-life roles have failed to click at the box office. Even Ravi Teja’s fiery performance in recent release Bengal Tiger failed to turn a blockbuster, except drawing openings. It has again proved that Telugu film audience is unwilling to patronise star-driven films.
Larger-than-life roles no more a safe bet
- Stars like Mahesh Babu, Balakrishna, Ram Charan, Akhil suffered a beating due to over-the-top scripts but Mahesh retrieved himself with Srimanthudu
- Stars can’t take Telugu audience for granted any more, says director Chandra Siddharth
- Only characters close to reality will connect better with new-age movie buffs
Hyderabad: Undoubtedly T-town stars could have learnt a lesson or two in the last one year since stars in larger-than-life roles have failed to click at the box office. Even Ravi Teja’s fiery performance in recent release Bengal Tiger failed to turn a blockbuster, except drawing openings. It has again proved that Telugu film audience is unwilling to patronise star-driven films.
Along with mighty star Rajnikanth, who suffered badly with duds like “Lingaa,” the T-town superstars like Mahesh Babu, Balakrishna, Ram Charan Tej took a beating with full-blown action films like Aagadu, Lion and Bruce Lee respectively and even the much-hyped launch of Akkineni scion “Akhil” went down the drain because protagonist (Akhil) set out to save the world.
“Some directors stretched the heroism act a bit too far and failed to connect with viewers. So it is high time that the stars picked some realistic themes because new-age audience are shrewd enough to differentiate between chalk and cheese,” said director Chandra Siddharth, who, however, feels that larger-than-life roles are here to stay in T-town. “Telugu stars cannot give up their heroic feats because they need to cater to their fan base and then attract regular audience, so it is a walk on a twin-edged sword, so their films could go either way,” he added
However, down-to-earth role of Mahesh Babu in Srimanthudu was lapped up by the fans and audience alike to make it a Rs 75-crore blockbuster, followed by Allu Arjun who played a doting son in “S/o Satyamurthy” who accomplished an achievable task of regaining his father’s land.
“Mahesh and Allu Arjun and even Pawan Kalyan in Atharintiki Daredi had chosen strong scripts and essayed boy-next-door roles who are lover boys, soft and don’t mind shedding few tears, to win the hearts of the characters in the films as well as audience and it paid off ,’ said director Srinivas Reddy. So now NTR’s next is “Nannaku Prematho,” suggesting a change of winds in T-town from action to sentiment to score a blockbuster.
“That’s good and welcome change because even mighty Salman Khan mellowed down and showcased his softer human side in Bajrangi Bhaijan and struck gold at the box office. Telugu writers and directors should give up recycling themes and come with fresh ideas and realistic themes to resurrect Telugu cinema, which is going down the drain with 8 to 9 hits in 150-odd releases this year”, sums up director Teja.
By:BVS Prakash
