Critically Acclaimed directors in Telugu cinema: Where are they now?
Our Telugu Cinema has seen many acclaimed movies and people made them hits, classics despite not having any commercial elements.
Though critics are trying hard to oust the mass-commercial films with routine formula, cine-goers are ignoring them at times. For example, the recent hits F2 and Kanchana 3 got poor reviews from the critics but they were huge hits commercially. At the same time, movies like Jersey and Awe got acclaimed reviews from all but the money they recovered was less compared to the business done.
There was a time when there were only commercial films releasing in Telugu and people used to look at dubbed films of Tamil and feel bad about our films. Then we had filmmakers like K. Viswanath gaaru who made films like Saptapadi, Shankarabharanam, Swathimuthyam, and many more films that are highly acclaimed, and Singeetham Sreenivas gaaru who made films like Bhairava Dweepam, Pushpaka Vimanam, etc., that were well received by the critics. K. Balachander made films like Rudraveena, Maro Charithra, and Akali Rajyam.
In the early 2000s, the trend of new-age love stories featuring Uday Kiran and Tarun released and they were celebrated a lot. Director Teja made several love story-driven films that showed the stature differences, and he also made Nijam featuring Mahesh Babu, for which Mahesh Babu got Nandi Award.
Then there are filmmakers who returned from the US to make films in Telugu:
1. Sekhar Kammula — scored a hit with Anand and made films like Godavari, Happy Days, Leader, and the recent hit- Fidaa.
2. Deva Katta — who can be remembered for wonderful films like Vennela and Prasthaanam, that are critically acclaimed and don’t feel sad for the commercial failure of Prasthaanam! He’s remaking the film with Sanjay Dutt and Manisha Koirala in Hindi now.
3. Praveen Sattaru — who debuted with LBW and made films like Chandamama Kathalu (won National award) and PSV Garuda Vega.
4. Krish — I don’t know what had happened to him. He made wonderful films like Gamyam, Vedam, Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum that have a beautiful message of Humanity without commercial things. He also made Gautamiputra Satakarni — movie about a great ruler of Telugu land, Satakarni. You all know what happened to his next films. To be honest, I want him to make a comeback film with newcomers so that he can deliver solid content.
5. Mohanakrishna Indraganti — a filmmaker who deserves much respect for his films. His parents are writers. He is a sensible and acclaimed filmmaker who won a National Award for the very first film. He is known for changing the genre of his films and he tries to get a new genre with every film. After a feel-good rom-com Sammohanam, he’s coming up with “V” starring Nani and Sudheer Babu.
Apart from these directors, we have Chandrasekhar Yeleti — who rarely disappoint us with his films, but I don’t mind disappointing him again and again. He gave memorable thrillers like Aithe, Anukokunda Oka Roju, Okkaddunnadu, and the recent commercial failure Manamantha. All of his movies are available on YouTube now.
Telugu cinema is evolving with new concepts and content that the audience are encouraging. The recent films like Pelli Choopulu and Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi by Tarun, C/O Kancherapalem by Venkatesh Maha, Mental Madhilo by Vivek Athreya and actors like Adivi Sesh who are encouraging new content with films like Kshanam, Goodachari that introduced new talents to our industry are successful commercially too. Special mention to Nag Ashwin who delivered a classic Mahanati.
Do you feel I missed any filmmaker here? Comment below. I’d love to hear from you :)
Love,
Pd.
