Playing cricket is new fad

After playing varied roles, reigning Telugu stars are donning cricketing gear to enthrall their fans this season. Gen Y star Nani will be playing an aspiring cricketer in his upcoming film 'Jersey' which is touted to be a tale of ageing middle-class boy who achieves his goal at the age of 36.

Similarly, Naga Chaitanya plays a frustrated cricketer in his upcoming film 'Majili' and would be playing a few cricketing shots before his life takes a new turn. "Nani has done varied roles and playing cricketer is truly a novel idea.

Same with Naga Chaitanya as well," says director Madhura Sreedhar, who feels that cricket-stories connect better with new-age audience. "With cricket-crazy Telugu audience, it is the best bet, provided the plot has novelty and screenplay is engaging enough," he adds.

While Nani's film talks about the hindrances in the life of an aspiring cricketer, Naga Chaitanya's 'Majili' focuses more on his personal life than his cricketing feats.

"Going by the trailer, it looks to be a personal story of a struggling cricketer who is unable to come to terms with his life which affects his married life," says director Gunasekhar, who feels that it boosts the trend of sports-centric movies in T-town.

"Director has chosen cricket as the backdrop for his story of a broken marriage. Releasing the film during IPL season makes it for a perfect match," he adds. Not to be left behind, even actresses are donning cricketing gear to give their male counterparts a run for their money.

'Rashmika Mandanna will be playing a cricketer in 'Dear Comrade' and has honed her cricketing skills to fit into the challenging role. She proved her mettle as a lover girl in 'Geeta Govindam' and now donning another avatar," says director Meher Ramesh.

Joining the cricketers' bandwagon, Tamil actress Aishwarya Rajesh will be reprising her role in Telugu remake of 'Kanaa'.

"She will be playing a leg spinner who hails from a village and it's all about her struggles to achieve her goal in the field of cricket," says director Bheemaneni Srinivas Rao who is directing the Telugu version. "Its all about ails of women cricket," he concludes.Jersey, Majili, Naga Chaitanya, Nani, Madhura Sreedhar, Gunasekhar, Rashmika Mandanna, Dear Comrade, Aishwarya Rajesh, Bheemaneni Srinivas Rao, Telugu Film Industry