Exciting times ahead: 2017

When one talks of Telugu films, 2016 once again demonstrated that content alone is the king.

Big flicks like ‘Dictator,’ ‘Sardaar Gabbar Singh’ and ‘Brahmotsavam’ received a tepid response because the die-hard fan found the content to be run-of-the-mill and too mundane.

In complete contrast, unheralded ones like ‘Kshanam,’ ‘#Pellichoopulu’ and ‘Ekkadiki Pothavu Chinnavada’ hit the box-office goldmine.

These ‘gems’ established that if there is wholesome richness in content, the producer can laugh his way to the bank.

The New Year begins with an exciting aura particularly given that Chiranjeevi is set to return to the fold that he once ruled for over two decades.

On that count, the year’s most eagerly awaited film, the Megastar’s ‘Khaidi No 150’ will virtually set the ball rolling with its Sankranti release. It also opens up the competitive zeal as it is pitted against Balakrishna-starrer ‘Gautamiputra Satakarni.’

With stars overlooking formula films for content-driven cinema, we have some exciting times ahead to look forward. A look at how the year is likely to shape up:

‘Fab 4’ get super busy
In the ‘90s, Tollywood was represented by stars Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Nagarjuna and Venkatesh at the national level. After Chiranjeevi entered the political arena, the other three had a rather tough time to maintain consistency at the turnstile, while being a spectator to the success of Mahesh Babu, Prabhas and Allu Arjun.

But they quickly rediscovered their mojo with their respective films like ‘Legend,’ ‘Manam’ and ‘Drishyam’ and with Chiru back in the fray too, it would be throwback to the good days when the ‘Fab Four’ ruled the roost. What more is they are not content shooting one film at a time.

Rather they are lining up back-to-back films. Each has directors in waiting. Chiru has Boyapati Sreenu, Surender Reddy in queue for the year, while Balayya has SV Krishna Reddy and Krishna Vamsi patiently waiting for him. Nag would join the sets of Ohmkar’s horror thriller shortly, while Chandoo Mondeti is in the process of fleshing out a script for him. Venky, on the other hand, has endorsed the ideas of Puri Jagannadh and Krish.

Interestingly, not just the ‘Fab Four’, the next generation of actors like Pawan Kalyan, Mahesh Babu, NTR, Prabhas, Allu Arjun and Ram Charan have also lined up projects that would require their dates till the summer of 2018. Undoubtedly, that means refreshingly welcome news for the film-goer!

US calling
Guess it won’t be Priyanka Chopra alone who would be filming in the United States this year. Hey ‘Quantico’ girl you’ve got some Indian, nee Tollywood, company!

USA would witness a good number of Telugu films being shot there this year beginning with Nani’s untitled film with Siva.

Giving him some company in a month will be actor-filmmaker Avasarala Srinivas, who would be shooting his as-yet-untitled film, a thriller with Vijay Maddhala, in Seattle and parts of Los Angeles.

The unit of ‘Lie’, starring Nithiin, would follow Avasarala in February. Director Hanu Raghavapudi has planned schedules in Las Vegas, San Francisco and Chicago to shoot a major chunk of his adventure-filled love entertainer.

Nithiins’ film with writer-turned-director Krishna Chaitanya too would be shot in the US some time later in the year.

In the second half of the year, superstar Mahesh Babu would be paying a visit to the Wild West for his ambitious action-thriller with Vamshi Paidipally.

In addition to emerging as the favourite locale, US had also emerged as a big market for Tollywood as far as revenue is concerned.

With films like ‘A… Aa’ (Rs 16 cr), ‘Nannaku Prematho’ (Rs 13.4 cr), ‘Janatha Garage’ (Rs 12 cr), #Pellichoopulu’ (Rs 8.03 cr) minting big money in the States, the producers have become wary of their content, a magnetism that alone is bringing in the NRI crowds to the screens there.

Realising the significance of US, producers are pulling out all stops to ensure that stars cross the seven seas to promote their films (read ‘Dhruva’ unit promoting the film in the US).

With some anticipated films scheduled to arrive in the first half of the year, it would be a matter of time before new record books are rewritten at the American box-office.

End of the bachelorhood
“Akhil love story has come as a shock to both me and dad. It takes guts to marry at such a young age but he is happy about it and that is what matters to all of us.

He will get married before me,” said Naga Chaitanya while promoting ‘Premam’ last October. While it’s another story that Chaitanya is likely to take nuptial vows earlier than his younger brother, theirs would be the weddings to look out for.

Chaitanya, like Akhil, might opt for a destination wedding. Another eligible bachelor likely to shed the tag will be Prabhas.

The actor had promised his uncle and veteran actor Krishnam Raju that once he is through with ‘Baahubali’ filming, he would settle down in life.

The former Union Minister is looking for a suitable girl for his nephew but it remains to be seen whether the macho actor will walk down the aisle immediately after ‘Baahubali’ or wait till the time his long-in-the-planning film with Sujeeth Reddy is wrapped up. Nara Rohith, another hot bachelor, is likely to go the family way this year. It is ditto with Allu Sirish.

The epic finale
It has put Telugu cinema not just on the national map but also on the global map and trust SS Rajamouli to go the extra mile to deliver a better product than ‘Baahubali: The Conclusion’.

Having set a benchmark in terms of VFX, production design, action sequences and of course marketing with the first part, the makers are set to emulate the feat once again with the second part.

What’s interesting is that the film’s motion poster which had released last year, still rings in a fresh recall amongst consumers which proves that this film has just nailed it right in terms of content!

Also, the answer to the question “why did Kattapa kill Baahubali” is expected to be revealed, making audiences restless for the sequel. The showpiece is set to open on April 28, 2017.

Mahesh, Arjun set for Kollywood debut
‘Oopiri’ might not have been a success that it promised to be, but it certainly showed that bilinguals are the way to go; what with production costs soaring each year (blame it on the stars fee too).

Of the reigning stars, Mahesh Babu would be the first to test his luck in the Tamil industry as his next with AR Murugadoss is a Telugu-Tamil bilingual.

The thriller has evoked enough excitement among the audience, thanks to the news that Mahesh would be playing an IB (Intelligent Bureau) officer.

With producer Tagore Madhu coming on record to say it will be version 2.o of ‘Thuppakki,’ the anticipation surrounding it has only gotten bigger.

Following in the footsteps of Mahesh is Allu Arjun, as his film with Lingusamy will mark his entry into Tamil cinema.

The Stylish Star had a fantabulous 2016 both on the professional (‘Sarrainodu’) and personal front (birth of his daughter Arha) and if his story acumen is anything to go by, looks like he is set to conquer the Tamil industry too.

Watch out for PK
Pawan Kalyan would be the face to watch out for this year. Known to disrupt shoots to convene a presser and speak about current issues, he is committed to feature in the films of Trivikram and AM Ratnam later this year once he is done with in-progress ‘Katamarayudu’.

It would be interesting to see how he, with an eye on 2019 polls in AP, balances both films and politics at the same time. Needleless to say that every move of his will under the scanner!

The promising talent
The team of ‘#Pellichoopulu’—director Tharun Bhascker, actors Vijay Deverakonda, Ritu Varma and Priydarshi Pulikonda—could well be the newsmakers all over again.

While Tharun is set to direct a film for the prestigious Suresh Productions, Vijay has as many as four films to hit the screens this year.

Ritu Varma is taking it slow and has signed only one film ‘Keshava,’ while Priyadarshi is busy with a slew of interesting projects like AR Murugadoss’ next, ‘Keshava’, ‘Winner’ and Adivi Sai Kiran’s next.

Ravikanth P, who made a noteworthy debut with ‘Kshanam’, is set for his second film with Suresh Productions, which, in all likelihood, would be produced by Rana.

Keerthy Suresh, Nivetha Thomas, Anasuya and Anupama Parameswaran too have some attractive projects to prove that the runaway success of the maiden film was no case of isolated brilliance.

Quality content and an undeclared BO battle amongst the oldies trying to hang on and the young ones set to give them a run for their money is a good augury for the industry. That recipe promises exciting times ahead for Tollywood.

By: Nagaraj Goud
(With inputs from Sashidhar Adivi)