TFI lacks young directors: Prakash Raj

Actor Prakash Raj and director Nandini Reddy participated in a panel discussion ‘Towards a meaningful cinema’ moderated by Kinnera Murthy at Hyderabad Literary Festival, at Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet on Saturday.

In the session, Prakash Raj said that he does work which makes him happy whether its farming or movies. He also pointed out that Telugu Film Industry (TFI) does not give enough opportunities to young directors.

“In Karnataka, young people are beautifully connected to cinema. However, in the Telugu Film Industry, we are not giving enough opportunities to young directors,” he said.

Concurring with Prakash Raj Nandini Reddy said, “Compared to Tamil and Kannada film industries our film industry does not produce young writers and directors.”

About the recent Jallikattu protests in Tamil Nadu, Prakash Raj said that it was not influenced by films and was a people’s movement, which began on its own.

Speaking about his film, ‘Ulavacharu Biryani’ he shared, “I did my best for this movie but it did not perform well at the box office. We have to accept success and failures in our life. I lost money with this movie but I will continue making films.”

Prakash Raj informed that he recently adopted a village Kondareddipally in Mahbubnagar. “I adopted a village to give back something which I earn by the people's support. In my opinion, a meaningful cinema must give a great thought.” he shared.

Nandini Reddy said that the audience is very clever and they know what they want from movies. “We (directors) always try to tell a story and the outcome of the film is in people’s hands. Directors always reflect their views in the movies.”

“If you walk with emotions after watching the cinema even outside the theatre then it is a meaningful cinema. Cinema is a great medium of communication,” she added.