Five trends blowing Tollywood
New winds are blowing across Tollywood. From social media wars among fans getting intense (and sometimes creative) to superstars becoming ambitious, the industry is going through an interesting phase. IndiaGlitz chronicles five changes that are sweeping the industry - changes that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago.
Rivalry on social media
Social media (SM, in short) is slowly emerging as a battlefield where the fans of superstars are settling scores. While this has been on for a few years now, of late, the wars have become intense. With most fans active on SM being in the range of 18-25 years, the age group that actively indulges in display of 'tu tu-mein mein' duels, Facebook and Twitter have not-so-surprisingly become curious sites of banter - friendly or otherwise, healthy or otherwise.
Only this month, two controversies were manufactured and perpetuated by the fans on SM. The #CheppanuBrother and #ChuskuntamBrother controversy pit Allu Arjun against Pawan Kalyan for no relevant reason. With the hashtags trending, the Stylish Star himself had to do damage control. The other controversy pertains to a section of Pawan Kalyan's fans avenging a section of Mahesh Babu's fans' ridiculing of Sardaar Gabbar Singh. #FlopUtsavam trended in no time!
Directors crossing boundaries
In a big way, talent is crossing borders. Cinema knows know boundaries. It deserves no barriers, so to speak. With production values perfecting exponentially, it has only become easier for creators to defy inhibitions and shibboleths.
Thus, we have the likes of AR Murugadoss and N Lingusamy making bi-linguals with Telugu superstars Mahesh Babu and Allu Arjun, respectively. Note that Vishnu Vardhan's slick actioner Panjaa with Pawan Kalyan was critically acclaimed way back in 2011. On the other hand, Trivikram Srinivas' attempts to make a film with Suriya are yet to bear fruit. Sri Priya directed a star like Venkatesh for Drushyam.
Latest, SJ Suryah is back to direct Power Star, his Khushi and Komaram Puli hero. As for Vikram Kumar, who considers Tollywood his bread and butter, has been making films like 13B and 24 - films that are either pan-Indian or pan-South Indian. His films with Bunny and Mahesh Babu are on the cards. Vamsi Paidipally's Oopiri/Thozha became a success, prompting him to make a bi-lingual with Mahesh.
Heroes becoming ambitious in other States
This is another of the crazy trends. Telugu stars are out to expand their markets in other States. In the coming years, we are going to see our stars seeing themselves as pan-South Indian icons. They are only taking baby or even monster steps!
In recent months, we have seen how the biggest stars, namely Pawan Kalyan and Mahesh Babu, have become ambitious. Thanks to Eros International, Power Star had a big release of SGS in Hindi on April 8. The film bombed badly at the BO. As for Srimanthudu, the Tamil version Selvandhan did a decent business.
NTR and Bunny are seen as superb dancers and performers in Kerala and even TN and Karnataka (a State where Tollywood has had a field day for many years now). Sarrainodu, released as Yodhavu in Malayalam, has opened to outstanding response in Kerala. NTR is looking at a simultaneous release of Janata Garage in Telugu and Tamil. He expects the film to become a pan-South Indian hit. Of course, the presence of Mohanlal only means that the film will have a good chances of breaking records in Kerala as far as a Telugu star's film is concerned.
Meanwhile, Prabhas' efforts at cashing in on the Baahubali fever needs to be mentioned. The Young Rebel Star wants to release all his films in a big way in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and if apt, even in North India (the Hindi version). Thus, he has asked his director Sujeeth to write the script accordingly. Post Srimanthudu and Nannaku Prematho, Jagapathi Babu is expanding into Tamil (films with Vijay and Vishal). On the other hand, Karthi and Vishal are keen on doing straight Telugu films.
Multi-starrers
Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu and Gopala Gopala come to one's mind. They proved beyond doubt that our actors are more than willing to push the envelope should a right script come their way. Many such combos would materialize if only writers came up with scintillating ideas.
Manam is a case in point. Oopiri was supposed to be made in the combination of NTR and Nag. Note that Mahesh and Nag are ever-ready to be cast in a Mani Ratnam movie. There may come a day when Pawan and Mahesh will be seen together.
In the absence of ideas, our stars are having to make do with cameos. There is a gossip that Bunny and NTR will appear for a brief time in Boyapati's next with Bellamkonda Srinivas. Ramanaidu's dream to make a film with Venky, Rana and Chai has been bequeathed by D Suresh Babu. Guest appearances in Dongata (Nagarjuna, Nani, Ravi Teja and Manoj) and Size Zero (well, the list would go on) are a case in point. Note that more than two decades ago, in Venkatesh-starer Trimurthulu, Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Nagarjuna, Krishna, Shoban Babu, Krishnam Raju, Murali Mohan appeared in a song.
Actors on social media
With Bunny recently crossing 1 crore likes on Facebook, expect Tollywoodians to make a splurge on social media. Such is the reach and impact of SM. In the last year or so, more and more actors, directors, writers and even producers have debuted on social media. They happily share their heart-felt feelings. Some of them regularly share their happy moments in the form of pics, including family members'. Everyone now is familiar with the faces of the wives and kids of NTR and Bunny. As for Mahesh's daughter, we know her more because of Namrata and Samantha! Some even express their political views on SM. But there is a complaint. Pawan and Mahesh are not active SM players!
Five trends blowing Tollywood
New winds are blowing across Tollywood. From social media wars among fans getting intense (and sometimes creative) to superstars becoming ambitious, the industry is going through an interesting phase. IndiaGlitz chronicles five changes that are sweeping the industry - changes that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago.
Rivalry on social media
Social media (SM, in short) is slowly emerging as a battlefield where the fans of superstars are settling scores. While this has been on for a few years now, of late, the wars have become intense. With most fans active on SM being in the range of 18-25 years, the age group that actively indulges in display of 'tu tu-mein mein' duels, Facebook and Twitter have not-so-surprisingly become curious sites of banter - friendly or otherwise, healthy or otherwise.
Only this month, two controversies were manufactured and perpetuated by the fans on SM. The #CheppanuBrother and #ChuskuntamBrother controversy pit Allu Arjun against Pawan Kalyan for no relevant reason. With the hashtags trending, the Stylish Star himself had to do damage control. The other controversy pertains to a section of Pawan Kalyan's fans avenging a section of Mahesh Babu's fans' ridiculing of Sardaar Gabbar Singh. #FlopUtsavam trended in no time!
Directors crossing boundaries
In a big way, talent is crossing borders. Cinema knows know boundaries. It deserves no barriers, so to speak. With production values perfecting exponentially, it has only become easier for creators to defy inhibitions and shibboleths.
Thus, we have the likes of AR Murugadoss and N Lingusamy making bi-linguals with Telugu superstars Mahesh Babu and Allu Arjun, respectively. Note that Vishnu Vardhan's slick actioner Panjaa with Pawan Kalyan was critically acclaimed way back in 2011. On the other hand, Trivikram Srinivas' attempts to make a film with Suriya are yet to bear fruit. Sri Priya directed a star like Venkatesh for Drushyam.
Latest, SJ Suryah is back to direct Power Star, his Khushi and Komaram Puli hero. As for Vikram Kumar, who considers Tollywood his bread and butter, has been making films like 13B and 24 - films that are either pan-Indian or pan-South Indian. His films with Bunny and Mahesh Babu are on the cards. Vamsi Paidipally's Oopiri/Thozha became a success, prompting him to make a bi-lingual with Mahesh.
Heroes becoming ambitious in other States
This is another of the crazy trends. Telugu stars are out to expand their markets in other States. In the coming years, we are going to see our stars seeing themselves as pan-South Indian icons. They are only taking baby or even monster steps!
In recent months, we have seen how the biggest stars, namely Pawan Kalyan and Mahesh Babu, have become ambitious. Thanks to Eros International, Power Star had a big release of SGS in Hindi on April 8. The film bombed badly at the BO. As for Srimanthudu, the Tamil version Selvandhan did a decent business.
NTR and Bunny are seen as superb dancers and performers in Kerala and even TN and Karnataka (a State where Tollywood has had a field day for many years now). Sarrainodu, released as Yodhavu in Malayalam, has opened to outstanding response in Kerala. NTR is looking at a simultaneous release of Janata Garage in Telugu and Tamil. He expects the film to become a pan-South Indian hit. Of course, the presence of Mohanlal only means that the film will have a good chances of breaking records in Kerala as far as a Telugu star's film is concerned.
Meanwhile, Prabhas' efforts at cashing in on the Baahubali fever needs to be mentioned. The Young Rebel Star wants to release all his films in a big way in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and if apt, even in North India (the Hindi version). Thus, he has asked his director Sujeeth to write the script accordingly. Post Srimanthudu and Nannaku Prematho, Jagapathi Babu is expanding into Tamil (films with Vijay and Vishal). On the other hand, Karthi and Vishal are keen on doing straight Telugu films.
Multi-starrers
Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu and Gopala Gopala come to one's mind. They proved beyond doubt that our actors are more than willing to push the envelope should a right script come their way. Many such combos would materialize if only writers came up with scintillating ideas.
Manam is a case in point. Oopiri was supposed to be made in the combination of NTR and Nag. Note that Mahesh and Nag are ever-ready to be cast in a Mani Ratnam movie. There may come a day when Pawan and Mahesh will be seen together.
In the absence of ideas, our stars are having to make do with cameos. There is a gossip that Bunny and NTR will appear for a brief time in Boyapati's next with Bellamkonda Srinivas. Ramanaidu's dream to make a film with Venky, Rana and Chai has been bequeathed by D Suresh Babu. Guest appearances in Dongata (Nagarjuna, Nani, Ravi Teja and Manoj) and Size Zero (well, the list would go on) are a case in point. Note that more than two decades ago, in Venkatesh-starer Trimurthulu, Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Nagarjuna, Krishna, Shoban Babu, Krishnam Raju, Murali Mohan appeared in a song.
Actors on social media
With Bunny recently crossing 1 crore likes on Facebook, expect Tollywoodians to make a splurge on social media. Such is the reach and impact of SM. In the last year or so, more and more actors, directors, writers and even producers have debuted on social media. They happily share their heart-felt feelings. Some of them regularly share their happy moments in the form of pics, including family members'. Everyone now is familiar with the faces of the wives and kids of NTR and Bunny. As for Mahesh's daughter, we know her more because of Namrata and Samantha! Some even express their political views on SM. But there is a complaint. Pawan and Mahesh are not active SM players!
New winds are blowing across Tollywood. From social media wars among fans getting intense (and sometimes creative) to superstars becoming ambitious, the industry is going through an interesting phase. IndiaGlitz chronicles five changes that are sweeping the industry - changes that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago.
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