Telugu Directors: Hit Mantra In Bollywood

While the magnum opus Baahubali has opened up a pan India market for Telugu films, it equally raised the stakes of Telugu directors at national level. Until Baahubali, Telugu films get remade in Hindi with Hindi directors. However, Baahubali has changed the perception of B-town on Telugu directors.

Sundeep Reddy Vanga’s Kabir Singh featuring Shahid Kapoor and Kiara Advani, Sujeeth’s Saaho with Prabhas, Shraddha Kapoor and Prashanth Neel’s KGF have all added to the pan-India success of Baahubali.

Hot under the blockbuster success of Kabir Singh, Sundeep is now directing Ranbir Kapoor in Animal. The film is carrying super buzz in trade even before it hits the floors.

Nag Ashwin is all set to set his eyes on Bollywood. With the critical and commercial success of Mahanati, Nag Ashwin is going to direct Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone. This is another ambitious high-budget film that is bankrolled by Telugu production house Vyjayanthi Movies. Post this film, Nag Ashwin may get raining offers in Hindi.

Sujeeth is all set to work with Vicky Kaushal in his next. Recently, Sujeeth narrated him the script and the latter was impressed with it. A formal announcement on the project would come out soon.

Jersey’s Hindi remake has been offered to its original director Goutham Tinnanuri. Shahid believed that the original director could do justice to the film. Since he already experienced a humongous success with Kabir Singh for believing in Sundeep, he hopes that the same would work for Jersey remake as well. Interestingly, Goutham wrapped up the Hindi version in less time thus by increasing the confidence of the hero and its producers.

Prabhas Radhe Shyam is a Hindi-Telugu bilingual that is being directed by Radha Krishna Kumar of Jil fame. If Radhe Shyam turns out to be a success, Radha Krishna will also get good offers in Hindi.

Director Krish Jagarlamudi has already proved his mettle with Kangana Ranaut-starrer Manikarnika. And he is now busy with his next, a period film with Pawan Kalyan.

Ashok G, of Pilla Zamindar fame, directed Bhaagamthie Hindi remake. He directed Bhumi Pednekar in Durgamati. Although the film garnered mixed to poor reviews, it has zero effect on the B-town’s perception of success of Tollywood directors in the Hindi market.

Sashi Kiran Tikka, of Goodachari fame, is making his directorial debut with Adivi Sesh’s Major that is being shot simultaneously in Hindi and Telugu. The film is based on martyr Sandeep Unnikrishnan who sacrificed his life during 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Hit director Sailesh Kolanu is also trying his luck with the Hindi remake of the same. Sailesh is directing Raj Kumar Rao in the remake. If this works in Hindi, Sailesh may get more offers in Bollywood.

Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas, who enjoys a great fan base for his Hindi-dubbed movies on YouTube and Hindi satellite, is making foray into Bollywood. He is debuting with Chatrapathi’ Hindi remake and none other than VV Vinayak is making his Bollywood debut with this film. If the film’s action and emotion clicks, Vinayak may move his base to Bombay.

Already, Rajamouli was flooded with offers in B-town post Baahubali. It was rumoured that Rajamouli was offered Mahabharath which is his ambitious film and it may take a while to make it reality. There are also speculations of Rajamouli and Aamir Khan wanting to team up. However, Rajamouli is keen on making a regional movie and garnering pan India success with it. He is hoping to repeat Baahubali feat with RRR by featuring NTR, Ram Charan, Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgn. Post RRR, Rajamouli is expected to shift to Bollywood.

It is also strongly buzzed that the likes of Trivikram Srinivas (Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo’s phenomenal success), Sukumar and Koratala Siva got huge offers from Bollywood but these star directors chose to tell their stories to regional audiences with the stars here.

Sukumar and Allu Arjun’s Pushpa is attempting to reach a wider section of audience. And the likes of Trivikram and Koratala may follow the suit. On the whole, one thing is very clear, Telugu directors are in high demand in Bollywood. At the end, it is talent which matters most and not language. Baahubali has certainly erased the language barriers in Indian film industry.