Tollywood to try its luck on Tamil shores

Tollywood is on a mission to bring in the Tamil audience. The established status quo — Tamil films dubbed in Telugu making big bucks — has got the Telugu industry trying harder than ever before to do a likewise crossover. Films like Magadheera, Vastadu Naa Raju, and the upcoming Walt Disney production Anaganaga O Veerudu, all dubbed or tweaked to cater to the Tamil audiences, will herald a new era for Tollywood in the Tamil industry territory.

So why don’t Telugu films click with Tamil audiences? Tammareddy Bharadwaja, director-producer speculates, “I think the only reason could be is we don’t expose our actors enough the way Kamal Haasan, Suriya, Rajinikanth etc., are publicised. We need to promote our people. Many movies that do well are usually because of the impact of big stars.”

Actor Kamal Kamaraju feels Telugu filmmakers could step out of the box more often and with more conviction. “Telugu filmmakers should try new trends, do more challenging roles to get the attention of the audiences here. Arundathi was a big movie for the Tamil industry because the concept was different. I think Magadheera will also create a big buzz because of the awards and the new ideas.” Size matters and reflects attitude. Madhushalini, an actress, says, “Tollywood is the biggest film industry after Bollywood and needs to experiment with their movies like the Tamil industry who experiment with stories and actors. Even if the actor is not that big, they try to sell and market their films. Thankfully, Tollywood movies now being remade for the Tamil audience and this is a positive trend.”

“Familiar faces will take movies places,” says Prasad Devineni, producer of Anaganaga O Veerudu that will be released in Tamil as well.“We have huge expectations for the film in the Tamil market. Shruti Haasan will be a big crowd puller. Apart from the stars, the special effects, graphics and the Walt Disney tag will attract audiences. We are very positive and believe this will break the barrier of Telugu industry in the Tamil industry. We also believe that the Tamil audiences should open up to watch different language movies,” he adds.

Vishnu Manchu’s forthcoming Telugu flick Vastadu Naa Raju too will be released simultaneously in Tamil in spite of the restrictions in Tamil Nadu. He says, “Movies made in the Telugu industry have many restrictions. Our movies are not allowed to be screened in the cities in Tamil Nadu and are screened in the outskirts of cities only. Also, huge entertainment tax is levied on our films over there. We request the government to reduce the entertainment tax. We should have equal opportunity. Then surely we will do well with the Tamil audiences. It does make a big difference with so many movies now heading towards the Tamil industry.”