Back to roots

Back to roots

A slew of upcoming films are being directed by Telugu filmmakers who are having a homecoming of sorts after dabbling with B'wood and the international market

Sarah Salvadore and Karthik Pasupulate

After creating waves in Hindi moviedom with the critically acclaimed, "Shor... in the City" and the sleeper hit "99", it's back to roots for Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK. The director duo along with city girl and creative partner, Sita Menon are working on their maiden Telugu venture, "The Dopidi". They are not the only ones making a homecoming in Tollywood. A slew of filmmakers are now choosing to make a comeback to their Telugu roots, despite finding cinematic success in both Bollywood and the international film market. And what's more, they are bringing an all-new perspective.
THE TOLLYWOOD DREAM
Raj and Krishna, who are busy with "Go, Goa, Gone", their Bollywood zombie film starring Saif Ali Khan and Kunal Khemu, are happy to be finally making a Telugu film. "We've been waiting to do a Telugu film for a long time now since we have grown up on a diet of Telugu movies. Unfortunately, we've been so busy with our Hindi projects that time was a major constraint. Then Siraj Kalla, who assisted us in "Shor" showed us this script and we knew this film had to be made and jumped in as p ro d u c e r s, " says Raj. DK adds, "The fact is things happened faster in Hindi films than Telugu, hence the delay. But finally, we are realising our dream of being part of Tollywood." The project stars actors Varun Sandesh, Sundeep Kishan and Melanie Kannokada.
Unlike the current trend of hard selling films as potential Bollywood remakes, the trio confirms their flick will not be one of them. "It is a Telugu film with strong regional flavor. It cannot be remade in Hindi as it will lose its essence," confirms Sita. "The Dopidi" in fact, is being touted as a 'clutter-breaker' in Tollywood. "So far, it's all about hero-driven stories. But in our movie, the story is the hero," claims Raj.
A FOOT IN MANY MARKETS
Filmmaker Shashi Sudigala, an IIT Powai graduate, who went on to study filmmaking from the New York Film Academy, is currently directing his debut Telugu flick, "Twist", starring Varun Sandesh and Sumanth, after making the Hindi movie, "Cycle Kick". The filmmaker says his decision to make a Telugu movie after having a Hindi flick in his resume, is firmly rooted in practicality. "I happen to speak both languages — Hindi and Telugu. For me, it's just a matter of getting a little too greedy and try making films in both markets," he explains. Filmmaker Shashi Sudigala, says, "I write my own screenplays and I'm constantly on the job of pitching them to producers who are interested in it — be it in Mumbai or here in Hyderabad," says the director who is also prepping for another Hindi flick to go on floors soon. "As I am working on a movie here, the shooting of my Hindi film will begin at the end of the year. So, I am looking at shuttling between industries and try and see how it goes."
While Telugu movies hold the dubious distinction of being struck in a time wrap, the filmmaker affirms that his flick is "a-first-of-its-kind-edgymulti-starrer-con-thriller". "I think people — from the industry and the audience — are opening up to new ideas. It's also about approaching the right producer at the right time."
A FRESH PERSPECTIVE
Ayodhyakumar Krishnamsetty is another name to the list of homeward-bound directors. The writer, director and producer, after having studied filmmaking at the prestigious Northwest Film Centre, Portland, Oregon, wrote, co-produced and directed a couple of films — "The new Scarf" and "I Am Not A Chair", in the USA. And now he is currently working on a Telugu film "Fireflies", a story of a boy who loses his eyesight and is admitted in an orphanage for the visually impaired. Krishnamsetty says, "A Telugu movie was perhaps inevitable. My roots are here. I grew up watching Telugu and Hindi films and naturally, now that I am a filmmaker, want to make Indian films and make a difference here hopefully," he says.
The film's star cast includes Suhasini Maniratnam, Raghuveer Yadav and Ashish Vidyarthi. However, finding distributors and theatres is proving to be a tough ask for the filmmaker. "Though I have also produced the film, I'm looking at roping in city-based production houses for the distribution of my film," says Krishnamsetty, who has a few more projects lined-up in Telugu, Hindi and a couple of independent international flicks.
hyderabadtimes@timesgroup.com

Ayodhyakumar on the sets