Thudarum, the latest Malayalam hit, has reignited a familiar debate. Why can't Chiranjeevi and Balakrishna do what Mohanlal and Mammootty are known to do in Mollywood? Why can't they act in content movies in the thriller or action drama genre?
A little probing will tell you what is scarce in Tollywood. Telugu cinema is starved for content-oriented writers and directors. Most of the filmmakers who made excellent debuts in Telugu in the last two decades turned out to be one- or two-film wonders.
The likes of Chandrasekhar Yeleti and Deva Katta have faded out too fast. Venkatesh Maha types have fizzled out with just one movie. These "new-age" filmmakers are incapable of inspiring confidence in big stars. Where is Venu Udugula? What is Sudheer Varma's track record?
The paucity of clever writing is the biggest bane of Telugu cinema. Even Ramanaidu Studios and Annapurna Studios have failed to nurture new-age talents. Had these studios had access to Mollywood-type writing talents, things would have been different for big and medium-range heroes.
Even in his late 60s, Chiranjeevi wants to play larger-than-life roles. He gave Venky Kudumula (Bheeshma fame) a chance to come up with an entertainer. He would never ask a Venkatesh Maha to write a story for him. That's because, as far as Chiru is concerned, a mediocre entertainer stands a better commercial chance than a mediocre content movie. The latter would be a thorough washout at the box office.
