In a chit-chat with Peddi director Buchi Babu Sana, Megastar Chiranjeevi has recalled a piece of advice by the late SP Balasubramaniam. "SPB garu once told me I should do films like Rudraveena and Apathbandhavudu. Balachander garu once remarked that I am a mix of Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth. I was of course inclined to act in meaningful films. Whenever a Chak De India or a Dangal got made by others, I would desire them," Chiru shared.
Deep down, the comment implicitly exposes the lack of talent in Telugu cinema. Subjects such as Lagaan, Swades, Lakshya, Chak De India and Dangal had so much emotional value, evolved thinking, and commerciality going for them. Despite the presence of a supremely commercial actor like Chiranjeevi, our filmmakers and writers have failed to come up with pathbreaking subjects. Even Pawan Kalyan and Balakrishna have been underutilized; considering their political image, they should be doing socially relevant movies with a distinct voice.
Tollywood has largely been hollow for the past 15 years. Even today, filmmakers like Bobby Kolli, Gopichand Malineni and Anil Ravipudi are making only safe movies despite having access to some of the biggest senior actors of the day.
