Did we just witness a watershed year in which content took precedence over star power? A few films in the first part of 2018 made many of us avid trackers of Telugu cinema. Soon after a big star-driven film that hinged on a wafer-thin storyline and lazy narration tanked in January, hope came in the form of smaller films like Chalo , Tholiprema and Awe . The last one, in particular, was a brave move. The genre-bender did have its missteps, but showed that a debut director (Prasanth Varma) could instil confidence in well known names to enact characters they would have never dared to earlier – lend their voices to a tree, a fish.
Then came the big ticket Rangasthalam through which director Sukumar showed a new, raw side to stars like Ram Charan and Samantha in a gritty, rustic tale set in the 80s. The ambitious Savitri biopic Mahanati by Nag Ashwin stoked nostalgia and made younger viewers look up the iconic actor’s filmography. Smaller gems like Sammohanam , Chi La Sow and Care of Kancharapalem followed, and Telugu cinema could also boast of a racy spy thriller in Goodachari . And then, it seemed like a dry spell. During this period the neighbouring Tamil film industry made rapid strides with a slew of cutting-edge films. As 2018 draws to a close with a newer director Sankalp Reddy presenting the space thriller Antariksham (it falls short, but was a glorious attempt), we hope 2019 will see Telugu cinema embracing the new wave, along with the big-budget biopics and historicals that have been lined up.
Meanwhile, here is a list of our top picks from last year.
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Rangasthalam is like a novel. In its first few pages, this fictitious dusty village of the 80s reveals itself gradually. The dialect is rooted, not a generic one that mainstream films present in a broad brushstroke for instant appeal.
Mahanati
The word feisty wouldn’t be enough to describe ‘mahanati’ Savitri. She was childlike in embracing the wonderful moments life presented her with, unafraid to live life on her terms, was generous and also reckless, drowning in a quagmire from which there was no way out.
Care of Kancharapalem
Care of Kancharapalem is a rare Telugu film that takes us beyond the habitual cinematic settings to familiarise us with the sights, sounds and lives of people of a locality.
Bharat Ane Nenu
Bharat Ane Nenu deserves a thumbs up for its well thought out plot and nuanced characters. Keeping us hooked to the narrative are Mahesh Babu, accompanied by Prakash Raj in another winsome and complex role, Rahul Ramakrishna, Rao Ramesh, Brahmaji and Kiara Advani among others.
Sammohanam
The film is a window to the life of a film star through the eyes of an illustrator for children's books. A balanced perspective of what happens when ordinary and glitzy worlds merge, Sammohanam is peppered with timely and witty references to literature, digs on populist industry trends.
Goodachari
Goodachari is the work of a smart, gritty team that rises to the challenge and serves a riveting tale.
Chi La Sow
Chi La Sow takes us into its fold, nudging us to stay with its pace and understand the layers of its key characters and the whirlwind of emotions. Sushanth and Ruhani Sharma sparkle through their journey.
U Turn
U Turn is the remake of an acclaimed Kannada film by the same name and for those who’ve not watched the original, the twists keep you hooked.
Tholi Prema
Debut director Venky Atluri’s rom-com builds its tempo gradually and before you know it, sweeps you off your feet.
Awe
Awe is an unusual film. The trailer didn’t give away anything, except the fact that a few well-known actors have come together to do something new.
