Overseas Telugus root for family movies

The ever-growing and important US market seems to be welcoming-family oriented movies with open arms. Manam , the last film of the legendary late Akkineni Nageswara Rao, which also stars his son Nagarjuna and grandson Nagachaitanya, which released last week, has crossed the $1million mark, according to a tweet by well-known trade analyst Taran Adarsh.

A one-time potential overseas market of mass movies, the US seems to be slowly making the transition towards comedy movies and those centred around the family. A closer look at some of the past blockbusters reveal that overseas Telugus do love family drama. The Mahesh Babu-starrer Dookudu , which had strong familial sentiment, did well in the US.

So did Pawan Kalyan’s

Atharintiki Dharedi which was about reconciliation of strained family relations.

Is YVS a star that

just burnt out?

The film industry is an unpredictable place. If it has given us stars that shone brightly, it has also let many fade in oblivion in quick succession.

Director Y.V.S. Chowdary is one such example. His initial days were nothing short of a dream run, with movies like Seethaiah and Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo crossing the 100-day mark. He was also sought-after among the newcomers – he had introduced actors like Ram and Illeana to the industry.

But alas! YVS is in the grip of misfortune now. His latest production-cum-directorial venture Rey , which stars newcomer and Chiranjeevi’s kin Sai Dharam Tej, is yet to see the light of the day even after being ready almost a year ago.

The latest buzz doing the rounds is that Tej’s debut movie would most likely be Pilla Nuvvuleni Jeevitham . The actor’s kin are also rooting for the movie after YVS failed to release his movie on numerous occasions despite announcing release dates.

The outcome of this development is anybody’s guess. His last few outings as director, including Saleem and Okka Mogadu , not only started his downward spiral, but is also said to have strained a few relations in the industry.

Shriya’s comeback

One lady smiling her way back in to the Telugu film industry after the success of Manam is none other than actor Shriya Saran. While she had to be content with some insignificant roles and item songs in the recent past, Manam has infused a new lease of life into the actor’s career.

It is rumoured that she is being approached by some leading film-makers and producers who found her as a perfect cast for our ageing big stars.