As 2023 comes to a close, the Telugu film industry basks in the glory of the recently released ‘Salaar,’ led by star Prabhas, which has garnered an overwhelming response at the box office. This surge of success brings a celebratory note to an otherwise tepid year for Telugu cinema. The excitement mirrors the frenzy that ‘Pushpa – The Rise’ stirred up in late 2021, during a time when theaters grappled with the pandemic’s impact.
The year following the success of ‘Pushpa’ and RRR saw Telugu cinema riding high, appearing resilient in the face of adversity, particularly when compared to other regional film industries. Sadly, the momentum didn’t carry into 2023. Aside from ‘Salaar,’ many high-profile Telugu films with aspirations of transcending language barriers failed to make an impact.
There was no shortage of creativity among emerging directors who produced quality work that stood out in the crowded market. However, such films were sporadic. For every ‘Balagam,’ ‘Month of Madhu,’ ‘MAD,’ ‘Hi Nanna,’ and ‘Miss Shetty, Mr Polishetty,’ there were long stretches of stagnation. The summer was notably uneventful, apart from the pandemic years, reflecting a larger trend of box office disappointments.
The Telugu Film Producers’ Council reported that out of some 300 films that graced theaters by December 22, around 230 were direct Telugu releases with roughly 70 being dubbed versions.
The bursting of an industry bubble seemed inevitable. The language boundaries began to blur in 2015 with the release of ‘Baahubali – The Beginning’ and continued through to ‘KGF,’ ‘Pushpa,’ ‘Kantara,’ and ‘RRR.’ The rise of digital platforms during lockdown periods had heightened audience appetites for diverse linguistic content. Yet, not all Telugu films could replicate this formula successfully at a national level. Films like ‘Skanda – The Attacker,’ ‘Agent,’ ‘Ravanasura,’ ‘Spy,’ ‘Shaakuntalam,’ and ‘Tiger Nageswara Rao’ didn’t quite resonate with audiences, both within their home region and across other languages. Even romance dramas like ‘Kushi,’ featuring Vijay Deverakonda and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, struggled to maintain interest beyond their initial weekends.
At the start of the year, hit films ‘Veera Simha Reddy’ and ‘Waltair Veerayya’ couldn’t stave off the emergence of smaller, more surprising works, particularly those from first-time directors, which included ‘Balagam,’ ‘Dasara,’ ‘Writer Padmabhushan,’ ‘Mem Famous,’ and ‘Pareshan.’ Telangana-centric narratives gained prominence, while horror themes witnessed a comeback.
Among these various titles, ‘Baby’ captivated audiences with its portrayal of flawed characters, generating intense debate. Its music was noteworthy, adding to the appeal. On the flip side, films like ‘Bhola Shankar,’ despite star power, could not revitalize outdated formulas. ‘Bhagavanth Kesari,’ however, found favor for its social messaging, even as it flirted with preachiness.
As for films worth mentioning, ‘Balagam’ stood out as a nuanced drama rooted in the rural Telangana milieu. ‘Dasara’ delivered a potent mix of romance and revenge within a coal mine setting. ‘Virupaksha’ offered atmospheric chills away from cheap scares, and ‘Samajavaragamana’ delivered laughs while flipping family expectations. ‘Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty’ and ‘MAD’ offered humor of different shades, while ‘Month of Madhu’ centered on the intricacies of love and loneliness. ‘Keedaa Cola’ blended crime comedy with social commentary.
‘Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire,’ an action drama, gave fans what they yearned for—a captivating Prabhas in a story just beginning to unfold. The film’s world-building set expectations for its forthcoming sequel.
As Telugu cinema wraps up 2023, it reflects a mixed bag of triumphs and trials. Though chartbusters were scarce, the hits—most notably ‘Salaar’—leave an indelible mark, suggesting that while not every gamble pays off, the spirit of innovation and grand storytelling endures in Tollywood. The year may have been modest, but the stories told promise that Telugu cinema’s narrative is far from over.
