The trend in Tollywood is shifting. Once limited to comedy and villain roles, the Telangana dialect is now making its way into lead roles. With a strong focus on Telangana culture, even small movies are becoming blockbusters. When Telangana dialects are featured in major films, it creates a sensation. Star heroes are now speaking in the Telangana dialect onscreen, which is shining a spotlight on the region’s culture, attire, and tradition.
Telangana’s ‘Balgam’ is growing
The recent film ‘Balagam’ showcased the incredible impact of Telangana culture. Directed by Venú Eldándi and starring Priyadarshi in the lead role, this film created a stir at the box office. The film depicted the funeral rituals and circumstances in Telangana villages with deep emotion. It also gained international recognition, winning two awards at the Los Angeles Cinematography Awards.
Box Office Hit: ‘Dasara’
Released on March 30th under the direction of Srikanth Odela, ‘Dasara’ starring Nani and Keerthy Suresh, has been making waves at the box office. Nani’s career-best opening day collection of ₹38 crores has created a sensation. Srikanth Odela effectively portrayed the conditions in the Singareni coal mines. With the fragrance of the Telangana language, the film became a blockbuster.
Starting with Small Films
The trend of featuring the Telangana dialect in films began with small movies. The film ‘Pelli Choopulu,’ directed by Tharun Bhasker and starring Vijay Deverakonda, achieved great success. Vijay spoke in the Telangana dialect both in the film and in public, capturing the hearts of the audience. Priyadarshi also shines in this film. Following this, the sensation created by ‘Arjun Reddy’ is well known. The film set a new trend in Indian cinema. Many top movies featuring the Telangana language and culture have become hits.
Fidaa
The film “Fidaa” captivated audiences, featuring the lady superstar Sai Pallavi as the heroine and Varun Tej as the hero, under the direction of Shekhar Kammula. The movie’s shooting, title, and essence are all rooted in Telangana. The song “Vachinde,” written in the Telangana dialect, took YouTube by storm. This movie beautifully showcased the natural beauty of Telangana and the charm of its villages. Initially, the film was thought to have the title “Musuru.”
Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi?
After “Pelli Choopulu,” director Tharun Bhascker introduced a fresh perspective to this movie. Starring four Hyderabadi youngsters, the simple yet amusing film filled theaters with laughter. Vishwak Sen and other actors delivered impressive performances.
DJ Tillu
The 2022 release “DJ Tillu” is well-known to everyone. It made Siddhu Jonnalagadda a star, and every dialogue in the movie was hilarious. Directed by Vimal Krishna, this film will soon have a sequel.
Mallesham
“Mallesham,” a movie based on the life of Chintakindi Mallesham, who invented the Lakshmi Asu machine that reduced the manual effort required by weavers in Pochampally. It features Priyadarshi portraying the essence of Telangana’s rural life in a way that touches the heart. The film beautifully brings to life the realities of the weavers’ lives on the silver screen.
Love Story
Shekhar Kammula delivers yet another captivating film with ‘Love Story.’ Set against the backdrop of Telangana’s rural landscape, the movie touches upon various social issues while showcasing the state’s essence. Kammula skillfully brings the beauty of Telangana to the forefront.
iSmart Shankar
Puri Jagannadh and Ram Pothineni’s collaboration in ‘iSmart Shankar’ marks a successful comeback for Puri. Ram gives a stunning performance as a character from Telangana, while Nabha Natesh, as a girl from Warangal, impresses the audience.
Virata Parvam
‘Virata Parvam’ is a film that portrays the circumstances in Telangana during the Naxalite period. Starring Rana Daggubati and Sai Pallavi in lead roles, the movie garners praise from critics.
NBK108
Balakrishna and Anil Ravipudi’s upcoming collaboration in NBK108 also features Telangana’s culture as a significant backdrop. This time, Balakrishna will be seen in a Telangana avatar.
Oscar Worthy
With major films and celebrated actors embracing Telangana’s culture, it’s clear that the trend in Telugu cinema is shifting. Jr. NTR’s depiction of a Telangana character in the internationally acclaimed movie RRR, along with the Oscar-winning lyrics of ‘Natu Natu,’ both embody the essence of Telangana culture. Chandrabose’s lyrics in ‘Naatu Natatu,’ which include the phrase “ఎర్రజొన్న రొట్టెలోన… మిరపతొక్కు కలిపినట్టు,” illustrate the Telangana lifestyle. Earlier people used to raise their eyebrows at certain Telangana words or phrases like ‘Thokku,’ the same song containing those words has now won an Oscar. The prominence of Telangana literature in recent Telugu movies has increased, with emotional songs in films like ‘Balagam’ written by Kasarla Shyam. Kasarla Shyam’s status as a top lyricist demonstrates the growing prominence of the Telangana dialect.
