Tollywood’s Emerging Directors: Redefining the Role of Heroines

In cinema, both the hero and the heroine are crucial, like the two eyes of a face. Nowadays, heroines seem to have less scope for substantive roles compared to the past, with some directors focusing films predominantly around the hero. Often, heroines appear primarily for songs and to add a visual appeal. Recent movies like ‘Liger,’ ‘Mr. Bachchan,’ and ‘Double iSmart‘ have drawn criticism for focusing more on heroines’ exposure than their acting skills. However, some young directors in Tollywood are attracting praise for portraying heroines with dignity, following the example set by Sekhar Kammula. Who are these directors? What films have they made? How have they portrayed their heroines? Let’s find out.

Sekhar Kammula

When you think of a sensible director in Tollywood, Sekhar Kammula is one of the first names that come to mind. He is known for creating beautiful love stories and engaging family dramas. The heroines in his films and the way they are portrayed remain memorable to the audience. Kamalinee Mukherjee in ‘Anand‘ and ‘Godavari‘ is a prime example, portrayed as the girl-next-door in a dignified manner. In ‘Leader,’ Richa Gangopadhyay, and in ‘Life is Beautiful,’ Shagun Kaur, left lasting impressions. Particularly in films like ‘Fidaa‘ and ‘Love Story,’ Sai Pallavi’s roles won hearts without relying on exposure, affirming Sekhar’s significant contribution to her becoming a star heroine. His understanding of how to extract authentic performances from actresses makes many heroines keen to work with him at least once.

Hanu Raghavapudi

Similar to Sekhar Kammula, director Hanu Raghavapudi takes great care in the portrayal of heroines. His films ‘Andala Rakshasi,’ ‘Krishna Gaadi Veera Prema Gaadha,’ ‘Padi Padi Leche Manasu,’ and ‘Sita Ramam‘ make it clear that he focuses on the substance of his heroines’ roles. Actresses like Lavanya Tripathi, Mehreen, Sai Pallavi, and Mrunal Thakur under his direction have garnered significant acclaim. Mrunal Thakur, in particular, received rave reviews for her role in the beautiful love saga ‘Sita Ramam,’ achieving star status in Telugu cinema. Her character Sita in the film remains special to her, as stated in various interviews. Hanu has announced a project with Prabhas, introducing a new actress, Iman Ismail, to the Telugu screen, whose appearance has already generated considerable interest.

Vivek Athreya

Young director Vivek Athreya also seems to follow in Sekhar Kammula’s footsteps regarding heroine portrayal. His recent film ‘Saripodhaa Sanivaaram‘ with Nani, featuring Tamil actress Priyanka Arul Mohan, showcased her acting without resorting to glamour. His previous works, ‘Mental Madhilo,’ ‘Brochevarevarura,’ and ‘Ante Sundaraniki,’ emphasized dignified portrayals over skin show, with actresses like Nivetha Pethuraj, Nivetha Thomas, and Nazriya Nazim earning recognition for their roles.

Shouryuv

Director Shouryuv made his mark with the film ‘Hi Nanna,’ capturing hearts and earning praise for his sensitive portrayal. In the film, Nani stars alongside Mrunal Thakur, who was previously known in Bollywood for more glamorous roles. Shouryuv presented her as a quintessential Telugu girl without compromising her dignity throughout the film. Despite opportunities for skin show in songs, he chose not to take that route, maintaining the integrity of Mrunal’s character. This approach left film critics impressed and hopeful that he will continue in this manner in his future projects.

Tharun Bhascker

Tharun Bhascker, a young director, has quickly become synonymous with youthful films. He has gained recognition in a short time with content that resonates with the youth, without ever giving in to the temptation to showcase glamour unnecessarily. Starting with his debut film ‘Pelli Choopulu,’ this aspect becomes clear. Vijay Deverakonda and Ritu Varma’s pairing in the film highlighted substantial acting over cheap thrills. This film significantly boosted Ritu Varma’s popularity. After turning actor in several films, Tharun Bhascker has returned to directing with ‘Keeḍa Cola,’ continuing his tradition of dignified cinematic portrayals.