Looks like Tollywood directors have developed the craze on Gods, angels, demons, devils, monsters etc… well ofcourse, we mean to say it is just restricted to big screens. The directors have eyed on socio-fantasies these days, which involves creative content, imaginative scripting, powerful roles and extra-ordinary visual effects.
Socio-fantasy is not an innovative concept to Telugu screens as few directors have handled this genre earlier. Films such as Yamudiki Mogudu, Jagadheka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari,Yamaleela, Devi etc registered grand success at the Box-Office while few of them like Deviputrudu, Sri Anjaneyam, Ghatothgachudu, Anji faced the failures in the earlier days.
In the earlier times, only few of the directors have concentrated on fantasies, where a socio-fantasy film used to reach the big-screens very rarely. But the situation seems to be not similar with the present day directors. The series of socio-fantasies are getting lined-up in this year. V.V.Vinayak who mostly prefers action films with a backdrop of faction took a new turn by wielding the megaphone for Badrinath. Meher Ramesh who has made ultra-stylish and modern movies like Billa and Kantri is also coming up with Shakti to prove his caliber. On the other hand, the Tollywood’s mega director and so-called Jakkanna, Rajamouli already succeeded with Yamadonga and Magadheera. His next project with Prabhas touted as a biggest budget film may also be part of this genre. Manchu Manoj’s Vuu kodathara Vulikkipadthara which is ready to hit the floors shortly will also be packed with few fantasy elements.
Why is the sudden rise of socio-fantasies in Tollywood? After the mega hits like Arundhati and Magadheera, and especially the latter creating new records at the Box-Office made the film-makers divert their ideas from the routine stuff like youthful love stories, comedy entertainers, faction movies etc. On the other hand, the Tollywood heroes as well, are showing their keen interest in trying out new genres. After experimenting with a film like Gaganam, Nagarjuna has accepted the socio-fantasy flick Damarukam with director Srinivas Reddy. The young heroes NTR, Allu Arjun too are getting ready to test their luck with Shakti and Badrinath. Producer M.S.Raju has also plans to do a film Chandi in the genre. Manchu Manoj always prefers experimenting with the new genres. Prayanam, Nenu Meeku Thelusa, Vedam are prime examples. The young actor has now eyed on fantasy genre with Vuu Kodathara Vulikki Padthara.
However, it’s not an easy task to succeed in the genre. Firstly, the budget would be very high. Our hearts might even go weak with the budget quote. Producer Aswini Dutt has spent a whopping sum of 45 crores for making of Shakti. The screening rights are being sold at record prices in almost all the territories and inorder to gain back the investment Shakti has to do extremely well as per the trade circles reports. It will be more or less similar cases with other films too of this genre due to their high production costs. And, it is just not the extra-ordinary visual effects that matters but the story along with its narration and the etching of the characters too must be well-built so that audiences will get connected to the divine characters otherwise, it would end up like Anaganaga Oka Dheerudu that failed due to its weak content though packed with wonderful visual effects. The dialogues and the phrases too have to suit the fantasy genre.
Director Kodi Ramakrishna who has earlier worked on this genre for films like Arundathi, Deviputrudu, Anji etc says, “It's tough to make the audience connect to these divine characters as most of it depends on visual designing and scripting."
Hope the new directors who are coming up with the socio-fantasy films do not create such blunders and comes up with impressive films. So, Guys… get ready to fly in the world of fantasy with a bunch of socio-fantasies coming your way.
