I’m ready for an enriching new chapter in Telugu cinema: Chandrajith Belliappa

After his debut, Ibbani Tabbida Ileyali, filmmaker Chandrajith Belliappa — part of Rakshit Shetty’s Seven Odds writing team — had his sights set on developing his next script in Kannada. “I was working on a subject I was deeply passionate about and trying to mount it in Kannada. While I did get offers and interest from the industry, I realised the scale of my story and current market conditions made it tough to execute,” he recalls. The turning point came with the digital release of his debut film. “Once it started streaming, everything changed. Several teams from the Telugu industry reached out to me. After multiple discussions, I finally said ‘yes’ to the project I’m working on now.”

‘AUDIENCES TODAY ARE OPEN TO STORIES FROM EVERYWHERE’
For Chandrajith, this cross-cultural openness is both encouraging and vital. “It helps filmmakers weather market challenges and allows stories to travel beyond their native borders,” he says. “I’d love to keep telling stories in Kannada. But I also want to reach a stage where my Kannada films connect with audiences from other languages. Until then, I’ll keep exploring, learning, and embracing opportunities,” he says. Alongside his Telugu film, Chandrajith is scripting a Hindi project — though not directing it — and will shift to Hyderabad for a year to focus on his new venture.

‘IT’S REASSURING THAT KANNADA CONTENT IS BEING EMBRACED WIDELY’
On his upcoming Telugu debut, he says, “Being offered a platform to tell a story in a different language is both heartwarming and challenging. I know I’ll have to put in extra effort to pick up the language and develop an ear for its nuances. But that’s what makes it exciting — it pushes me to grow.”