Dreams unlimited

It was inevitable. Now that clich������������������s, soul-less romances and slapstick comedies are no longer raking in the BO moolah, Tollywood is in the mood for a change.
Out-of-box storylines without the trappings of big names, item songs and fancy budgets seem to be garnering all the attention. At a time when formulaic films haven���������������������������t been able to earn money for the film industry (90 films flopped last year), the audience seems to have welcome new age films, setting the tone for greater thematic variety.
Shot on small (often shoe-string budgets) these films are made by filmmakers who are B-school grads, NRIs who are passionate about their craft and are trying to make a difference.Sekhar Kammula (Anand and Happy Days), Ravi Babu (Anasuya and Nachavule), Indraganti Mohana Krishna (Grahanam and Ashta Chamma), Chandrashekhar Yel-eti (Aithe and Anukokunda Oka Roju), Srikanth Addala (Kotha Bangaru Lokam), Bhaskar (Bommarillu), Krish (Gamyam), Tulasiram (Mantra), Eashwar Reddy (Sreyobi-lashi) and Parasuram (Yuvatha) are some names who are associated with new age Telugu cinema. Innovative marketing techniques, in-branding, surrogate advertisement are slowly making their way into Tollywood.
Filmmaker Krish admits that the ���������������������������storyline��������������������������� of Gamyam had to be strong, but the challenge was to make the film, ���������������������������commercially viable��������������������������� as well. His new film Vedham will focus on holistic living. Being different is the mantra. Saikiran Adavi who made Vinayakudu whe-re the protagonist was a fat man, confesses that ���������������������������casting��������������������������� is important when the theme is novel. His film is celebrating 100 days and a sequel is already on cards, with ���������������������������actor Krishnudu (in the lead role) who will carry the spirit of the first film forward.��������������������������� Kammula���������������������������s next starring Daggubati Rana is a film about social responsibility, while Yeleti���������������������������s new film is based on what happens in an airport (Prayaanam) and Ravi is busy filming Amaravathi and Agent Gopi.
Director Bhaskar who���������������������������s also being hailed as a Gen Z director made the blockbuster Bommarillu, where he presented father-son bonding in a new light. Then he touched upon the sensitive father-daughter relationship in Parugu. But his next film promises to be different. ���������������������������It���������������������������s about the love between two young protagonists, devoid of family bondings. Every relationship demands mutual respect, trust and transparency to blossom,��������������������������� says the filmmaker who loves to weave scripts around ���������������������������human emotions.��������������������������� Director Chandra Siddharth who���������������������������s making Aa Naluguru is busy with his next film Houseful. ���������������������������It registers the happenings in a young man���������������������������s life,��������������������������� he adds.
Considering these trend-setting off-the-beaten-track films are not only wooing critics but also getting in revenue, seems like this kind of cinema will rule eyeballs for a while.
bvs.prakash@timesgroup.com