Variety is the spice by which the industry thrives on. Nearly 150-200 films announced in the industry strive hard to be ‘different’. But, how are different films made after all? It’s a result of unique director-actor combinations. Seems like top Telugu actors are trying hard to break the norm these days with the directors they choose to team up with and it has contributed to the intrigue surrounding their projects. Upcoming films of Chiranjeevi, Ram Charan, Ram Pothineni, Naga Chaitanya and Rajasekhar are a proof of this.
When director V V Vinayak opted out of the Lucifer remake starring Chiranjeevi, several names came into consideration but ultimately the offer went to an unlikely, unexpected choice Mohan Raja, who had once assisted Muthyala Subayya for Chiranjeevi’s Hitler. Mohan Raja, son of popular producer Mohan, has a great track record with remakes and is a filmmaker in demand post Thani Oruvan, which was remade in Telugu as Dhruva. He’s certainly a director capable of giving a new dimension to a solid story like Lucifer.
Probably the biggest news in the recent times has been Shankar’s collaboration with Ram Charan, a coup only Dil Raju could have pulled off. Shankar has worked with the biggest of stars in Tamil and he’s a brand to reckon with even in the Telugu land. After RRR with Rajamouli, this is certainly an icing on the cake for Ram Charan. Shankar has come close to directing many Telugu heroes in the past, right from his first film Gentleman, but it has taken over two and a half decades for a straight Telugu project to materialise.
Ram’s choice to go with Pandemkodi-director Linguswamy is certainly an interesting one. Linguswamy is an experienced director, who has made top class action and family entertainers in Tamil filled with strong emotions and unique screenplays. Ram’s choices have been very usual and regular for a major part of his career, but his recent hattrick of successes seems to have changed his approach. Even Naga Chaitanya’s next is with Tharun Bhascker, a cop drama that’ll be a new beginning for both the director and the actor. Veteran actor Rajasekhar’s upcoming projects too are to be directed by newcomers, first-timer Lalith Kumar and Gatham filmmaker Kiran Kondamadugula.