Nagarjuna Akkineni: My father envisioned Annapurna Studios as a space where dreams turn into reality

The Hindu

24-04-2025

Inside the expansive Annapurna Studios and its Annexe in Hyderabad, film units are busy shooting feature films, television shows, and web series across its 12 floors and backlots. Elsewhere, teams are at work in post-production, shaping content for final release. Meanwhile, students at the Annapurna College of Film and Media are learning the fundamentals of filmmaking. The energy is unmistakably dynamic.
'My father would have had tears in his eyes if he had heard that,' says actor-producer Nagarjuna Akkineni with a warm smile.
The studio, established by veteran actor-producer Akkineni Nageswara Rao and named after his wife, marks its 50th year. It played a key role in shifting the Telugu film industry from Chennai (then Madras) to Hyderabad. Today, Annapurna Studios houses India's first Dolby Atmos Premier Sound Mixing Facility, a virtual production stage, and is preparing to launch a motion capture unit.
Reflecting on its origins, Nagarjuna recalls, 'I wonder how my father envisioned it all. It was rocky terrain, full of shrubs and snakes. The road ended near KBR Park.' As a teenager, he witnessed conversations between his father and elder brother Venkat Akkineni as the foundation stone was laid in 1975. The studio opened the following year, in 1976.
The beginning
Secretary, produced by D Ramanaidu and starring Nageswara Rao and Vanisri, was the first film made at Annapurna Studios. Nageswara Rao was firm in his belief — producers who wanted to work with him had to film in Hyderabad. 'Dad lost out on several films because of that,' recalls Nagarjuna.
But gradually, projects began to take shape. 'Films like Premabhishekam, which was shot here, became major hits. That sentiment worked in favour of the studio, and helped cement Hyderabad as a base for Telugu cinema.'
In the following decade, D Ramanaidu established Ramanaidu Studios and the late superstar Krishna launched Padmalaya Studios, accelerating the Telugu film industry's move to Hyderabad.
When Nagarjuna debuted as an actor in the mid-1980s, many of his early films were still shot in Chennai. Shiva, produced by Annapurna Studios and directed by Ram Gopal Varma, was his first film to be shot entirely in Hyderabad.
Surpriya Yarlagadda, executive director and Nagarjuna's niece, believes the studio's strength lies in its 'actor-driven approach'. Nageswara Rao was its first recognisable face, followed by Nagarjuna. 'A few decades ago, studios in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad were cultural hubs where actors, writers and producers collaborated. The atmosphere nurtured creativity — it was quite unlike today's corporate, business-first model.'
While several older studios in other cities shut down, Annapurna adapted, becoming a comprehensive filmmaking destination with in-house post-production facilities.
Basic facilities for dubbing, editing and sound mixing were available in the studio's early years. However, advanced post-production capabilities, including Digital Intermediate (DI) colouring and mastering, were introduced in 2011 under the supervision of CV Rao, chief technology officer.
Nagarjuna also acknowledges Prasad Labs and Ramanaidu Studios for pioneering post-production infrastructure in Hyderabad, which previously required filmmakers to travel to Chennai.
Need for a film school
As he witnessed the studio's growth, Nageswara Rao was keen to address another void — the lack of formal training for filmmaking aspirants. 'Dad felt our films lacked quality due to the shortage of trained professionals,' says Nagarjuna. 'Much of the learning was informal, passed down by directors or department heads. A proper film school had become essential.'
Nagarjuna played an active role in establishing the film school, which was inaugurated in 2011. The early days presented several challenges. 'We first approached JNAFAU (Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University), but there was no existing curriculum for a film school. So we reached out to a former dean of Whistling Woods International and faculty from film schools in Los Angeles. I was insistent that we offer degree courses, without them, parents would be reluctant to enrol their children.'
Today, the school offers both short- and long-term programmes. 'Students gain hands-on experience at the studio and quickly realise there's far more to filmmaking than just the glamour,' Nagarjuna adds.
Amala Akkineni took over the reins of the film school after Nageswara Rao's passing. 'We realised that we had very big shoes to fill. My father-in-law had left such a void that all of us had to take up different responsibilities to continue his vision,' says Amala.
Having helmed the film school for eight years, she says, 'I think my father-in-law would have been proud of what we have achieved.' Films, documentaries and web series made by students and alumni of the film school are showcased at recognised international film festivals that gives the campus an added credibility.
Amala reveals that of the 600 alumni, more than 200 are actively engaged in filmmaking and in turn hire students. 'The others are employed by leading corporate houses to make audiovisual content for social media platforms.'
The syllabus, she says, is ever evolving, adapting to the changes in technology and storytelling techniques. 'There is a wonderful synergy between the campus and the studio,' says Amala, as she watches collaborations between students, the industry, and digital platforms.
The increased focus on cutting edge audio-visual technology is something the next generation, particularly actor Naga Chaitanya, has been keenly involved in. He cherishes childhood memories of accompanying his grandfather, Nageswara Rao on a golf cart as he surveyed the upkeep of the studio floors. Chaitanya also remembers playing cricket on the lanes of the studio with his cousins.
Audio-visual precision
Talking about the ANR Sound & Vision Wing at the studio, he says, 'What we have at the studio is a Dolby Atmos Premier facility, not just a Dolby-certified facility. I am particular about the precision of sound and the picture quality. Earlier, labs in Mumbai and Chennai were the benchmark for post-production facilities. We wanted to do better.'
In his formative years, Naga Chaitanya would visit his father's sets during the filming of hits such as Manmadhudu, Mass and Super. It was only when he went to Los Angeles to train as an actor that the uniqueness of Annapurna Studios truly struck him. 'I felt proud of our studio; today, anyone can walk in with a script and walk out with a finished film,' he reflects.
Nagarjuna, Amala, and Chaitanya agree that the challenge ahead lies in keeping pace with rapidly evolving technology. 'I think films will increasingly be shot on studio floors, as filmmakers now create entire worlds for their stories,' Chaitanya observes.
Father and son are aligned on the next step for Annapurna Studios: to move beyond being a service provider and start producing more content in diverse formats. 'We're currently in talks with a digital platform to create a series of 100 episodes, each one and a half minutes long, shot vertically,' Nagarjuna reveals.
In parting, he recalls a moment with his father. 'When we were facing setbacks while setting up the film school, Amala asked my father why he took on such initiatives and what he hoped to achieve. He simply said that he had come from a village and had built his dream career in Madras and Hyderabad. Now, it was his turn to help others realise their dreams.'