1 film every 3 years: Why are young Telugu directors delaying film productions?

India Today

08-05-2025

The film industries across the globe have been in flux since the pandemic, and Telugu cinema, despite its early post-Covid rebound, is facing its own unique set of challenges. From prolonged production timelines for big-star films to changed audience sensibilities and rising budgets, the industry is grappling with growing pains. And usually, actors are blamed or pointed out for taking two-three years for a film, but recently, one notable shift is the evolving delays in mounting projects, especially among young directors.advertisementOver the past decade, South Indian cinema has stood out for nurturing directors with strong individual identities: Lokesh Kanagaraj, Prashanth Neel, Prasanth Varma, Bucchi Babu Sana, and others, who became brands in their own right.But now, a trend long observed in Bollywood seems to be seeping into Telugu cinema: increasing gaps between films, even from emerging or mid-tier directors. Young directors who established their mark and brand value with their films are also taking more than 2–3 years for a project after their first or second film. Is this a sign of creative evolution or a bottleneck in the system?Working Style of Telugu Cinema Directors:
In the early days of Telugu cinema, directors were known for their prolific output. The 80s and 90s saw filmmakers like K Vishwanath, Dasari Narayana Rao, K Raghavendra Rao, Jandhyala, and Singeetam Srinivasa Rao cranking out anywhere from one to even four or five films a year. While there were exceptions, such as KV Reddy and K Vishwanath, who occasionally took a year or two for a project, the general trend was rapid production.advertisementThe late 90s and early 2000s continued this tradition with directors like EVV Satyanarayana, Krishnavamsi, Puri Jagannadh, and VV Vinayak, among others, who maintained a steady pace of one or two films annually. Filmmakers like SS Rajamouli, Trivikram Srinivas, and Sukumar also followed this consistent work schedule, producing multiple films with relatively short gaps between projects.
However, as we move into 2025, this pace seems to have slowed considerably. Directors appear to be taking longer gaps, even after their successful initial films. This shift begs the question: is Telugu cinema slowly gravitating toward the trend of directors waiting two–three years between films as the new norm?Where Are These Directors?Over the last decade, Telugu cinema has seen a dramatic shift. Directors have gone from being behind-the-scenes architects to brand names in their own right, sometimes with their debuts. This new ecosystem was crucial to Telugu cinema's rise, with directors bringing fresh, innovative stories and new genres into the mainstream. Films like 'Jersey', 'Run Raja Run', 'Awe', 'Colour Photo', 'C/o Kancharapalem', 'Pelli Choopulu', 'Yevade Subramanyam', 'Shyam Singha Roy', 'Dasara', 'HIT', 'Ghazi', 'Dear Comrade', 'Mental Madhilo', 'Mathu Vadalara', 'Brochevarevarura', 'Goodachari', 'Balagam', and 'Uppena', among many others, created lasting impacts. These films, ranging from action-packed thrillers to emotional dramas and comedies, broke the mould and resonated deeply with audiences. Even if not all of them were commercial hits, they established directors as critical players alongside actors, such as Gowtam Tinnanuri, Prasanth Varma, Nag Ashwin, Vivek Athreya, and others.
Despite the post-'Baahubali' boom and the rise of new voices in Telugu cinema, many promising directors are now taking unusually long gaps between projects.Gowtam Tinnanuri, after the emotional 'Malli Raava' (2017) and 'Jersey' (2019), hasn't released a Telugu film since. His upcoming films, 'Kingdom' and 'Magic', are slated for 2025. Similarly, 'Uppena' director Bucchi Babu Sana's next, 'Peddi' with Ram Charan, is set for 2026. Sujeeth, who debuted with 'Run Raja Run' (2014) and followed it with 'Saaho' (2019), returns only in 2025 with 'OG' - a six-year gap.Here's the teaser: advertisementVenkatesh Maha ('C/o Kancharapalem', 'Uma Maheswara Ugra Roopasya') has stayed away from directing full-length features since 2020. Rahul Sankrityan ('Shyam Singha Roy') hasn't announced a new film since 2021, and he is reportedly working on a project with Vijay Deverakonda next year. Srikanth Odela, after his successful debut 'Dasara' (2023), is working on 'Paradise', expected only in 2026. Sandeep Raj's next after 'Colour Photo' (2020), titled 'Mowgli', is due in 2025.Bharat Kamma ('Dear Comrade'), Sashi Kiran Tikka ('Major'), Ritesh Rana ('Mathu Vadalara' 1 and 2), and Swaroop RSJ are also experiencing extended gaps, some with no new projects announced.Here's the trailer: While directors like Nag Ashwin, Vivek Athreya, and Prasanth Varma continue to work at a steadier pace, the larger trend points to a slowdown. With two-three years becoming the new norm for films, the once-fast-moving Telugu industry seems to be entering a slower, more uncertain phase for its rising storytellers. The question arises: is this a sign of a deeper issue in the filmmaking ecosystem?Why Has It Become So Difficult?The slowdown in film releases isn't just a matter of personal choice or creative burnout, it points to a larger systemic issue. One of the core problems lies in the shrinking writer-director ecosystem. Many of the strong voices who initially emerged as writers are now turning to direction themselves, leaving a vacuum in the writing space. Despite filmmaking being more democratic and accessible than ever, there's a growing scarcity of dedicated screenwriters who can work across genres and formats.advertisementCompounding the problem is the changing landscape of budgets, star value, and audience behaviour. Veteran producer Dil Raju recently noted in an interview with M9 News, 'Post-pandemic, OTT saved cinema. But slowly, all non-theatrical revenue sources are coming down. OTT and satellite rights are at their lowest. People coming to watch a non-spectacle film in theatres have become rare. So, it's difficult to make films at that pace until we sort this out.'This reflects a deeper concern unless a film is a mass entertainer or a large-scale visual spectacle, producers are hesitant to take risks. Mid-budget, content-driven films are finding it harder to secure theatrical releases, and OTT platforms too are now more selective and budget-conscious. The unpredictability of returns means even talented directors must wait longer to lock in funding, cast, and release strategies.The Perspective of Young DirectorsIn an interview with Gallata Telugu, director Vivek Athreya reflected on how drastically things have changed for filmmakers in recent years. He said, "When I started out, we had no real hindrances or doubts about whether a script would be accepted. Films like 'Kshanam' and 'Pelli Choopulu' were released, and we just followed our instinct. But post-pandemic, with the OTT boom, new problems began. Films started getting categorised as either OTT or theatrical. Sometimes, we're compelled to write something very big, even if it doesn't feel organic, just to make it seem suitable for theatres."advertisementHe went on to highlight the fading theatrical experience and its impact on storytelling choices: "When 'Meiyazhagan' was released, I watched it in a theatre, and the feeling was very different from watching something on OTT. That experience is becoming rare. Slowly, some genres are getting extinct. If I wanted to make a film like 'Mental Madhilo' today, I would think twice. I still have stories like that, but I can't make them alone. Producers, actors, and stars also need to say yes."Athreya's concerns echo the growing dilemma faced by many new-wave directors. The lines between storytelling and market feasibility have blurred. It's not just about a good script any more, it's about convincing the entire ecosystem that the film is worth taking to theatres, even when it's not built for spectacle.A Turning Point for Telugu CinemaTelugu cinema, long praised for its resilience and deep audience connection, is now at a crossroads. As Rana Daggubati noted in an exclusive interview with India Today, 'The Telugu ecosystem was built by cinema people, not by corporates. We have more theatres, more people watching films. Cinema is a way of life here.'Yet the industry is grappling with shifting dynamics. With OTT platforms becoming selective and theatrical releases harder to secure, even promising directors are seeing long delays. Producer of the upcoming film 'Kindom', Naga Vamsi, summed it up sharply in an interview with Gallata Plus: 'We are in a very bad space right now... the next two years are going to be a very big bloodbath.'Here's the teaser: The challenge now is to sustain creative momentum while balancing star-driven cinema with original storytelling. Without that balance, grabbing audience attention or bringing them to theatres becomes even harder, as Bollywood films's recent struggles show. Change may be slow, but finding that equilibrium is crucial for the long-term survival of Telugu cinema.