Telugu cinema has films great and small lined up for 2020. This includes myriad love stories from stars and directors with diverse sensibilities, remakes of Malayalam and Tamil films, a comedy set in space, and star-driven money-spinners. And then, there's SS Rajamouli's ambitious RRR, his next after the Baahubali franchise.
Come Valentine's Day, and we will get to witness Telugu cinema's first love anthology. Add to it the fact that Vijay Deverakonda will play multiple "lovers" in it – from the trailer, it looks like he essays characters from varying backgrounds and different rage settings. Also, how exciting will it be to see if the guy can actually pull off the line, "I did not just spread your legs Yamini. I loved you. I loved you."
Nagesh Kukunoor, who heralded the indie revolution in Indian cinema, finally makes a film in his mother tongue. Titled Good Luck Sakhi, the film stars National Award-winning actor Keerthy Suresh. She reportedly plays a rural shooter in this film, the director's second sports-based one after the much-loved Iqbal.
After the stupendous success of Fidaa, Shekar Kammula is all set to return with another love story in 2020. Starring Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi, little is known about the film apart from its signature middle-class setting.
The Kannada version of the Tamil super hit 96 may not have been the biggest hit, but the Telugu version, helmed by the same team, including writer-director Prem Kumar, promises to give the Telugu audience a truly timeless love story/tragedy. It will be interesting to see if Samantha Akkineni, who had earlier played Jessie well in Ye Maya Chesave (the character was essayed by Trisha in the Tamil version Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya), will be able to repeat the same magic and recreate Trisha's Janu. Sharwanand too has his task cut out to match Vijay Sethupathi's Ram.
Hands down the biggest and most exciting Telugu film this year is going to be SS Rajamouli's RRR, a period action film said to be made at a cost of over Rs 300 crore. NTR Jr, Ram Charan, Alia Bhatt and Ajay Devgn star in this mammoth film, which follows the two blockbuster Bahubali films. There are reports that the film might get pushed to next year.
Directed by debut director Vishvak Khanderao, the yet-unnamed period film starring Nithya Menen, Rahul Ramakrishna and Satyadev, is projected to be a comic caper high on emotions. The film is set in Skylab, the first space station of the US that was launched in the early 1970s – definitely an intriguing premise for an Indian film.
Nani had two big successes in 2019 — Jersey and Gang Leader — and expectations are high around his 25th film V, directed by his Gentleman-director Mohanakrishna Indraganti. The real surprise will be how Nani plays a negative role in this action thriller.
The film is a remake of Fahadh Faasil's critical and commercial Malayalam hit Maheshinte Prathikaaram. Billed as a "sweet tale of revenge", expectations are high because it is also director Venkatesh Maha's next film after his critically-acclaimed C/o Kancharapalem. This film is backed by Arka Media Works, which produced the Baahubali franchise.
In what looks like a solid commercial entertainer for his fans, Sarileru Neekevvaru features Mahesh Babu as an Army Major. The trailer hints at a fun film with comedy, sentiment, and action. The film has a huge star cast in Vijayashanti, Prakash Raj, Rajendra Prasad, Rashmika Mandanna and Satyadev. Devi Sri Prasad's song 'He's So Cute' has already gone viral.
After the patriotic potboiler Naa Peru Surya, Naa Illu India, Allu Arjun returns with an action drama that seems to be about how wealth is not just about money and bungalows. Trivikram Srinivas bounced back to form with Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava, and their combination after the 2015 hit S/O Sathyamurthy is highly anticipated.