From rom-coms and action thrillers to untitled ventures and those with quirky titles, here's everything you need to know about what you can expect later this year and all of the next.
Ever since Akhil's debut as lead Akhil: The Power of Jua released, the actor has been trying to score a big hit to accelerate his career. But he has not exactly succeeded, and this collaboration might finally help. Surender Reddy's films, which are usually action entertainers, do well at the box office. The young actor from the Akkineni family needs nothing less than a blockbuster now to keep him in the spotlight.
Ravi Teja's films have become formulaic in recent times. Though he's peerless when it comes to the energy he showcases on screen, he has not rebranded his image in a long time. He has been showing the same tricks as an actor, since the 2009 super hit action comedy Kick. In the poster for his upcoming movie Khiladi (directed by Ramesh Varma), he's seen with a lot of money around him. Does he play a conman? The tagline 'Play Smart' adds fuel to that thought.
Maha Samudram is the most interesting movie in this list, for it stars Siddharth, Sharwanand, Aditi Rao Hydari and Anu Emmanuel. Yes, you read that right. It's a multi-starrer and a bilingual, since it'll be made in Tamil, as well. Can you beat that? The film is said to be a love story, and it'll be directed by Ajay Bhupathi. We definitely need more multi-starrers in Telugu, and Maha Samudram seems to have the power to bring the trend back.
Nag Ashwin's Next
After the successful Yevade Subramanyam and Mahanati, director Nag Ashwin has planned a feature on a large canvas. The as-yet-untitled film will feature Prabhas and Deepika Padukone in the lead and the director has left no stone unturned to tell fans of the actors that it's going to be a biggie. And, here's something that'll widen your smile: Amitabh Bachchan has also joined the cast. The makers are planning to begin shooting next year. In the meanwhile, they're hoping to bring some other A-listers on-board.
If Andhadhun took Bollywood by storm, the Telugu remake, starring Nithiin, Tamannaah, and Nabha Natesh, may also do that. The role played by Tabu in Hindi, that of a middle-aged woman, has been taken over by Tamannaah. This genre is a new ground for all the cast members as they have not starred in such a dark comedy thriller before. If director Merlapaka Gandhi manages to make this work, he'll be flooded with offers.
Naga Shaurya has been signing films left, right, and centre. He's a busy actor nowadays. His ability to experiment with genres and play supporting roles has given him an edge over his contemporaries. The actor has teamed up with director Aneesh Krishna, who has previously made Ala Ela and Lover, for a romantic comedy. Will this movie take him back to the glorious days of his true-blue blockbuster Oohalu Gusagusalade?
Hanu Raghavapudi has built a fan base in Telugu cinema. This doesn't mean that he's only made awe-inspiring movies. His filmography also includes Padi Padi Leche Manasu, a terrible romantic drama that kills your patience and your desire to find out what happens to the protagonists in the end. But he's back with an exciting project and he has joined hands with Dulquer Salmaan for a trilingual (Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam), in which the actor will play a soldier.
Chandra Sekhar Yeleti is a filmmaker who keeps walking that extra mile to make unconventional Telugu films. Four years ago, he roped in Mohanlal for a Telugu film (Manamantha) and, now, he's making a thriller with Nithiin and Priya Varrier. The director has made films in varied genres so far. But, even when he makes thrillers, the foundation is different for each film. This will also be a cool opportunity for Priya Varrier to get acquainted with the Telugu audiences after her sensational wink story in Oru Adaar Love.
If Arjun Reddy can make heads turn from Mumbai to Madurai, so can Zombie Reddy. At least, that's the plan with which the makers are working. Director Prashant Varma's directorial debut Awe garnered positive responses from across the country, and his latest feature is being made with COVID-19 in mind. We will be watching a lot more films about the pandemic and the nature of lockdowns in the coming years. And, Zombie Reddy might just win this race.
In case Adipurush, starring Prabhas as Ram, becomes another Baahubali at the box office, the actor might shift his loyalties to Mumbai-based Bollywood. Saaho did nothing to further his ambitions, but this Om Raut project looks like it has got the potential to do that. Again, since this is a big film, all necessary precautions must be taken by the team before they go into production.
Side Note: The pandemic has made it difficult for big-budget films to take off, as they typically need a 100-plus-member crew. Hence, it's difficult to say when films such as Sarkaru Vaaru Paata, Radhe Shyam and RRR will get back on their feet. The Indian film industry is trying to find quick solutions to work around the pandemic, and the Telugu industry is no different.