One interesting trend in recent years is the growing number of Tamil star heroes working with Telugu directors. What makes this even more interesting is that several of these collaborations have delivered good results at the box office.
Vamshi Paidipally was one of the early names to make this crossover work. After making films in Telugu, he directed Karthi in Oopiri and Vijay in Varisu. While Oopiri was a genuine success, Varisu became an above-average success in Tamil cinema and showed that a Telugu director can successfully handle a big Tamil star and his market.
Then there is Sekhar Kammula, who teamed up with Dhanush for Kuberaa. Kuberaa was a serious drama, yet the film managed to connect with audiences and emerged as a commercial success in Telugu.
Venky Atluri has also enjoyed a successful run with Tamil stars. He teamed up with Dhanush for Vaathi, which became a hit. He also had a hit with Dulquer Salmaan in Lucky Baskhar. That success gave Venky the confidence to take up another Tamil project, and he is now directing Suriya in Vishwanath & Sons.
Of course, not every combination has worked. K V Anudeep’s Prince, starring Sivakarthikeyan, failed to make an impact. But that setback hasn’t stopped the larger trend.
This growing crossover shows that Tamil stars are no longer restricted to working only with Tamil filmmakers, while Telugu directors are becoming increasingly comfortable making films for audiences beyond Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
There is a clear advantage for both sides.
Tamil stars get access to Telugu filmmakers with different commercial sensibilities, while Telugu directors get the opportunity to work with some of the biggest stars in Tamil cinema and expand their reach.
If Vishwanath & Sons also succeeds, it will further strengthen this trend and prove that such cross-industry collaborations are no longer exceptions.
However, the reverse trend has not been equally successful.
Tamil actors working with Telugu directors may find acceptance in the Telugu states, but making a Telugu star equally impactful in the Tamil market is rare. Tamil audiences have traditionally been more particular about their star culture and local connect.
Telugu audiences, on the other hand, have repeatedly supported films based on the strength of the story and overall theatrical experience, regardless of where the hero comes from.
