Malayalam cinema is known for the nuanced writing and technical prowess its artists possess. Moreover, their audiences are also known for encouraging genre-oriented films. The fact that their new films like Premalu and Manjummel Boys(their new industry hit) have grossed well over Rs 100 crores at the box office clearly implies the same.
In view of the success of these films, there is a social media commotion that Tollywood can never do a Malayalam film industry by making genre-driven films that can become industry hits. But this can simply be written off as a joke and here’s why.
There is no debating the fact that Tollywood is dependant on commercial films and these commercial films are what made Tollywood what it is today. In fact, the biggest blockbuster of all time in Indian cinema, Baahubali 2 is produced by Tollywood.
In the recent past, Pushpa, RRR, and Salaar shook the Indian film industry. There’s more to come with the likes of Kalki, Devara, Pushpa 2, and Game Changer headed for release.
While Malayalam cinema might be versed in novel cinema-making and genre-driven films, Tollywood’s strength lies in commercial cinema. Just because Malalyam cinema produced genre blockbusters like Premalu and Manjummel Boys, this can’t be used to carry the narrative that Tollywood can’t have genre blockbusters.
When the whole of India is looking at Tollywood for its wide-appeal commercial films, there is no need to run around and make films like Premalu and Manjummel Boys. Not that there’s anything wrong in making them and we do occasionally see such winning light-hearted entertainers, but adjudicating the might of Telugu cinema for not making genre blockbusters simply doesn’t make any sense.
