Telugu heroines ekkada?

Acting is simply not a career that parents dream of for their daughters. Have you ever heard a parent say, “Go my child, and become an Actor”? But times have changed and these days, money is the true measure of success. If Ileana is drawing forty lakhs for her very third film that means women’s perception of a job has changed. But what about our own telugu heroines? When was the last time a telugu girl has made it big with her first few films and is still going strong? It is seldom that you find lissome ladies rush up to the stage, gorgeously clad in Kanjeevarams, flush and flustered in their moment of triumph thanking their director, parents and all the brave and gifted women who preceded them. It’s been aeons since we heard an actress feeling good to be a woman in telugu cinema.

Movie Moghul D Ramanaidu says, “It doesn’t matter if she is not a telugu girl. Actresses come and go and we want new faces because the people want them. Vanisri has worked in nine films and Sridevi over six with us. But that is solely because the role suited them and they were accepted. But i need to admit that the ladies had always aimed for good
producers and a banner. Priorities have changed now.”

Nandi Awardee Rajendra Prasad opines that there is a dearth of talented writers in the industry and they are the ones who actually launch many artistes. The strength is in the role. He misses Jandhyala and wonders why LB Sriram writer turned actor is not penning for films anymore. LB’s first line in Applula Appa Rao is  “Appu..day modhalayindhi” which apparently means the day has begun with a loan. He questions, “Where is such hilarity and brilliance in dialogues, roles and characters? Savitri is immortal because of the strength in her role. If she has worked in a film called Devatha, there is no questioning her credibility as an artiste, she has already become one goddess for the masses. Ditto with her role in Mayabazaar. The film is evergreen and will remains for the next few generations. Those days the ladies didn’t need to market themselves or promote their film. Each of their films would become a milestone in their career. We can’t blame anyone for the short screen life anymore.”

SV Krishna Reddy has directed Kannada girl Soundarya in nine films. The director says she was blessed with andam, akarshana, and abhinaya. All the roles i had in mind suited her and she too worked on moulding herself to it. She had given such a wonderful performance in Aaptamitra. I don’t say it is difficult to get actresses of that calibre. The artistes are putting in equal amount of effort and are dedicated, probably because of the mounting insecurity in films. I won’t restrict myself when it comes to picking heroines from other states. If they suit my budget and roles i will go ahead. All these girls need is a role that elevates them.”

Ramanaidu adds, “I have people telling me that their daughters are interested in acting and enquire where they need to go for training. I am starting a training school in hyderabad very shortly for aspiring artistes and it won’t be long when telugu girls will take up acting as their career. The best part is the girls are aware that the success rate in the industry is only ten per cent and they still come in. It’s all a matter of luck. Those days to get a hike in remuneration artistes had to wait for years but now all it takes is just one hit.” 

The problem that plagues telugu cinema now is that there is a dearth of intelligent roles for women. Women’s films: even the name sounds second-class and second-rate.  Rich, character driven films like stated above have become a rarity. Gone are the days when Bhanumati, Krishna Kumari, Jamuna, Anjali Devi, Varalakshmi and dozens of down-to-earth telugu movie goddesses stood up to their men and used wit as well as wiles on the way to the final fade-out. Oddly, though, as women improved their status in society, they found their roles diminished in films.