The Telugu Cinema Adda: Roundtable 2023 | Naga Vamsi, Shobu Y, Swathi, Priyadarshi, Karthik

[Music] [Music] [Music] simplest and you remember [Music] me hello everyone Hi hi hi hello Kik hi PR hi hi hello shuu so hello ra hello thank you very much uh so we'll keep it light only first question how was the year for all of you professionally personally alone in the 2023 you want to ask someone no okay Kik let's start with you it's been a very special year for you so yeah obviously because I've seen the result of and this is my second film most of the people tell it's your first so first f

ilm I didn't yeah hey hey hey hey yeah my believe promise so it didn't work out so second film I took time I took guidance from Super all of you definitely started March 3rd now and uh that saw something which I never in general followed by save the Tigers and so okay just working through you know films of various gen I ch you gave your you don't like your come back word no because how many times will I come back because she never left I guess yeah for me yeah um pantum I think was last year Dec

ember but mon has been extremely you know especially the constant barrage of messages and DM private profiles you know you know their names and um it's been good K I'm trying to stay I be lying if I say that it's not gratifying it is extremely yeah fulfilling yeah my year was very good actually all my distribut are happy this year all my films work that's a big thing my Tam debut worked with vati we made a small film with newcomers dirt work and my first D film Leo I got that work so all my dis

happy produc as have a release coming up next year have two years two releases this year righta I mean one mostly we won't come out with F this year okay but Santi almost sran is very big for us sir M this year has been this year and actually since B we've been slow 2021 was pis was last p uh so this year actually most of the time we are involved in setting up projects so I think next year we'll announce later this year we'll announce but we have two three projects lined up for next year so year

mostly apart from that we work with uh uh just film wise we have two or three films that we going to line up stories are set actors are set everything actors Everything is Everything is set have to announce next next day announce so next year will be busy year this year is a setting up year so it's all calls meetings yeah and yeah and a couple of things one was conscious and we wanted to step back and just see then it took Time come back always takes time to project again then it's now it start

ed again okay wonderful see what was the happiest moment for you this year this year yeah I think professionally I think BG take after couple of families that I've seen personally have reunited with their brothers um and suddenly the whole discussion [Music] about I think the biggest takeway is about how families were reuniting even as simple as changing WhatsApp group oh man yeah so for example like how [Music] so film has always been kind of starting stage so watching experience like you have

more responsible I'm more worried good job yeah but it's just that kind of responsibility but I'm happy I'm seeing more empowering writers coming up with very inter right I know a couple of years but the same man again comes and says brother we should do it right now as actors yeah to continue maybe social media someone people are calling me character and actor the biggest takeway is that they see the character and they remember it you know I know it sounds bookish but when you're just sitting o

n the sofa in your PJs and you a message pops up and it's you know and there you know my I think my favorite message was uh everything like they're talking to me like they're talking to and like he said writers you know I was talking to yesterday what is happening and all so we were generally discussing and it's it's a fact especially for women characters are so respectful or the stories are respectful that they make WhatsApp groups called balgam or there are lot of women who are saying that it'

s okay to walk out of a toxic relationship and these are not like women who are like modern and you know all of that jazz they're like normal who put aak every summer and you know are making AAL for Rasam so that everybody is happy so Alan told who they're messaging and in their own ways they're feeling empowered so as actors I think most gratifying is that only I can't I can never be as graceful as her but yes okay and writers writers are not backing back off at all even producers I think I saw

him telling you don't have to make the thing but yeah confidence you should share you should man you have to talk about watching or something we can't yeah is failure for everybody even more devastating you know it's like a consolation is this like what do I do with this you know thank you and you know some films are made for producers you know we really love different actually yeah I think it definitely translate somewhere into suitable roles for and directors but definitely translate but for

me personally it's not mine but in any but but just being in the background uh R being in the Oscar ceremony receiving the when they were receiving why you at Theon yeah Golden Globes when we won the award being there in the thing K and drove the whole thing uh but he did a massive very very nice uh job but just being there meeting everybody and Nik just seeing that appreciation um thousand seater iMac screen L uh you know JJ ABS which present know those kind of out of the world experiences like

that was real flight actually you should consider putting it out as a series of three parts just interview K should do it but it's a but just I'm not I don't want to take any credit but mainly just being there is a fabulous uh a fabulous experience the group and super wow I mean yeah I want to ask more but unfor we have to RTC Crossroads you tell me how did it feel when you saw I think you know lost my phone I was trying to get an interview and PR was saying phone days slow we get something yea

h so sad to be very Frank when I saw the number like 100 [Music] CR again it is like because Cinema I think it's a luck Factor why because next two maybe but other than that seeing that so that's a most happiest moment lovely you're talking about Rel help that's a great thing and said that b and I was also seeing tweets and all movie Family re about like the film's opening and it ends with education so there is social commentary in in vaka and you three films I want to ask you guys film I'm not

sure whether you guys watch jig X okay so that is also a film that talks about power of Cinema and you know FAL responsibility do you guys believe that social impact see this year made a film on education only completely the film was on education it worked was only on education okay impact definitely there yeah it's difficult to gauge but impact but personally I feel we we should do it for the purpose of impact cost m i don't believe we should make a film in the part of the narrative part of the

story underlying subtext impact create that is that is well and good but I feel primarily we make as producers at least we for us it is a story that we like and story that should entertain the audience it's not impact we can make a documentary also that's yeah you can't do that disas I think the three of us if we're talking like that we just it was just for the love of the CRA let's make an impact and show audience is so smart they'll catch on to you know you thinking you're smarter than them y

eah and they'll call you out very not so gracefully you know they don't social Med it's even worse now social media it's even very very bad didn't start like that it was made like a film and I think if they're struggling in life and they're coming to see movies and a bunch of 100 people are telling you I think so it be you can only can not to impact ch ially I know from one week from then I had to give my uncle had to give money to get a license for himself so so I know [Music] only it is end of

the day circumstances good if he's very rich or very poor then you know choices you cannot it change your life maybe you know wanting to become a wrestler or I don't know do something for the country but I know people who watched rangam and came into journalism oh okay yeah see that is undoubtedly there's an impact but as I'll speak personally and I think as producers we we can't make film to create an impact that impact has to happen happens on it's a byproduct it is for us is to entertain kee

p the audience engaged in whatever way and make them only only okay so yeah movies frankly at a crime comedy so that's not we are trying to tell to society [Music] rightl then so many Japanese they want to learn oh wow um uh they put in that effort to learn Telo see more movies uh so that software will be there across cultures across [Music] [Laughter] but but I'll save it for later you all have an identity same for sir there needs to be some sort of level of assurance that it won't be just anot

her random Rolo or fil now you said about so when you have this I wouldn't call it baggage but this Consciousness how do you not overthink how much where do you draw the line when you are making a decision say if you have to approve a project or green light a project you're okay with the scpt but you think that okay where do you stop overthinking yeah definitely for me Su it's not in our hands and people will like it or not like it also is not in our hands uh because it's very subjective so for

me and Prasad we want to like the script and the and the maker if we like the script and the maker um personally we feel that is something we can put our names on it one second I have a doubt when you say you have the you have to like the maker does it mean a debutant can come to you and impress we are actually next project next few projects that we announcing all debut all are new newcomers uh uh debutant also but just uh you get a feel and the way the subject and the subject and the the direct

or writer just comfort zone I feel that's that's good enough yeah beyond that it is uh whether it is Success failure or what other people will think we can't it's not in our and if it we want success but uh that we can't do it because hope I mean like impact it's the same story but is it something many grow over a period of time uh there are different phases we did different kinds of things but now especially after bahali we have the comfort and the privilege to do that so that's what yeah so I

overthink a lot that is definitely there that pressure result oriented overing oh okay work related [Music] overing so to flop it doesn't matter the release before pressure is that he always be there actually one is one is a pressure b 2 was a smooth sale and that was almost taken for granted but B one is a different story what thinking guys thank you so much it was nice talking to you so the no is also a very powerful answer oh my God tell me about it it's hard to say no no no after you say a n

o it's like is reasons but it's just that you didn't like it that moment it's okay maybe director from I still remember that definitely holy a few moments later so yeah we are setting up projects we have from different range of actors we have approached and pitched projects uh and many NOS were there but there's no issue at all no absolutely you should be able to say no and there's no offense taken also but the way no is is very very as a producer I feel how you tell no uh is very important uh a

nd but saying no is absolutely a it's you should be able to say no but how you convey that how it is lands on the other person when we tell somebody also no and when somebody tells us no how how do you say that their script is is one is there's no point that is that is I think is a waste of time for everybody that is that is one thing but that is for me the primary thing you communicate them clear first because some if somebody comes with a script they believe uh that it is their work hard work

they put in a lot of effort and they believe it is a good product uh in their heart and and it's subjective and I'm not an expert to say that whether that is a n i can't say it's a good or a bad script you know is what I can say that's all 100% there is a chance that that might become a blockbuster you know you know there's 100% chance there's a very good chance so you tell what you liked about the film first and then what the story and then what you don't like or S out it is something that is n

ot aligning with what we want to do and move on then they they it might take a little feel a little hurt at the time rejection will always hurt but they'll all move on but which I'm which why I'm saying is I'm seeing that the way you say no director Bing director actors when they go and present one subject they have worked hard the way you say no is it makes a long-term impact on them you must have fa a lot of rections taste taste so it depends so because they said so in that way uh but few time

s we get harsh no it will hurt or maybe sometimes yeah no yeah okay but it depends I mean no everybody's experience of no is different experience they are not listening you know they're not listening so it just stays at you you understand what I'm saying all they hear is the no and it wassap and I'm not victimizing myself but um it depends on the person it's an individual he he so if he's a very you know selfesteem he'll behave as like everybody just said but if he's pretending to be a confident

person and he's very shallow inside then he will remember the no and it's it's Humane it's not FM indry related it's like you know you're my I can't be your girlfriend you know so it it's like that it depends and there'll be another guy who'll be like it's cool can we be friends at least so it depends on the person really okay very interesting and you remember me we work together we had a fight oh really I'm so sorry you guys used to call me RK oh oh you changed your beard I think yeah you you

asked me for I think about it it's a soft no no because I learned it the hard way um ear I thinked you know this group is but initially I even heard little longer than a few minutes later continue so I learned it the hard way that it doesn't work so someone said okay I'll get back to you is a soft no any but now I don't see that I'm happy that you said no or else come on it's fine just joking but yeah [Music] so the same way I took it yeah yeah it happens I think no adulting no is very very impo

rtant like he said no is an art AI it's it's not in our hands I'm pretty sure movie making film making process there are so many variables so many variables that are not completely in your control it's a huge stress only is it an evero process or do you ever make peace with it and I think producers perspective is different or actor perspective director's perspective is different yeah we'll go with all the something you can never learn every day it is a new variable new new this thing new thing s

ee you can [Music] create but beyond that there is so many variables impossible to predict happy suck it in that is logis back do you like okay solet will always be there 100% an money is invol that is a failure or tension and upset how do you deal with [Laughter] it which is which is we can understand for no reason which are like silly mistakes some just those are frustration he said that he went sit on on his what are your channels to frustration heal how do you went frustration when something

is not in your control um one is manag [Laughter] simp but but joking these days meditate a little loan time spend some time that is this thing but Lu unluck last couple of years production next [Music] actors not trying to like be a burden to them already because they have to pay anyway the technicians the day is wasted the rents are gone anyway but yeah stress is the the base of all of us is like uh it's a challenging job any day of Madu 77 days or 74 days but it was over a span of two years

you know a two years um everyone is a cheerleader time so if you love the project and you love the team then then you know telling prod don't worry you know it's fine everybody pitches in and we're at our best at human level so because in a movie confir Monday one mon depends onget also unexpected sit talk what we can do because in the so we'll sit and talk like okay let's try to finish it off maybe I'll try it in one one and half day negotiations that's how we can manage that because end of the

day we are all humans emotions is what you know that we have to think of okay let me explain it okayand not but okay I wouldn't say it found traction it is being discussed it founding relationship mon of the it didn't find audience buteh I wouldn't say the discourse people all of you can answer it form of Storytelling different Z in terms of accommodating I think markets I've always been accommodating many [Music] films there were moments where I watched films there and uh this's a strange memo

ry of me watching T film in Delhi so so I think it has always been there we always have audience across the I remember somebody was access to access to no no no that is [Music] there it's experimental film okay it had its own Journey it's growing and all again I'm not saying this represents [Music] [Music] everyone comp at least in Multiplex will have that actually of s sound and we we have no option it was made technically also for a theatrical experience whether it was sound or lenses or anyth

ing like that but we as a [Music] team you know being a part of the film and as an definitely F sing sound guys cameram so technically it was [Music] made but he so you know it was made for the theater I think Cinema pref our FMS one of my favorites is zero hype complain you know we to get release date is another important five FMS have come on the same seven that's to six films have released on the same day late night shows we can't go 104 it's not if it is AA coming then the release date is ve

ry [Music] important there is release date plays a major major role how do you figure release date [Music] out one week clear Gap where you are not in Contender with a major p so is clear release date is such a I made a small film on culture that film worked out very well onot I went for theat and then onot theat slow it didn't work that much because it came after balam because I didn't I couldn't release the film before balam I I released the film after bam when it came on you know we all in th

e same team no so I'm sensing something like we are all buddies only there's like experience with my small film it came on came on the theat theat on response but came on so it's not on how I it's not on the producer or something that he'll grab more screens and all they will automatically provide and Cinema boundi is also such a hypothetical thing what is Cinema boundi you fell in that thing my film fell in the theater space that we is not about good or good orad are so important small F compas

extremely important and I'm not saying as an example but teaser and all yeah the content it's a collective experience also not on anybody I wasting yeah it'll be on Amazon I didn't subas very simple and largely also seen with families about their entertainment quota of that month or this thing you already end up spending a lot on subscriptions so how much are you willing to spend after you spending on your very good smartphone very good audio very good speakers headphones TV is leaving us behin

d every six months phone especially phone one but how much are you spending on sub [Music] that's a that's a such a this mostly in my cousin most important for us we are making films we are surviving on OT right now the digitaling on surviving on digital only right now digital is the biggest uh thing for us I'm the theatrical is always is a lottery and in before going to the theatrical space digital is the biggest asset for us that's nice no we have Tove we shouldn't complain on the subscription

s should be very happy actually it's a b and by and largeot audience is bigger than the any film mad correct multiple times we like yes if the writing is good Tri every time I want to go to Nat every time I want to to go to that interval fight so that recall definitely and they CAU on they on so they not in the for anym so don't get disappointed very happy disappointed not made for theater you didn't know whether it was made for the theater theater technically we made it for the that's what we o

nly feel like that yeah what is saying making technically for theater definitely that is the thing but audience perception has become very crucial no no been wonderful last couple of days at least you know it's you have to have films for everybody it's not just a certain definitely a fragmented audience when they love they love real intensely you know very passionately [Music] let's talk about month of Madu month of Madu I think it's brilliant uh I I love the film because n represent uh but I th

ink a director 500 Days of Summer screenplay pattern believe me he's not seen it maybe just says we'll break up months smile relased last November November 2022 same we have done but so as you said similar no yeah the entire world but thank you for saying you like mon really thank [Music] you appreciate it for the every character maybe I like fil writing see end of the day that's the difference that's good very happy in fact and I think I was telling team well if they like a dialogue they can ju

st rewind it and see it again like scenes monolog just sing Single shots what a brilliant actores it's [Music] not more of a character it's not or anything character because s is about change relationships change people change permanence and that guy Shady [Music] even but I think background makes an impact it's a realistic film writings wise and all characters I felt that even side I have to watch it side a okay told me that the film was very depressing no no side a is depressing side B [Music]

and it's personal choice I agree with both I agree with both a personal [Music] yeah when I made a realistic film like we didn't want a sad ending for it we didn't want a sad ending he'll be very proud of his father actually mon of Madu is not a sad ending so mon of Madu is a happy ending no it's depressing or no but I've heard it's very good people told me I heard the complete opposite that the second part second part is very talk about the first Parts Hope Personal experiences financial statu

s you know upbringing it depends really it's can't tell what the perspective perspective film the kind of films I mean we like to watch as a producers I I want to make films like that I'm me I the deal and also that decides how much of an audience and how much of money you'll make budget you can spend on if it is an Entertainer and a thing a large portion of the audience want to see it so that has it or a comedy if it is a thought provoking film or something very realistic there's a people are t

here audiences there but it will be a smaller audience so your budgets and everything else also have to be alignment with and you can't expect everyone to so it is it is you have to based on the subject will age very well like as timeas [Music] no that was weird scenario September 20th was a biggest weekend Seth next October 6 and just looking at theater but so you you're also [Music] comp and if a world match throw in a world match I mean you know uh World Cup throw in a World Cup into it then

it's like wonderful I've lost two Sundays four Sundays actually for two films L Leo M every Sunday it was an India match yes every Sunday is India match obviously viewers on Sunday so I but I experience you changed I changed because like that let the worldish yeah in case the viewers are wondering we're shooting on the day that the so when you are doing a big film it's more challenging because how do you place a medium or a small film that's a simple Point that's the difference we don't need to

Market big films yeah what is your strategy to bring people to theaters for Medi and that the word will spread marketing 9% the smaller the cinema the more effort it at least as a proder not it's not something you can't on because of but that organic song Trailer teaser or something but organically it has to that's the first thing should talk is the that's why put a lot in effort to cut nice trailer first trailer will create that interest first yeah the content will speak for itself no matter wh

at in any given situation as repeated find that examples is even the fact that just between first Wave [Music] window but still the way people write or comment about the particular trailer it is obvious that trailer is the gamechanging factor for whether people want to decide I think the amount of effort people put especially I think k in terms of getting the trailer right trailer out I think I've worked with couple of directors we [Music] doing wow people are I know film makers are very calcula

tive about how they want to show it because that's the only pitch we can give to the audience of course we'll do all the basics all the traditional plus again your effort is going into ask all you get is attention span is reduced to one story in an Instagram yeah so how much EX we have to do to [Music] the you have to go full out with everything every resource that you have but still you it's not sure whether you are heard or not but uh again it all boils down to that one teaser that one trailer

that has been organically going out and people are even can't fool around them anymore he'll go all out to promote the film Medi Jaan if you see think he was tring across the country now we've seen rir Kap coming to Unstoppable yeah so big films could have promote AG me as a producers we don't need to come out the stage on the stage and all we need you promote the film and all it's easier to promote e to promote because the star will promote of course it's already you know the interest is alrea

dy registered among the audience of course of course definitely but yeah I think they're still coming out and the actors at least star will be ready to promote his film yeah so yeah uh trailer it might be trailer song Sometimes songs we never know promotion also helps there's a topic about jewelry [Music] marketing [Music] marketing that's how he gained a customer wow guys uh okay final fin two three question how do we Empower writers we are all looking at you sir big two I mean like I know that

he Empower writ see uh I hear a lot of see for instance said something we are willing to pay 30 lakhs to buy a remake script but many producers many not many producers hesitate to pay writers even 3 lakhs it's a very good question don't mean SC we are spending more time and more money on it we giving him time we giving everything we giving all the facilities he wants after is making I he make film one year six months waiting time he's writing only the producers making the film for his next film

they spend on it that is after did you have that same Liberty or will support three three subjects we almost finalized in actors all our newcomers or one film old directors they've been working on that script for one one and a half years and we've been office sitting and writing and we've been supporting so uh and if you like something now remuneration it's a commercial Dynamic and it is a whether that is a different subject obviously P writers will get more P directors will get more upcoming w

riters you know just because you're getting the opportunity you'll be happy to do it so that how you balance it as a commercial uh this thing uh but uh we're spending a lot of time we spent almost one year on Mad script we made the film in one year it's it's a small film we made it SP of one year because we was checking it were you asking like if he WR his own solo writing it's always even if it's a writer director or a writer it's a and just took a writer if he's not directing on he's just a wr

iter on board either he should have been a assistant with somebody or or assistant director or thing cold if somebody comes and says I we don't we how can you give an opportunity what do we do you know what do we reply they'll be much more inclined to listen to it than generally perception is writers don't get paid that is I don't think that is it is a big debate but at least from the producer side I don't feel feel that is true uh I mean in my 10-year-old this SC I have never negotiated with an

y right never because I didn't have direct this topic with any Never B debate producers point of VI because we always want a good script to make a film we never negotiate on the script thing so how do you Empower writers and at least both of that's the only thing we can do satisfaction satisfy they have provided me everything obviously we believe in something we'll obviously give him whatever he wants yeah before believing in anything we can't provide to random people random and more qualificati

on yeahif predominantly it's become a writer director kind of a scenario mostly directors are writing their own so writers as such lesser lesser and lesser that is especially films series but direct IDE idea of the story they'll provide a team yeah we'll be working on writers we work together even producers will sit they also discuss few things about the story about the structure of the story so one of my final questions is to you and you guys can also pitch in uh you have seen the tri R Oscar e

xperience up and Clos and one of the greatest things about the whole Tri thing is that has opened doors for us like I'm not sure whether it's too early to call but pan we don't know whether how do you look at this day it is a long term and day uh and bamp B kgf got the conference did it then pushpa worked then a few other films worked then then now there is an scope for other films also to think but only we have seen how it backfired backed also but at least there few films that subsequently tha

t came and worked and so there is a and now audience and that is also because like internet M people are Hindi they used to seeing so that is a different this thing overseas is a different ball game I think R doing well has brought exposure to Indian Cinema and people are more keen to watch Indian Cinema that is small segment of people are Keen to watch but honest I don't think we can make films thinking that they will play or do something somewhere and it's a false hope it and even if the next

film will play i i i something else will follow it up and do something even R audience except Japan Japan it did about $15 million so b one b 2 and then R did 15 million USD and it is mostly Japanese audience so Japan they was able to break it but otherwise us it was Indian audience and Indian diaspora that supported whether it is b or R foreign audience is very little Netflix very my op we can't plan [Music] and maybe next Raj film might be has the biggest chance next is Raj's next film that ha

s a good chance of breaking through but anybody's this thing but it is we can't we can't make films for them we just whether it was bahali or r or this thing or next film do anything we can't make films Foria our film should some FMS are Universal some films appeal some films will remain uh something and it is nothing to do with good or bad it is so final question final question favorite F that is you're not associated with it 137 wikip can you guess how many work at the box office 10 5 to 10 aa

ge is very bad I like Jor a lot yeah I love J too sir how can you say that you called me after that you remember you called me I can see that no I'm seeing a very different person you know I Prof okay not possible how many it's not it's a business it's not any bread and butter we can't make brand yeah and po I really liked I think it was nice nice pretty bold yeah it's nice film and they did well yeah did well also J also was I thought very well clearly made for very nicely action very nicely sl

ow motions those nice dialog that man something sir oh yeah it's beautiful I liked it I liked Shar VI balance sh last 2021 yeah but the director's Vision The Producers cooperation I think it's a brilliant film Sher was class can we reases oh yeah 15 years yeah it re-released and ran packed [Music] houses [Laughter] oh man through film 11 stand that's a proper Nostalgia Rel is of we were almost kids watching it and suddenly that whole and even few F I think itra sweet memories I wanted to watch i

t in theater it was such a beautiful film I want to see what that film will do when it comes to theater and [Music] I there's some nice good fil like for example I really wanted there were only four people and the theater guy was like asking but they were so so it makes me think know round T doesn't matter well films are forever so true not to take much time because is beautiful thank you yeah exactly so I'm experiencing the the fruit right now like that's the best part about and I think this on

e thing which KH was like talking in an interview I think with Anup Chopra where like tell me Anup what are your favorite films tell me like the greatest films that you watched and like she was mentioning gudat she was mentioning Lagan she was mentioning all the films so like you ask this question what are your favorite films that go to films it is always like sag India music like so all the films like CH okay what made us you know root for those films and what made us for example want to my God

I'm a huge fan of that film my God so I think you they all boils down to that one moment when a writer comes and tell you that story it clicked for me I will do it it's just magic you know Cinema gods have to bless and then don't listen to the market listen to the audience and so Market is temporary week maybe we didn't fare well but I think uh the classic example right we're talking about month of Madu now people are talking like every sixth or seventh release or any of that scene and I rememb

er that one classic SC father the came from a very bad marriage it was on news it was on news and everybody like suddenly that discussion so see though that that art imitates life or that that's happening but we are actors we're emotional people so you can ignore us so it's fine you can listen you can listen to No no no I'm I'm I'm I'm with you guys but we should like yeah super guys thank you thank you very much for all of you you guys took the conversation ahead you guys owned it thank you Kik

u thank you pru thank you thank you thank you sh thank you very much thank you for being here thanks guys thank you very [Music] much