Adivi Sesh Highlights the Unique Strength of Telugu Cinema
Actor, director, and writer Adivi Sesh, currently promoting his upcoming film 'Dacoit', has shared insightful perspectives on the distinctiveness of Telugu cinema within India's diverse film landscape. In a candid conversation with IANS, Sesh emphasized that the emotional core of Telugu films sets them apart from other regional industries, a quality he attributes to the absence of corporate dominance.
The Power of Emotional Ownership in Film Production
When asked about the differentiating factors of Telugu cinema, Sesh pointed to emotional ownership as the key element. He elaborated that unlike many other film industries in India, Telugu cinema remains largely driven by individual producers who invest personal resources and passion into their projects. "Telugu cinema till date is still produced by individual producers," Sesh explained. "Someone might have mortgaged a house and he's come to produce a film, someone sold a piece of land, and he's come to produce a film. Someone did well for himself in real estate or she's a doctor and she's come to produce a film. Whatever it may be. These are the people who are producing even our INR 300, 400, 500 crore films."
Contrast with Corporate Studio Systems
Sesh further contrasted this approach with the corporate studio model prevalent in other regions, particularly Mumbai. He recalled a revealing argument with a studio employee that underscored the difference in motivation. "I asked him, 'Why don't you guys get it that this means so much to me.' And he couldn't take it anymore. He just blew up and said, 'That's because we work for a paycheque, Sesh.' I was stunned," Sesh shared. The employee later explained softly that his salary remained unchanged regardless of a film's success, with promotions requiring multiple successful projects, leading to a system focused solely on profit.
"So what happens is because there is no emotional ownership in a film doing well, the system only looks forward to only making money," Sesh noted, highlighting how this corporate apathy hasn't permeated Telugu cinema.
Dreaming Big: From 'Bahubali' to 'Kalki'
Sesh credited this lack of corporate influence for enabling ambitious projects like 'Bahubali', 'Kalki', and 'Pushpa'. "The fact that the apathy hasn't penetrated Telugu cinema is why we have been able to dream of a Bahubali or dream of a 'Kalki' or dream of a 'Pushpa' because it's just individual guys just betting everything and putting it on the line," he asserted. He clarified that this isn't about talent disparities, acknowledging that crews in Mumbai work equally hard and talent is widespread across India.
"Dare I say, the crews in Mumbai work even harder. So it's not like I see a difference. I think people are just as talented everywhere. That's been my learning. But working for yourself is different from working for someone else," Sesh added, reinforcing that the distinction lies in the personal stake and passion of individual producers rather than regional superiority.
As Adivi Sesh prepares for 'Dacoit', his comments shed light on the entrepreneurial spirit fueling Telugu cinema's rise, offering a nuanced view of how personal investment continues to drive artistic and commercial success in the industry.
