Teja also points out that even Hollywood has been affected by corporate interference.
Seasoned director Teja believes that cinema, long regarded as an art form, is gradually losing its essence as it becomes increasingly judged by box office numbers rather than storytelling and craftsmanship.
"Today, films are evaluated based on the revenue they generate rather than their narrative depth and artistic execution. This shift undermines the beauty and effort behind filmmaking," he laments. "Just like a potter begins with raw clay or a painter starts with a blank canvas, filmmaking evolves from a script to casting and finally to a fully realized movie. But now, producers ask how much money a story will make before even considering its artistic potential. This has stripped the filmmaking process of its passion and creative spirit. Even a potter doesn’t know how many of his pots will sell, nor does a painter predict the market value of their artwork. Similarly, a filmmaker should focus on crafting a great film and let the audience decide its fate rather than being pressured by financial projections from the outset."
Teja also points out that even Hollywood has been affected by corporate interference. "When corporate houses from China and Japan entered Hollywood, they prioritized sequels of blockbuster films—‘The Lord of the Rings,’ the Marvel Cinematic Universe, ‘Mad Max: Fury Road,’ and ‘Mission: Impossible,’ among others. For them, filmmaking became a numbers game. If a movie made ₹100 crore, they assumed its sequel would make at least ₹80 crore, making it a safe investment. As a result, Hollywood began recycling old hits with minor changes instead of producing fresh, innovative content.
A similar trend is emerging in Tollywood, where some producers are more focused on box office numbers than on creating films with lasting artistic value. While sequels have performed well in Telugu cinema, Teja warns against stretching stories and characters beyond their limits, as it could backfire. "Riding on a franchise might be the safer route, but I wish producers would also invest in fresh stories and new narrative styles. Telugu cinema has become synonymous with action films, but it has the potential to be much more," he emphasizes.
Teja also criticizes inexperienced producers who cannot assess a good story but still push for commercially viable star-director combinations. "Some producers function more like production managers, simply financing films without understanding their content. A few don’t even know the core story of their film until its release. Meanwhile, those who can recognize unique and compelling stories are losing interest in an industry obsessed with box office records.
"If content-driven films like ‘Committee Kurrollu’ or ‘Aay’ perform well, it could encourage a positive shift. But as long as box office numbers take precedence over quality, passionate filmmakers will struggle to thrive. Cinema is a blend of art and commerce, but if commerce dominates, art will disappear," Teja concludes.
