In the past many years, Tamil actors have been successful in Andhra Pradesh. However, there weren't many actors from the Telugu cinema industry who could make such an impact in Kollywood.
Though films starring Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Vijayashanthi and Dr Rajasekhar were dubbed and released in Tamil Nadu, after they emerged as superhits in the Telugu box office, these dubbed versions did not have quite the same result. Today, however, the situation seems to have changed. Having understood the potential in Kollywood and the need to expand their market beyond Andhra Pradesh, a bevy of Telugu actors are making a beeline for the Tamil film industry.
Ram Charan Teja's Rachcha was made as a bilingual, while Allu Arjun is all set to step into Kollywood with a Tamil movie of his own. And his brother, Allu Sirish, is making his acting debut in both Tamil and Telugu at the same time, by signing a bilingual titled Gouravam. Balakrishna's next venture Uu Kodathara? Ulikki Padathara? is being made simultaneously in Tamil as Varuvan Thalaivan.
Says Vishnu Sharma, who tracks the Telugu industry from Vijayawada, "Most Telugu superhits like Bommarillu, Varsham, Arya, Amma Nanna O Tamil Ammayi, Kick, Ready, Pokiri and Okkadu have only been remade in Tamil, whereas the biggest of Tamil hits have been dubbed in Telugu or made as bilinguals."
He says further: "The one who began this trend was Allu Sirish. The scion of one of the most influential families of Telugu cinema came out with a long post on his blog in 2011, urging Telugu producers and actors to step into Kollywood. He also took the lead by ensuring that Magadheera, produced by his father (Allu Aravind), with his cousin (Ram Charan) in the lead, was dubbed and released in Tamil as Maaveeran.
Says Pari, who is in the film distribution business in northern areas of Tamil Nadu, "The success of the dubbed versions of Arundhati and Magadheera gave birth to a new trend. It was aptly supported by the success of Mahesh Babu's Dookudu and Business Man."
Revealing his plans for Kollywood, Allu Arjun, one of the young guns of Tollywood, said recently, "I didn't want to introduce myself in Tamil Nadu with a dubbed movie. Hence, I am planning to make my entry in Kollywood with a Tamil flick."
Director Rajesh of Oru Kal Oru Kannadi fame says, "Arjun recently watched Oru Kal Oru Kannadi and thoroughly enjoyed it. He expressed his desire to make his entry into Tamil cinema with me and now, I am working on a script."
Arjun's brother Sirish, who has started shooting for his maiden venture Gouravam, wrote on his microblogging page: "Gouravam is a commercial script that has the power to engage and move viewers. The perfect vehicle to launch me in Telugu and Tamil.
So, I take nothing for granted. Been doing my homework and preparation. Hope to live up to whatever is expected of me."
No doubt a new trend has begun. One has to wait and watch to see how it develops.
Though films starring Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Vijayashanthi and Dr Rajasekhar were dubbed and released in Tamil Nadu, after they emerged as superhits in the Telugu box office, these dubbed versions did not have quite the same result. Today, however, the situation seems to have changed. Having understood the potential in Kollywood and the need to expand their market beyond Andhra Pradesh, a bevy of Telugu actors are making a beeline for the Tamil film industry.
Ram Charan Teja's Rachcha was made as a bilingual, while Allu Arjun is all set to step into Kollywood with a Tamil movie of his own. And his brother, Allu Sirish, is making his acting debut in both Tamil and Telugu at the same time, by signing a bilingual titled Gouravam. Balakrishna's next venture Uu Kodathara? Ulikki Padathara? is being made simultaneously in Tamil as Varuvan Thalaivan.
Says Vishnu Sharma, who tracks the Telugu industry from Vijayawada, "Most Telugu superhits like Bommarillu, Varsham, Arya, Amma Nanna O Tamil Ammayi, Kick, Ready, Pokiri and Okkadu have only been remade in Tamil, whereas the biggest of Tamil hits have been dubbed in Telugu or made as bilinguals."
He says further: "The one who began this trend was Allu Sirish. The scion of one of the most influential families of Telugu cinema came out with a long post on his blog in 2011, urging Telugu producers and actors to step into Kollywood. He also took the lead by ensuring that Magadheera, produced by his father (Allu Aravind), with his cousin (Ram Charan) in the lead, was dubbed and released in Tamil as Maaveeran.
Says Pari, who is in the film distribution business in northern areas of Tamil Nadu, "The success of the dubbed versions of Arundhati and Magadheera gave birth to a new trend. It was aptly supported by the success of Mahesh Babu's Dookudu and Business Man."
Revealing his plans for Kollywood, Allu Arjun, one of the young guns of Tollywood, said recently, "I didn't want to introduce myself in Tamil Nadu with a dubbed movie. Hence, I am planning to make my entry in Kollywood with a Tamil flick."
Director Rajesh of Oru Kal Oru Kannadi fame says, "Arjun recently watched Oru Kal Oru Kannadi and thoroughly enjoyed it. He expressed his desire to make his entry into Tamil cinema with me and now, I am working on a script."
Arjun's brother Sirish, who has started shooting for his maiden venture Gouravam, wrote on his microblogging page: "Gouravam is a commercial script that has the power to engage and move viewers. The perfect vehicle to launch me in Telugu and Tamil.
So, I take nothing for granted. Been doing my homework and preparation. Hope to live up to whatever is expected of me."
No doubt a new trend has begun. One has to wait and watch to see how it develops.