In a recent interview, Ram Gopal Varma suggested that the Telugu film industry is obsessed with magnificence. You are wrong if you think it all started with the success of the trend-setting Baahubali: The Beginning ten years ago. As per RGV, it was evident even when Magadheera became a sensational hit in 2009. Producers and directors in Tollywood stated itching to outdo Magadheera in terms of scale, he said, adding that Tollywood is the only place where the term "production values" is used in all contexts.
In the age of action spectacles and VFX-heavy movies, RGV's voice of reason offers a fresh perspective. After KGF and Pushpa, the itch for big-scale productions has become nothing less than an obsession here.
It's not like we are the only ones obsessing over enormity. Karthi-starrer Tamil movie Kashmora was reimagined because Baahubali's scale became the biggest story. More recently, Kanguva was made on a majestic scale in search of awe. After the failure of big-ticket movies like Kanguva, Indian 2 and Thug Life, Kollywood must be having a rethink. The success of Ponniyin Selvan-I didn't fuel a mindless search for grandeur there.
