These Four Tollywood Directors Once Ruled, Now Struggling For Hits

Once upon a time, their names were enough to pull crowds to theatres. Krishna Reddy, YVS Chowdhury, V. Vinayak, and Srinu Vaitla shaped Telugu cinema through the 90s and 2000s with family stories, mass action, and stylish comedy. But time has changed the game. With young filmmakers bringing bold concepts and modern storytelling, these veterans are now searching for the one chance to bounce back.

SV Krishna Reddy, known as the “family director,” has already launched his 43rd film after a long gap. This time, he is even introducing a South Korean actress, Jun Hyun Ji, to Telugu cinema, showing that he is ready to experiment. YVS Chowdhury, who once gave a blockbuster with Devadasu, faced a long dry spell. Now, he has taken up the challenge of launching Tarak Rama Rao, grandson of Harikrishna, hoping that this comeback will restore his lost image.

Vinayak, once the king of mass films, has also struggled after Intelligent flopped badly. His Hindi remake of Chatrapathi did not help either. Still, the buzz is that he has narrated a story to Victory Venkatesh, hoping to recreate the magic of their earlier hit Lakshmi. Srinu Vaitla, famous for mixing comedy with action, also slipped after a series of failures. But with Nithin showing trust in him, he now has a chance to prove that his style still works.

These four directors know only cinema and nothing else. They are fighting like warriors who refuse to retire. If even one of them clicks again, it could inspire many others who once ruled but are now waiting in the shadows.