From Pawan Kalyan's 'Thammudu' to Ram Charan's 'Peddi': How Telugu cinema is shaping a gritty and authentic sports drama genre

Tollywood boasts captivating characters and profoundly emotional narratives. While genres such as mythological epics, romantic dramas, and action films have continually flourished in the industry, sports-drama films have also had a fascinating run.

These films often feature stories about perseverance, success, and the human spirit. While they may not be as profitable as the other genres, Telugu sports dramas have created a distinct genre in their own right.The Emergence of Sports Dramas in Telugu CinemaThe trends of sports dramas are relatively new when compared to the historical, mythological, and social themes in Telugu cinema. Sports-drama films started gaining traction in Telugu cinema during the early 2000s, with films like 'Thammudu' and 'Sye' really showcasing the interest in this subgenre across a range of sports.

In stark contrast, Bollywood and Hindi cinema, while earlier embracing the trend of sport in film, maintained the discourse more directly to cricket; sporting films are still a relative rarity in Telugu.

Despite this, the strong success of films such as 'Jersey' is driving audiences' interest, proving that sports dramas resonate deeply, as long as they are made with authenticity.What makes sports dramas appealing to filmmakers and audiences alike is the commonality of themes, such as underdogs, personal redemption, and striving for a dream against all odds.

These films have also been incorporated with the aspects of their culture and, often, social issues, including caste, family relationships, and altruism.Some notable sports-drama films in Telugu cinema'Thammudu': Directed by P.A. Arun Prasad, 'Thammudu' is a landmark sports drama centered around boxing. Starring Pawan Kalyan as a carefree young man who transforms into a disciplined boxer to avenge his brother’s honor, the film blends action, emotion, and family values.

Its raw energy and Pawan Kalyan’s charismatic performance made it a cult classic. Another hit is 'Sye,' which is directed by SS Rajamouli, who brought rugby to Telugu audiences at a time when rugby appeared to be a distant sport relative to India. The film stars Nithiin and Genelia D'Souza and focuses on a group of college rivals and their journey to becoming a rugby team.

The sports scenes, shot distinctly by Rajamouli and paired with MM Keeravaani's happy rhythms, put 'Sye' on the map.The 2019 superhit, Gowtam Tinnanuri’s 'Jersey,' is arguably the pinnacle of Telugu sports dramas. 'Jersey' features a transformative and courageous performance from industry sweetheart Nani, who plays Arjun, a cricketer who attempts to come out of retirement in his late 30s to fulfill his quest to play for India. It is spirit, sacrifice, and endurance that hopefully almost everyone is connected with. The authenticity of the cricket scenes, primarily due to the BCCI's involvement with shooting the cricket scenes and Nani's subtle transformation that takes place through the film, delighted audiences.

As per The News Minute, Nani shared that he didn't know if there was a trend of sports dramas in Telugu cinema: "I didn't know that there was a trend of sports dramas in Telugu in the first place. When Gowtam narrated the story, I felt it was both beautiful and a challenging film for me as an actor. It’s only then that it struck me that there are very few Telugu films that focus on sports. It’s high time we made sports dramas in Telugu, rather than just enjoy watching them when they are made in other languages.

"Nani's training for 'Jersey' was grueling: 70 days at the Daniels Cricket Academy to get the cricketing stance right. But it was worth it to tell a story that's as much about life as it is about cricket. Arjun’s story is about second chances, and the makers focused on making every scene authentic, from the cricket to the emotions. Seetimaarr', directed by Sampath Nandi, is an energetic sports drama about women’s kabaddi, featuring Gopichand and Tamannaah.

Like most sports dramas, 'Seetimaarr' also has a social commentary about gender and femininity in rural India.Speaking of the upcoming 'Peddi,' the sports drama is directed by Buchi Babu Sana, will feature Ram Charan, and differs from a traditional sports drama that features only one sport. 'Peddi,' while a sports drama, will feature more than one sport. The film will feature cricket, wrestling, and kabaddi as we see a "sports coolie" at the center of it all.

Crafting AuthenticitySporting dramas are able to hold the fans or casual audience depending on authenticity or in regard to authenticity in storytelling or performing sports. It is common for directors and actors to train and spend a huge amount of time getting authentically prepared for the sports element. In the case of 'Jersey,' Nani trained for more than two months to learn the cricketing aspects, and BCCI assisted the production team by using authentic logos and specific settings to make the story feel real.

Similarly, both Tamannaah and the other cast members in 'Seetimaarr' also did kabaddi training to convince the audiences they were true athletes. Authenticity extends to crew members that cover technical aspects. For example, the cinematographers and editors for the rugby portions of 'Sye' planned and choreographed shooting routines to show the raw physicality of the sport and were largely praised for their intensity.Filmmakers also often take inspiration from true stories to add depth and meaning. 'Jersey' was based on the struggles of athletes who return to the sport late in their lives, and 'Seetimaarr' showed the struggles of female athletes in the sporting world.Challenges and Future ProspectsSporting dramas are able to hold the fans or casual audience depending on authenticity or in regard to authenticity in storytelling or performing sports. It is common for directors and actors to train and spend a huge amount of time getting authentically prepared for the sports element.

In the case of 'Jersey,' Nani trained for more than two months to learn the cricketing aspects, and the BCCI assisted the production team by using authentic logos and specific settings to make the story feel real.Even with their success, sports dramas also have some hurdles in Telugu cinema. Compared to traditional films, the genre requires an extra investment in training, choreography, and production design to be as authentic as possible and undeniably scary despite smaller budgets. Further, it's hard to outrun the star system in Telugu cinema, with mass entertainers preferred over niche genres.However, on the other hand, the evolution of sport-drama films in Telugu cinema has transformed from once-in-a-while experiments into an emerging genre worthy of discipline and attention.