Nandini Reddy shares her formula for better female representation in Telugu Cinema: 'Choose films you make successful'

Conversations around the portrayal of women in Telugu cinema have resurfaced in recent weeks, especially after Janhvi Kapoor's role in Ram Charan's blockbuster 'Peddi' sparked discussions on objectification. Around the same time, Samantha Ruth Prabhu's women-led action drama 'Maa Inti Bangaaram' offered a starkly different narrative, reigniting the debate over meaningful female representation on screen.Director Nandini Reddy, whose latest film has emerged as a commercial success, believes the responsibility for driving change lies not just with filmmakers but also with audiences and the choices they make at the box office.

Audience choices can reshape the industry

Sharing her perspective with Hindustan Times on what can improve the portrayal of women in Telugu films, Nandini stressed that audiences have more influence than they realise. According to her, the films people support financially determine the stories that continue to get made."I think it needs to come from the audience. From the films they choose to watch, the films they choose to make successful. That itself sends a message which is loud and clear. It’s the biggest harbinger of change," she says.Encouraging women to actively support content they appreciate, the filmmaker added that theatrical success is the strongest signal the industry understands."I keep telling women. If you don't like what you’re seeing, then when you see something you like, ensure that other people go and watch it.

The audience also has to make the effort to go watch the films they like only in theatres. It’s the only way to get better films," explains Nandini, adding, "When it starts with the audience, then of course the filmmakers will listen. It’s a business at the end of the day, and you have to listen to the customer.

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Success of 'Maa Inti Bangaaram' sends a strong message

Reflecting on the response to 'Maa Inti Bangaaram', Nandini said the film managed to reconnect women with theatres because they finally saw stories that resonated with them.

She believes the film highlighted an audience segment that has often been overlooked by mainstream Telugu cinema."It has put out the question that there is a large section of the audience you’re not catering to. You’re not telling stories that matter to them," explains the filmmaker, adding, "If you add this crowd to an already existing male audience for male-centric films, imagine the numbers now. The industry keeps saying we lost the audience there.

But no, they’re there, waiting."

Why 'Barbie' became an inspiration

Nandini also pointed to the global success of 'Barbie' while explaining the commercial potential of female-centric films. She recalled Samantha Ruth Prabhu's observation that women played a crucial role in making the film a worldwide phenomenon."Samantha always said 'Barbie' did so well because the women came out to watch it. And that’s the audience we targeted with 'Maa Inti Bangaaram'.

Numbers are numbers, but I think we did something right because women across age groups have turned up at the theatres to have fun," she rounds off.Released on June 19, 'Maa Inti Bangaaram' has earned more than Rs 95 crore worldwide, making it the highest-grossing female-led Telugu film to date. Meanwhile, Ram Charan's 'Peddi', which hit theatres on June 4, has crossed the Rs 340 crore mark at the global box office.