Telugu Stars Turn Torchbearers of Sanatana Dharma

At a time when Bollywood stars appear hesitant, Telugu film stars seem to have emerged as torchbearers of Sanatana Dharma, increasingly foregrounding Hindu philosophy and deities in mainstream cinema. From invoking spiritual symbolism to positioning themselves as protectors of dharma, Tollywood actors are aggressively embracing faith-driven narratives.

If Pawan Kalyan highlighted the relevance and sanctity of Sanatana Dharma in Hari Hara Veera Mallu, Nandamuri Balakrishna urged audiences to strictly follow Hindu dharma to ward off evil forces in his recent release Akhanda 2. “Obviously, it is a good development. Telugu stars are doing commendable work,” says director Dolly. “They have realised the importance and relevance of age-old Hinduism and are attempting to propagate its values through cinema. Their pro-Hindu avatars have raised the bar,” he adds.

Are stars like Pawan Kalyan and Balakrishna consciously trying to connect with pan-India audiences, particularly the Hindi heartland, by taking on Hindu saviour roles? Dolly disagrees. “They don’t specifically hunt for such roles. But when directors come up with spiritually centred stories, actors are open to exploring them alongside their regular commercial films,” he explains.

Is the infusion of personal belief systems into movie roles unhealthy? “I don’t think so,” says Dolly. “Every actor is entitled to personal beliefs. Through select roles, they are reinforcing faith in society. Hinduism has a wide reach and acceptance, and that naturally reflects on screen.”

Several recent Telugu films such as Karthikeya 2, HanuMan, Kannappa, Mirai and Akhanda 2 have extensively used Hindu deities like Lord Shiva, Hanuman, Lord Narasimha and Lord Krishna—particularly during action sequences—leading some to argue that it borders on overkill. “Hindu gods symbolise valour, righteousness and clarity,” says Dolly. “Their depiction draws whistles, chants and even offerings like coconuts in theatres. Audiences relate to god-backed heroes. Unlike Hollywood superheroes like Spider-Man, Superman or the Avengers, who are meta-humans, these characters carry a divine connect.”

However, not everyone is convinced. A leading producer, speaking on condition of anonymity, feels Tollywood is diluting the genre. “Only a few films like Karthikeya 2 and HanuMan worked big with Hindi-speaking audiences. Many others, including Hari Hara Veera Mallu and Akhanda 2, failed to make an impact at the Hindi box office. We are clearly going overboard and need to pause,” he admits.

“The temptation is understandable,” he continues. “Depicting Hindu gods during fight sequences draws instant applause, but that very temptation is pushing stars and directors to overstep. This trend needs to be curtailed before it loses novelty.”