Tollywood Gives Them Chances, But Why the Criticism?

Telugu cinema has opened doors for several Bollywood actresses, giving them opportunities to work alongside some of its biggest stars. However, some of these actresses have also become vocal about their experiences in the industry. From Radhika Apte to Taapsee Pannu and now Janhvi Kapoor, Tollywood has repeatedly found itself at the centre of criticism.

Radhika Apte recently recalled her experience with Balakrishna's Legend, saying she hated the idea of romancing an actor much older than her and playing a character involved in a relationship with her maternal uncle. She described the experience as patriarchal. She had also previously spoken about male dominance and the treatment of women on Telugu film sets.

Taapsee Pannu has faced criticism for her remarks about South Indian cinema too. She questioned the emphasis on heroines' navels in song sequences, recalling an incident from her debut film Jhummandi Naadam. More recently, she spoke about the focus on actresses' bodies and uncomfortable costume demands. However, she has also acknowledged that Telugu cinema played an important role in giving her early recognition.

Janhvi Kapoor is the latest to join this discussion following the Peddi controversy. On Koffee with Karan 9, she described her experience with the film's portrayal as violating and questioned the lack of bound scripts and detailed camera angles in South Indian cinema. Her remarks sparked criticism over whether one film experience should lead to generalisations about an entire industry.

The three actresses have raised different concerns, but their comments have once again put Tollywood under scrutiny. There is no denying that issues involving women's treatment deserve attention. However, does criticism of individual films and experiences eventually turn into a judgement about an entire industry? Why does Tollywood keep finding itself in this debate?

- Ashish