The three 'aging' musketeers
Popularity of a person is gauged and judged on his timely decision making. Many fumble at making right decision at right time.
Particularly when one is on success track for long may miss a point or two while making a decision thus inviting criticism from unknown quarters.
If one goes by cricketing example, no one dared to utter a single word against God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar till five years back.
But everyone started baying for his blood considering his age, when he started failing in couple of matches, asking for his retirement with even some of his die hard fans joining the demand.
Film industry atleast presents top stars a unique opportunity to make a perfect changeover from hero roles to other dignified and powerful roles like the one played by Mohan Babu and Rajanikanth in Pedarayudu sometime back.
Many film critics are talking in open about tollywood's top three heroes Natasimha Balakrishna, Victory Venkatesh and King Nagarjuna who ruled the industry for many decades.
Many feel time is fast running out for the top three. Mega Star Chiranjeevi chose to enter politics handing over his legacy to his son Mega Power Star Ram Charan Teja.
All the three crossed 50s, and though Venky is younger of the lot, Nag scores in personality and still many feel that he has it in him for hero roles with the envious looks of 'Manmadhudu'.
However he was the first to realise this change over and handed over the baton to his son Naga Chaitanya. His starring in films like 'Gaganam', 'Rajanna', 'Damarukam' and 'Shirdi Sai' shows that as a keen thinker and intelligent person, he is smoothly sailing over other roles.
Venky also tried for similar change over with 'Eenadu' and 'Bodyguard' but pouring cold water on his aspirations these films didnot succeeed.
Sources say he is playing a different role in 'Seetamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu'.
Balakrishna has extraordinary stamina but 'Adhinayakudu' sent warning signals for him that he doesn't suit genex sensational dancing roles any more. The message is loud and clear for Balayya that he will excel in powerful roles like in Simha and senior role in Adhinayakudu.
More recently tollywood is facing the scarcity of heroines for older heroes and Balayya too experienced the problem in Parama Veera Chakra and Adhinayakudu.
Unlike couple of years back, heroines started refusing roles opposite top stars citing age as was seen in Mass Raja Raviteja's case.
In olden days, people used to see and enjoy ANR, NTR going to college and romance with heroines of the age of their grand daughters.They relished though mega wave in form of Mega Star Chiru stormed silverscreen with his dances.
If the same films are played now, people used to curse themselves how they tolerated them in those years.
Of all the years only Natabhooshana Sobhan Babu stunned all retiring from films when he was still entertaining family audience with his romantic looks and two heroines on his side.
Chandra Mohan, Bhanu Chander, Suman, Rajendra Prasad all made this transformation and have settled in character roles.
Only path, these heroes have is, make a change over and select roles that suit their age. Though there are many such roles in films, film makers are opting for kollywood or sandalwood senior stars like Prabhu, Sarath Kumar, Parthiban, Prakash Raj and others.
Venky can easily play roles as Prakash Raj did in Bommarillu, Nuvve Nuvve and others.
The process for change should start from heroes themselves and should think that entertaining movie lovers in different roles is better than fading into oblivion with string of flops doing only hero roles.
If our top stars introspect, they won't be aleniating movie lovers, leaving their fans disappointed.
News Posted: 17 June, 2012
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