The digital medium is reviving a long-lost trend in Telugu entertainment industry of making films/shows based out of novels. The long-winded narratives offer ample scope to tell so many diverse stories without creative compromises and it’s not surprising that filmmakers are latching onto novels for unique content. While we heard the news of author Mohammed Khadeer Babu’s Metro Kathalu being made into a web series for Aha, now we hear another novel is being considered for adaptation for a digital show.
We are talking about Anantapur-based writer Bandi Narayanaswamy’s magnum opus Saptabhoomi. The novel besides winning the best award for a work of fiction in TANA’s annual literary event also had helped the author bag the coveted Sahitya Akademi award recently. For the uninitiated, the story is set in the drought-affected Rayalaseema in the times post the rule of Vijayanagara Kingdom when Mughals have taken over the region.
The story poignantly mirrors the trauma faced by the commoners in the troubled years and the superstitions that persisted in that era. While it’s interesting that there’s finally a Telugu show that would explore its cultural roots in great detail, it would be a challenge to adapt a novel that more or less is about the misery of Rayalaseema residents. Nevertheless, in the hands of a capable filmmaker, the story could be a game-changer. The cast, crew and other details of the show are being worked out.
