Best Directors in 2018

Year 2018 was more about small players making it big and a few established names delivering biggies. The year saw the likes of VV Vinayak, Puri Jagannadh and Srinu Vaitla biting the dust. Even Trivikram Srinivas failed miserably once. The year, however, offered relief with a host of newcomers proving their mesmerizing talent. IndiaGlitz takes you through the directors whose imagination was vibrant, whether or not they succeeded at the BO.

Sukumar

The writer-director of 'Rangasthalam' completed the screenplay in a short time. The period drama went on to become a blockbuster despite a male lead (Ram Charan) who had a partial hearing impairment. Sukumar deserves high ranking for daring to show a deglam heroine, the fight of two brothers against a feudal lord in an emotional way, among other things. At a time when song picturizations are found wanting in Telugu cinema, this one was an exception. The climax was underrated.

Nag Ashwin

In telling the rise and fall of a legend in 'Mahanati', Nag Ashwin made no compromises. Or, to put it in a better way, he didn't have to make any compromises. Savitri was a stunner from a village who mesmerized everyone in the film industry with her expressive eyes and face. The director used this story to narrate the engaging drama of a gifted gem. Credit goes to him for letting his dialogue writer (Sai Madhav Burra) and music director (Mickey J Meyer) give their best. And, of course, Keerthy Suresh was a revelation.

Koratala Siva

'Bharat Ane Nenu' was Koratala Siva's style of saying that a novice can deliver if he has the right intent; a rookie can pull off miracles if he has the will. Mahesh Babu gave one of his career-best performances and kudos to Siva in no small measure. Family drama, the right blend of action and some believable moments were plus points. The film did have its share of dull moments but overall, it gave a bang for the buck.

Trivikram Srinivas

'Aravindha Sametha' was layered. It was not simplistic and it has to be said against those who think a hero addressing his rivals as 'Darling' can hope to change their minds in time for the end credits. It doesn't happen that way in life. As someone who seems to understand human nature better than most directors, Trivikram Srinivas made Veera Raghava (NTR) practice a carrot and stick policy to achieve peace in the NTR-starrer. Classy performances (by NTR, Jagapathi Babu and Naveen Chandra), impressive music (by SS Thaman), good dialogue, and the dare shown in turning the narrative template upside down deserve kudos.

Parusuram

'Geetha Govindam' had its share of issues but director Parusuram made things work with his tricks. The last act of the film, for example, held many lessons for filmmakers. Govindam (Vijay Deverakonda) was a hero who exuded genuine fear (when was the last time a director dared to show such a hero?), the comedians were hilarious, and the songs were not allowed to be intrusive.

Mohankrishna Indraganti

For all the flaws that the second half of 'Sammohanam' had, Indraganti deserves regards for the beautiful first half. Many moments in the movie were a rarity as far as Telugu cinema is concerned. A boy (Sudheer Babu) who prefers class over artificiality, a girl (Aditi Rao Hydari) who has her insecurities, a father (Naresh) whose dormant dreams find a comical outburst both in real and reel lives, a soundtrack that was soulful... The film had many big things with the redoubtable Indraganti at the helm.

Venkatesh Maha

'Care Of Kancharapalem' marked the coming of a director with unique sensibilities. That Maha Venkatesh could extract neat performances from non-actors tells its own story. He surely showed the way for independent as well as mainstream cinema. Best possible output with modest means, touching scenes, nuanced screenplay, and believable scenes dotted this big small film.

Other debutant directors

This was also a year of debutants. Aside from Maha Venkatesh ('Care Of Kancharapalem'), there was another comprehensively surprising debutant. He is Phanindra Nasetti of 'Manu'.

If a director has to be judged purely in terms of narrating a story that turns the usual template upside down and a morose story that is set in a gloomy space, then Narsetti needs to be lauded for what he writes and executes in 'Manu'. Between Ajay Bhupathi of 'Rx 100' and Venky Atluri of 'Tholi Prema', it will be difficult to say who was better.

We are going with Ajay for the way he narrates the shocking twist in his film, among other things. Like Ajay, Venky seems to be a director who is good at making character studies. Rahul Ravindran ('Chi La Sow') and Sashikiran Tikka ('Goodachar') have enriched Tollywood with their respective visions.

Year 2018 was more about small players making it big and a few established names delivering biggies.