Allani Sridhar 2.0: Working in the AI Era… Want to Work Till My Last Breath
— Filmmaker Allani Sridhar
Allani Sridhar is an acclaimed Telugu film writer, producer, and director who made his directorial debut in 1988 with the landmark biographical film Komaram Bheem. In 1990, he was honored with the prestigious Nandi Awards by the Government of Andhra Pradesh for Best Director and Best Film on National Integration.
Recently, he also served as a committee member for framing the guidelines of the newly instituted ‘Gaddar Awards’ by the Telangana government. On the occasion of his birthday on June 24, 2026, the Film Critics Association organized a “Meet the Press” event at the Film Chamber. Senior journalist and executive member Dheeraj Appaji hosted and moderated the session.
Tributes and Best Wishes from Senior Journalists Senior Journalist Bali Reddy
”We can never forget a film like Goswami Tulasidas. I share a deep, long-standing bond of many years with Sridhar Garu. I sincerely wish him more directorial ventures and grand successes ahead.
Senior Journalist Lakshman Rao
Even though there was a brief gap in our interactions over the years, the films he made back in the day stood as true reflections of progressive thoughts and ideals. Everything he achieved is a testament to his sheer self-effort. I wholeheartedly wish that he creates many more wonderful programs and movies.
Senior Journalist Smt. Jamuna Rani
I am delighted to share two things on this stage today. First, after a long time, the Film Critics Association looks vibrant and bustling. Second, it is an absolute pleasure to meet so many senior journalists. No matter how much we praise Sridhar Garu, words will always fall short.
Senior Journalist R.D.S. Prakash
I have known Sridhar Garu for almost 25 years. I remember reading an article back then titled Raguluthunna Bharatham and discussing it with him. I told him how brilliantly he was working alongside legends like Dasari Garu and Akkineni Garu. He has given us many great films, and I wish he scores even bigger commercial successes in the future.
Film Critics Association President, Battula Prasad
Through this ‘Meet the Press’ program, our goal is to extend a token of respect and felicitation to every deserving talent. Speaking about Allani Sridhar Garu feels like speaking about myself. He is like a brother to me, and words cannot fully describe his contributions.
Film Critics Association General Secretary, Suresh Kondeti
Back in the 90s, while working at Vaartha newspaper, I had the privilege of interviewing Sridhar Garu. Later, I also interviewed him personally for Santosham film magazine. He is a multi-faceted talent who needs no introduction. We are incredibly happy and grateful to host this event for him.
Allani Sridhar’s Speech: Reflections and Future Visions
I do not view birthdays as personal celebrations. Gathering on this stage with so many friends makes me feel like today is not just my birthday, but a day of spiritual rebirth (Punarjanma Dinam).
During the grueling shoot of Komaram Bheem deep inside the forests, my friend Prabhu used to bring journalists all the way out just for media coverage. It took 18 long years of struggle to get Komaram Bheem released. But once it did, it defined my entire identity.
On Industry Legends: Dasari (Narayana Rao) Garu will always remain a lion—a true legend among directors. I shared an amazing bond with him; he would direct a scene and instantly test me by asking my feedback. Similarly, Akkineni Nageswara Rao Garu was highly collaborative; if he had any doubt during a shoot, he would ask immediately, inquiring into details like, ‘Why did you choose a close-up shot for this specific frame?’ God blessed me with the fortune of working with such legendary figures, and they showered me with genuine affection.
No Rest for the Dedicated: I have never taken a single holiday in my professional life. From Komaram Bheem until today, there has been no vacation.
New Frontiers: We have established AI Studios and are currently producing a few films. We are also working on a biopic of a highly prominent personality in collaboration with a major corporation, which they will officially announce soon. Web series and AI-driven films are actively in the pipeline.
The Void in Children’s Cinema
Lately, I have a deep concern in my heart. Films geared toward children have completely vanished. Having served on the jury of International Film Festivals, I notice that Indian children’s films have become extremely rare. Today, children are consumed by mobile phones, leading to social media addiction.
To counter this ‘mobile addiction’, my friends and I plan to produce dedicated children’s cinema. We plan to cast talented child artists alongside seasoned actors like Rajendra Prasad to bring these stories to life.
Working Until the Final Directorial Cut
Recently, Singeetham Srinivasa Rao Garu made a phenomenal film even at his age. It is a reminder of what legendary actor Nageswara Rao Garu used to say—that he wanted to keep acting until his very last breath. Similarly, it is my ultimate desire to work until my final breath. My wish is to pass away right as I am calling out ‘Action’ and getting ready to say ‘Cut’. Every day is a fresh start. My special thanks to Suresh Garu, Battula Garu, and everyone who made this beautiful evening possible.
Key Perspectives from the Interactive Q&A Session
Shift in Audience Mindset: Post-pandemic, audience preferences have evolved tremendously. Heartwarming, rooted movies like Balagam are receiving immense love. As filmmakers, we must evolve alongside our audience’s maturity.
The Absolute Power of an Idea: Cinema has transformed into a massive revolution, and mediums have shifted. Today, a powerful concept holds more weight than money or industry backing.
A great idea is a monument in itself.
Demystifying AI (Artificial Intelligence): There is a fear that AI will destroy the 24 crafts of filmmaking. This is a complete misconception. AI will not kill jobs; it will push us to run faster and refine our ideas. AI is going to build a magnificent future where technicians use it as a tool to sharpen their unique skills and turn wild imaginations into visual reality.
Societal Responsibility Toward Kids: Denying children access to dedicated, healthy cinema is a failure on our part. It isn’t just the government’s job; society as a whole must take responsibility. Giving children their own cinema is an absolute necessity.
The Logic of Film Budgets: A film’s budget should strictly depend on its script. Market demand changes based on the star cast and scale. There is nothing wrong with high-budget films, but if the content isn’t executed well, the money won’t return. A movie can be made within 2 crores or scale up to hundreds of crores—it is entirely dictated by the subject.
Dignitaries in Attendance
The celebration also saw the active participation of Joint Secretary Shyam Kumar, Smt. Parveen Babi, and Executive Members Mamidala Giridhar, R.D.S. Prakash, Keshavachari, Kumaraswamy, among other prominent film journalists and association members.
