I only produce the films with the strong content- Producer SKN

I only produce films that have exciting scripts and strong content, meant to be thoroughly enjoyed in theatres – Producer SKN.

After the massive blockbuster Baby under the Mass Movie Makers banner, successful young producer SKN is now backing several promising projects. His current productions include Chennai Love Story with Kiran Abbavaram, the Hindi remake of Baby, and a couple of interesting films with debut directors.

As SKN celebrates his birthday tomorrow (July 7), he shared insights about his journey as a producer and the progress of his upcoming films in an interview today.- I’m a die-hard fan of the Mega family. I entered the industry with the desire to be close to them. Since childhood, I’ve been passionate about writing, I won first and second prizes at state-level essay and debate competitions. Naturally, I developed an interest in writing movie scripts. I started my career as a PRO. It was Maruthi who encouraged me to transition into production by asking me, ‘Are you planning to stay a PRO forever? I’ll direct; you produce.’ That’s how I, along with Shreyas Srinivas, produced Ee Rojullo under his direction.

The success of that film marked the beginning of my journey as a producer.”- Work on the Hindi remake of Baby is progressing well. In Telugu, we don’t spend much time on pre-production, but in Hindi, they invest significantly in that phase. We plan to start shooting next month. The Hindi version will be even more intense than the Telugu one. Music sittings and other pre-production works are happening at a rapid pace.- I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every phase of my career be it as a journalist writing articles, a PRO handling innovative publicity, or as a producer making good films with limited budgets. One of the biggest blessings in my career is the trust placed in me by industry stalwart Allu Aravind garu.

It’s because of the freedom and encouragement he gave me that I could collaborate with banners like UV Creations, People Media Factory, Geetha Arts, and Mythri Movie Makers. I’ll always be grateful to him.- My friend Bunny Vas has excellent judgment when it comes to stories. He also has a good grip on music and editing. He can predict which scenes will work well with audiences. I keep learning from him constantly. His ability to stay composed during tough times is remarkable. When Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham was 80% complete, actor Srihari garu, who played a crucial role, passed away. I went to inform Bunny Vas, and he simply said, ‘There’s nothing we can do. Let’s go play shuttle.’ That’s how cool-headed he is, even during tough situations.- We are committed to introducing Telugu girls as heroines.

We’ve already introduced seven to eight of them and will be introducing two or three more soon. We’re not just introducing heroines, but also providing opportunities in other departments. We’ll soon introduce lady directors too.- We will begin shooting the Hindi Baby next month. Chennai Love Story is currently on sets. We’re introducing a talented director named Krishna with this film. The official pooja ceremony will be held later this month. Along with a familiar heroine, the film will feature two young heroes. We’re also launching a project with Avinash, who worked on Hari Hara Veera Mallu, as director. It will feature a Kannada star hero and a mid-range Telugu hero. Both these projects will start soon. After Raja Saab, I’ll be collaborating with Maruthi on one project and Sai Rajesh on another.

Meanwhile, Season 2 of 3 Roses web series is getting ready for streaming on Aha.- We are making both big and small films. Regardless of scale, the story must be strong. We had the confidence in Baby, which is why we organized 100 premieres. For big films, even a single premiere requires careful consideration. Today’s audiences are sharper than us. No matter how much hype you create, if there’s no solid content, people won’t show up at theatres. The only thing that truly wins over audiences is content. All the projects we are doing, including Chennai Love Story, are backed by exciting scripts and strong content.- I’m not in a position to advise the industry, but coming from a journalism background, I’ll share my honest views. The industry is currently in a phase of reality checks. Unless you have passion, don’t enter production. This isn’t a business where you put in ten rupees and expect twenty back. If it works, there’s profit; if not, you lose everything. Being a producer is like sitting on a throne full of thorns. Those attracted by the glamour of the industry will only face losses if they step into production blindly.- You’ve all seen the massive pan-India response for the Raja Saab teaser. It perfectly matches Prabhas garu’s global image. Audiences and fans have been waiting for years to see Prabhas in this kind of avatar, and Raja Saab will deliver exactly that. Any doubts people had were cleared with the teaser. We are currently working on completing the remaining shoot. Raja Saab will have a grand theatrical release on December 5.- For me, cinema is everything. I have no other business. Every Friday, I watch movies, and all my discussions revolve around films. Even on social media, I only engage in film-related conversations. The only time I stayed away from theatres was during the COVID lockdown.- Everyone in the industry has their own theories. But one thing is clear, due to the OTT boom during the pandemic, audiences have developed a taste for strong content. Regular, formulaic films no longer work. Despite lavish productions and high remunerations, if the content isn’t solid, the investment vanishes. We thought we could rely on non-theatrical revenue streams like satellite, OTT, and Hindi rights, so budgets kept increasing. That bubble has now burst. We have to return to our roots making theatrical films that people genuinely enjoy.- In Hindi and Malayalam, there’s an 8-week window before films hit OTT platforms. That’s why even small Malayalam films are grossing ₹200 crores. If a Hindi film clicks, there’s no limit to the collections. In Telugu, because of quick OTT releases, audiences hesitate to visit theatres, thinking the film will stream soon anyway. With a limited theatrical window, producers try to maximize earnings by increasing ticket prices. But that’s backfiring. It’s okay to hike ticket prices for select big-ticket films aimed at the national market, but applying that logic to every film is wrong. Affordable ticket prices will bring audiences back to theatres. If you look at social media, most discussions are around ticket pricing and content. Based on a hero’s image and the content, one can increase a film’s budget, but not otherwise.- I never intended to become a producer, but here I am. I’m even producing a Bollywood film now. What lies ahead depends on time, my hard work, and the results they bring. I have no plans of becoming an actor or director. I’ve always had moral support from Allu Arjun. Whenever I take risks or try something new, I feel confident knowing Bunny is there for me. His target is to do two films every year within the next year and a half.