In this Industry Spotlight, Supriya Yarlagadda, CEO, Annapurna Studios joined Lohita Sujith, Sr. Director, Copyright & Digital Economy, Motion Picture Association, to share insights from her multifaceted journey in Telugu cinema. Drawing from her third-generation film legacy, she emphasized courage, intuition, and perseverance as guiding principles in her career.

Supriya highlighted the rise of Telugu cinema, noting that it had shed its “regional” label and produced films with global reach, citing examples like Triple R as catalysts for wider recognition. She underscored the need for India to become a global content hub, advocating for strong government support, clear policies, and streamlined logistical frameworks to make filmmaking easier and more attractive to international collaborators.

Addressing challenges in content protection, she pointed to piracy as a major concern and stressed the importance of collaboration between producers, digital platforms, and exhibitors, along with public awareness campaigns and reasonable pricing strategies. She also highlighted the critical role of studios and production infrastructure, emphasizing that modern filmmaking required significant facilities for pre-production, post-production, and security, and called for tailored government incentives to support studio viability.

On workforce development, Supriya stressed the importance of skill-building and mentorship to nurture talent across all levels of the industry. She identified policy, infrastructure, HR, and regulation as essential pieces for sustaining a robust creative ecosystem and ensuring economic benefits reached workers throughout the value chain.

Finally, she discussed evolving content consumption post-COVID, noting the coexistence of streaming and theatrical models. She emphasized that storytelling, emotional resonance, and experimentation—rather than rigid formulas—would define success in both formats. Supriya envisioned a future where Indian cinema was recognized for its quality, diversity, and global appeal, with strong infrastructure and policy support driving sustained growth.