Date: April 22, 2025
‘Thudarum’ Telugu Title Sparks Fresh Debate Over Dubbing Titles
📽️ Thudarum: A Long-Standing Practice Now Under Scrutiny
The Telugu film industry has always been a welcoming space for dubbed films from other languages. From Tamil and Malayalam to Kannada, movies with compelling stories and star power often find an appreciative audience in the Telugu states. Unlike some other regions, Telugu audiences embrace content regardless of its origin. Mohanlal’s Thudarum has reignited the Telugu industry’s debate.
However, in recent years, there has been a growing concern: dubbing teams are not adapting titles into Telugu, instead retaining the original names—regardless of how foreign or meaningless they might seem to local viewers.
🔄 Thudarum—The Latest Trigger
The upcoming Mohanlal-starrer Thudarum has once again brought this topic to the forefront. In Malayalam, the word “Thudarum” translates to “To Be Continued.” Yet, the film’s trailer and posters were released in Telugu using the same title—without any localization or explanation. This has not gone unnoticed.
Adding to the dissatisfaction is the poor quality of the dubbing in the trailer, which has further annoyed many Telugu film enthusiasts.
🔤 Past Instances Add Fuel to the Fire
This isn’t an isolated case. In the past:
- Ponniyin Selvan (Parts 1 & 2) retained its Tamil title in Telugu.
- Kantara, rooted deeply in Kannada culture, did not adapt its title either.
- Rajinikanth’s Vettaiyaan followed suit, with no Telugu equivalent chosen.
- Suriya’s upcoming Retro and Naslen’s Alappuzha Gymkhana are also heading to Telugu audiences without meaningful title translations.
🗣️ Cultural Disconnect or Pan-India Branding?
While producers often argue that certain titles are culturally rooted or essential to the story, critics argue that it alienates Telugu-speaking audiences. Some even feel it’s disrespectful, especially when Telugu-dubbed versions of these films do not reflect any local flavor—even in basic marketing like the title.
There is also a growing concern that this trend reflects a wider issue of Telugu being sidelined in the larger pan-India film movement. Ironically, while South Indian industries often unite in their resistance against Hindi language dominance, this careless disregard for each other’s languages shows a lack of mutual respect.
🧩 Finding the Right Balance
Ultimately, the debate isn’t about disallowing original titles altogether. It’s about finding a balanced approach—respecting cultural authenticity while also acknowledging and including the target audience’s linguistic identity. With more pan-Indian films on the horizon, the onus is on filmmakers and distributors to strike this balance.
Until then, Thudarum may just be the latest title, but it certainly won’t be the last to spark this ongoing conversation.