Chalasani Aswini Dutt (also spelled Aswani Dutt; born 15 September 1950) is an Indian film producer primarily known for his work in Telugu cinema.[1][2] He is the founder of Vyjayanthi Movies, a major film production company established in 1974. Over a career spanning five decades, Aswini Dutt has produced over 40 films, predominantly in Telugu, along with a few in other languages.[3] He is especially known for producing high-budget films featuring major stars.[4]
He also contested for the Vijayawada Lok Sabha constituency in the year 2004 General Elections as a Telugu Desam Party candidate.
Aswini Dutt was born into a well-to-do family in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. His father was a contractor and the sole distributor for Kalinga Pipes in the state for many years. He completed his graduation.[5] Jandhyala, who would later go on to become a noted film director and screenwriter, was Aswini Dutt's childhood friend. They were classmates from fourth standard till their graduation and lived in neighbouring houses.[6][7]
He has three daughters — Priyanka Dutt, Swapna Dutt and Sravanthi Dutt.[4] Priyanka is married to film director Nag Ashwin who previously directed the film Yevade Subramanyam (2015) for Vyjayanthi Movies.[8]
Dutt started his film career as an executive producer for the black-and-white film O Seetha Katha (1974) directed by K. Viswanath.[5][9] He wanted to produce a film with his favourite actor N. T. Rama Rao and approached him.[10] Named by Rama Rao after the garland which is in Lord Krishna’s neck, Vyjayanthi Movies commenced production, under the proprietorship of Aswini Dutt.[11][9] The logo of the production house contains the image of Rama Rao as Lord Sri Krishna, with a Sankha in his hand and Earth behind him.[11][12] The first film produced under Vyjayanthi Movies banner was Eduruleni Manishi (1975) starring Rama Rao and Vanisri.[9]
The production house went on to make films with the biggest stars of Telugu cinema: N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Krishna, Sobhan Babu, Krishnam Raju, Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Nagarjuna, Venkatesh, Pawan Kalyan, Mahesh Babu, Ram Charan, Jr. NTR, Prabhas. They also worked with Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, and Dulquer Salman.[13][14][15] Many of the films produced by Vyjayanthi Movies were directed by K. Bapayya and K. Raghavendra Rao.
Vyjayanthi Movies also has subsidiary banners — Three Angels Studio, Swapna Cinema run by Aswini Dutt's daughters Swapna Dutt and Priyanka Dutt. Of late, his daughters take care of the production part of the films produced by their production house, while the music is handled Aswini Dutt.[16]
Vyjayanthi Movies had a successful run until it hit a rough patch with Sakthi in 2011. After this, Aswini Dutt took a seven-year hiatus. He produced Mahanati in 2018 which became one of the highest-grossing films of the year.[4]
Dutt mentions Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990) as his most favourite among all the films that he produced.[9]
After the success of Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari, Aswini Dutt sought to produce a fantasy film with a focus on CGI. He initiated a project titled Bhooloka Veerudu, directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, with Chiranjeevi in the lead role. However, after completing two schedules, the team realized that the film lacked a proper storyline, leading to its eventual shelving.[5]
In another instance, Ram Gopal Varma pitched a story to Aswini Dutt, which he and Chiranjeevi both found appealing. At the time, Varma was working on Daud, and with the possibility of delays due to Sanjay Dutt's legal issues, Varma decided to present the story to Dutt and Chiranjeevi.[5] Aswini Dutt then began the project under Varma's direction.[17] However, after Sanjay Dutt was released, the production of Daud resumed, and Dutt realized that the storylines of both films were strikingly similar. Uncomfortable with the overlap, he chose to stall the project.[5]
Films produced under Vyjayanti Movies banner.
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Eduruleni Manishi | Debut in Telugu cinema |
| 1978 | Yuga Purushudu | |
| 1981 | Guru Sishyulu | |
| 1983 | Adavi Simhalu | |
| 1985 | Agni Parvatam | |
| 1986 | Brahma Rudrulu | |
| 1988 | Aakhari Poratam | |
| 1990 | Jagadeka Veerudu Atiloka Sundari | |
| 1992 | Aswamedham | |
| 1994 | Govinda Govinda | |
| Subhalagnam | ||
| 1998 | Choodalani Vundi | |
| 1999 | Rajakumarudu | |
| Ravoyi Chandamama | ||
| 2000 | Azad | |
| 2001 | Premakke Sai | Debut in Kannada cinema |
| 2002 | Company | Debut in Hindi cinema |
| Indra | ||
| 2005 | Balu ABCDEFG | |
| Subhash Chandra Bose | ||
| Jai Chiranjeeva | ||
| 2006 | Sainikudu | |
| 2007 | Chirutha | |
| 2008 | Kathanayakudu | Made simultaneously with Kuselan |
| Kantri | ||
| 2011 | Sakthi | |
| 2018 | Mahanati | |
| Devadas | ||
| 2019 | Maharshi | |
| 2022 | Sita Ramam | |
| 2024 | Kalki 2898 AD |
Swapna Cinema
| Release Year | Film Name |
|---|---|
| 2001 | Student No.1 |
| 2002 | Okato Number Kurraadu |
| 2015 | Yevade Subramanyam |
| 2018 | Mahanati |
| 2021 | Jathi Ratnalu |
| 2022 | Sita Ramam |
| 2023 | Anni Manchi Sakunamule |
Raghavendra Movie Corporation and United Producers (Aswani Dutt, Allu Aravind, and K. Raghavendra Rao)[5]
| Release Year | Film Name |
|---|---|
| 1996 | Pelli Sandadi |
| 1997 | Mere Sapno Ki Rani (Hindi) |
| 1998 | Paradesi |
| Ninaithen Vandhai (Tamil) | |
| 2003 | Gangotri |
Siri Media Arts (Aswani Dutt and Allu Aravind)
| Release Year | Film Name |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Pellam Oorelithe |
| Calcutta Mail (Hindi) | |
| 2004 | Intlo Srimathi Veedhilo Kumari |
Sri Priyanka Pictures
| Release Year | Film Name |
|---|---|
| 1994 | Subhalagnam |
Roja Art Productions
| Release Year | Film Name |
|---|---|
| 1983 | Jaani Dost (Hindi) |
Aswini Dutt, who is been[sic] one of the most consistent and successful film producer during spanning period over 27 years ....
Vyjayanthi Movies, known for big budget and lavish productions had a successful run, till it hit a rough patch with Shakti in 2011.
The late Jandhyala, who Ashwini Dutt informs, was his classmate from Kindergarten to SSLC, worked wonders with his trademark humour in the dialogues.
Aswini Dutt, the man behind Telugu Cinema's one of the prestigious banners - Vyjayanthi Movies, is a senior most producer of Telugu film industry. He has produced blockbusters with all the stars of Telugu Cinema ranging from NTR to Taraka Rathnaa.
Aswini Dutt, the man behind Telugu Cinema's one of the prestigious banners - Vyjayanthi Movies, is a senior most producer of Telugu film industry. He has produced blockbusters with all the stars of Telugu Cinema ranging from NTR to NTR.
