Thammudu is Nithiin's new film, which has been produced by Dil Raju. Sreeram Venu of MCA, Oh My Friend and Vakeel Saab fame has directed the film, and he opens up about the delay, the film's core content, missing out on Allu Arjun film and much more. Here is the transcript.

I was inspired by a newspaper article way back and always wanted to make a film on the subject. But as the film with Allu Arjun, Icon, got delayed, I pitched the story to my producer, Dil Raju, and he okayed it right away, despite knowing that the film needed a big budget to be made.

Thammudu is a film rich in family emotions. It is not hero-centric and is based on five strong female characters who drive the narrative and which is not what happens in a male-dominated industry. The story unfolds over a single night, and how the different tracks featuring Laya, Varsha Bollamma, Sapthami Gowda, Swasika Vijay, and Dithya amalgamate to a point makes the film gripping for the audience on the big screen.

It was our producer Dil Raju’s choice. The moment he heard the story, he felt Nithiin’s charisma, image, and fan following would suit the story perfectly. I need to thank Nithiin, as he believed in our script and didn’t charge a single rupee to be part of the film.

We had initially locked a very popular star heroine for the role. She was excited to shoot, but due to the delays, she couldn’t accommodate the dates. Around that time, Laya’s interviews and videos went viral, and we felt she would be the perfect choice. Her comeback brings a fresh perspective to the film. 

The way the characters are treated is very different from regular commercial films. As I said earlier, the female characters drive the film, and that aspect will really stand out. In all my films, I ensure that female characters are strong and lead the story, and in Thammudu, there are five storylines dominated by women.

Thammudu has a strong village belle character, and while we were casting, Kantara was released. We made Sapthami audition for the role and roped her in. She’s one of the biggest highlights of the film and has delivered a riveting performance. As for Ajaneesh, he is the soul of the film and has elevated Thammudu’s narrative to another level with his background score.

I was heartbroken. The project had been with me for the longest time, and when the news broke, I was truly saddened. I had to wait seven long years to direct my second film after my debut with Oh My Friend. I’ve been through some tough times, but my producer Dil Raju has stood by me, and I’ve contributed to many of his projects in the meantime.

Now that Icon has been shelved, there are discussions about whether to make it with another star. I haven’t written anything for my next yet, as I’m fully focused on the release of Thammudu. Only once that goes smoothly will I start work on my next project.