Thammudu is a Visually Rich Family Drama with Many Layers Director Sriram Venu
Speaking to the media, Sriram Venu opened up about the journey of making Thammudu and what sets it apart:
Thammudu is filled with strong family emotions and explores multiple layers through its story. The trailer offers just a small taste of what audiences will experience. The censor board recommended cuts, but we chose not to compromise the story’s authenticity. That’s why we accepted an ‘A’ certificate instead of U/A a collective call taken after discussions with Dil Raju sir. There’s no extreme violence, but we respect the new, stricter censor norms.
Sriram explained that Thammudu doesn’t stick to the usual hero-centric formula. Instead, five important female characters played by Laya, Varsha Bollamma, Sapthami Gowda, Swasika Vijay, and his own daughter Deetya play vital roles.
These women are central to the story. We wanted a title that reflects the film’s soul, and Thammudu was perfect for that. When Dil Raju sir heard the script, he immediately supported it without worrying about the budget. Our work on ICON paused, and this film took shape afterward. We searched for the right hero and felt Nithiin fit the role best. Interestingly, the spark for Thammudu came from a newspaper article I read.
Talking about the casting process, he shared:
We first approached a former star heroine for Laya’s role. She liked it but couldn’t sign on due to personal reasons. She promised to work with us in the future. Then Laya ma’am came on board, shooting for 90 days with complete dedication.
Regarding the action scenes, he added:
We didn’t want quick, formulaic fights. Instead, every action scene has emotional depth. That’s a priority for me I never let the story take a back seat. Strong female characters have been my hallmark across scripts.
Sriram praised Dil Raju’s support:
Dil Raju sir gave me full creative freedom. After watching the final cut, he offered valuable suggestions, which we incorporated. Though we aimed to finish in eight months, it eventually took two years but we stayed within the planned budget.
On promotions, he said:
Everyone involved is actively promoting the film. I couldn’t join earlier because of post-production, but directors are expected to lead promotions now, and we’re following that. Thammudu is at its heart a story of pride and brother-sister bonds, but it carries many more layers. Our daughter Deetya plays a crucial part; she was finalized after three auditions and shot for 70 days.
About the film’s unique archery element, he shared:
Archery has always fascinated me it requires mental focus, physical control, and precision, going back to times of Rama and Arjuna. I wanted to bring it into a story for a long time, and finally did it in Thammudu. Nithiin trained 15 days with a professional archery coach. Shooting in forests wasn’t easy our team faced injuries and bad road conditions.
The film’s visuals were crafted carefully:
Cinematographers Sethu, Sameer Reddy, and Guhan worked on the film. No matter who was behind the camera, I had a clear visual plan to ensure Thammudu looks stunning.
Sriram praised his team:
After watching Kantara, we felt Sapthami Gowda would fit perfectly in one role, and she excelled. Ajaneesh Loknath’s background score is outstanding audiences will feel its full impact in theatres. I prefer tight narration without dragging scenes, and we maintained that here. Dil Raju sir didn’t ask for any cuts after seeing the final version.
Looking ahead, he revealed:
Every film I’ve done so far is from a different genre. Whether ICON will be next or another project, I’ll share when it’s ready. While looking for Malayalam actors, Swasika seemed ideal. We tried to cast Telugu actresses, but it couldn’t work out due to various reasons.
He concluded on future plans:
Working under Dil Raju’s banner gives me the creative freedom every director needs. But if I get that same space with another producer, I’m open to collaborating elsewhere. I’m not against pan-India films either, but they must have the right content. Not every pan-India release has worked well.
About digital rights, he added:
Our past films went to Amazon, but this time Netflix acquired Thammudu for a great deal. With Nithiin’s current form, the OTT and satellite deals are strong, and the theatrical release is shaping up smoothly.
Reflecting on his career, he shared:
When ICON didn’t start as planned, I didn’t lose heart. I once faced a seven-year gap between films after marriage and having kids, so setbacks don’t throw me off. I continued working on projects under Dil Raju sir.
On technology, he concluded:
AI and other tools are advancing, but filmmaking’s heart will always be human effort and creativity. Apps can assist, but they can’t replace the soul that people bring to cinema.
Post a Comment