Director Sriram Venu on 'Thammudu': "A Visually Stunning Film with Family Emotions and Many Layers"
Following the blockbuster success of Sankranthiki Vasthunnam, Sri Venkateswara Creations is set to release another powerful film, 'Thammudu,' starring Nithiin. Produced by Dil Raju and Shirish, and helmed by director Sriram Venu, the film features Laya, Varsha Bollamma, and Sapthami Gowda in pivotal roles. With its grand worldwide theatrical release slated for July 4th, director Sriram Venu recently shared key highlights and insights about the film in an interview with print and web media.
Navigating Certification and Empowering Female Characters
"Thammudu is a film rich in family emotions and layered storytelling. The trailer gives a glimpse of what the narrative holds," Sriram Venu began. He addressed the film's 'A' certificate: "The censor board suggested a few cuts, which we decided not to accept. Had we agreed, we would’ve received a U/A certificate. But to retain the true essence of the story, we chose to release it with an ‘A’ certificate, a collective decision, not just by Dil Raju sir. The film doesn’t have excessive violence. It's just that the new censor officials are quite strict, and we respect their guidelines."
Venu emphasized the film's unique character dynamics: "In this story, alongside the hero, five strong female characters play significant roles – Laya, Varsha Bollamma, Sapthami Gowda, Swasika Vijay, and our daughter Dithya. 'Thammudu' doesn’t follow the conventional 'hero-centric' template. These women drive the story forward. Similar to how Kamal Haasan’s character in Vikram is embedded in the narrative, our film follows a similar emotional journey. The title 'Thammudu' was chosen to reflect the core of the story."
Creative Journey and Nithiin's Transformation
The director shared the film's genesis: "When Dil Raju heard the story, he immediately backed it without compromising on the budget. We had previously worked on the ICON project, and this film started afterward. We searched for the right actor to fit the character, and decided that Nithiin would be a great choice. Interestingly, the inspiration for 'Thammudu' came from an article I read in a newspaper."
Regarding Laya's comeback role, he explained, "For Laya’s role, we initially approached a former star heroine. She liked the story and the character, but due to personal reasons, couldn’t take it up. However, she promised to do a similar role in the future. Then Laya ma’am came on board and shot for 90 days. She gave full support and completed the film with dedication."
Venu highlighted the film's action sequences: "Unlike the usual quick fight sequences in Indian cinema, we’ve treated the action in 'Thammudu' as impactful episodes. They have strong emotional and narrative value. I never compromise on the core story. Every director has a unique signature - for me, strong female characters are a key aspect, and that’s consistent across my scripts. I can’t say what my next film will be like just yet."
Production Challenges and Technical Excellence
"Dil Raju sir gave me complete creative freedom and ownership of 'Thammudu.' Once the film was complete, he watched it and gave a few valuable suggestions based on his experience, which we included. Initially, we aimed to complete the film in eight months, but it ended up taking two years. Still, we finished it within the originally planned budget," Venu revealed.
He acknowledged the promotional efforts: "Everyone is participating in the film’s promotions. Due to post-production commitments, I couldn’t be as involved, but nowadays it's a trend for directors to lead from the front during promotions, and we’re following that too. 'Thammudu' is essentially a battle fought to uphold pride - a story rooted in brother-sister sentiment, yet layered with much more. Our daughter Deetya plays a key role, having been selected after three auditions. She shot for 70 days."
Venu shared a unique aspect of the film: "Among sports, archery demands intense mental and physical strength, concentration, and the ability to judge the direction and speed of the wind. It’s one of the oldest disciplines - from the times of Lord Rama and Arjuna. I’ve long wanted to incorporate archery into a story, and finally got the chance in 'Thammudu.' Nithiin underwent 15 days of training with a professional archery coach." He also spoke of the challenging forest shoots: "During forest shoots, the team faced injuries and hardships due to poor roads and vehicle access. Cinematographers Sethu, Sameer Reddy, and Guhan worked on the project. Regardless of who came on board, I had a visual template to guide the film’s aesthetic, ensuring 'Thammudu' looks visually stunning."
He praised the cast and crew: "After watching Kantara, we felt Sapthami Gowda would suit one of our characters perfectly. She delivered a fantastic performance. Our music director, Ajaneesh Loknath, is incredibly talented and gave a brilliant background score. Audiences will experience his work fully in theatres. I don’t like shooting excessively long scenes - this film is tightly paced, with no unnecessary lag. Dil Raju sir didn’t ask for any cuts after watching the final version.”
Future Outlook and Industry Philosophy
"Each of my films belongs to a different genre. I’ve never repeated a genre in my career. Whether ICON will be my next film or something else, I’ll share later. While exploring Malayalam actors, Swasika felt like the right fit. We initially considered Telugu actresses for several roles, but due to certain constraints, it didn’t work out," Venu stated.
He expressed comfort working with Dil Raju: "Working under Dil Raju’s production gives me the creative freedom and comfort I need. But if I get similar comfort from another banner, I’m open to collaborating there as well. Raju sir has never restricted me. I’m not against doing pan-India films either - if a suitable project comes along, I’ll definitely take it up. Not all pan-India releases have found success, after all."
On OTT deals, he revealed, "Previously, Amazon acquired all our films. But this time, Netflix came forward and bought 'Thammudu' for a great price. Considering Nithiin’s current success streak, we’re very happy with the OTT and satellite business as well. The theatrical release is also shaping up comfortably."
Venu shared his resilient mindset: "When ICON didn’t go on floors as planned, I wasn’t disheartened. In my career, there was a 7-year gap between my first and second films. I was already married and had kids then. I survived that phase, so I’ve never let setbacks pull me into depression. I’ve continued to work on other projects under Raju sir’s banner in the meantime."
He concluded by emphasizing the human element in filmmaking: "While we now have access to AI and many advanced technologies, human effort remains vital to cinema. No matter how advanced apps become, the soul of filmmaking still lies in human creativity and dedication."
