Siddhu Jonnalagadda on 'Telusu Kada': "My Character Will Shock Audiences; It's a Very Unique Movie"
Following the pan-India blockbuster Mirai from People Media Factory, the most awaited musical romantic entertainer 'Telusu Kada' is gearing up for a grand release on October 17th. Starring Siddhu Jonnalagadda alongside heroines Srinidhi Shetty and Raashii Khanna, the film is directed by acclaimed stylist-turned-filmmaker Neeraja Kona and produced by T.G. Viswa Prasad and Krithi Prasad.
The film's songs are already chartbusters, and the teaser has created a huge buzz. Star Boy Siddhu Jonnalagadda recently met with the press to share insights into the film.
On Characterization and Unique Story
Siddhu revealed that the film's concept was discussed over a year and a half ago:
"Neeraja Garu narrated the story a year and a half ago. I loved it and was very excited, but I suggested we work more on the characterization. Since this is my film coming after Tillu Square, I wanted the characterization to be strong, as the character often drives the film. We locked the story after developing the characterization further, and then announced the movie."
Speaking about his role, Siddhu promised something audiences haven't seen before:
"My character in this film is going to be very strong. I am confident it will shock the audience, and it also has good humor. The character, Varun, creates an experience for the audience. Although he looks normal, his thoughts are very radical. I believe this character will offer a brand new experience."
Addressing Social Media Buzz and Expectations
Responding to the perceived 'bold content' after the trailer release, Siddhu clarified the film's originality:
"This is an original film. 80% of the scenes will be new; they won't feel like anything you've seen before. It discusses love stories, love marriages, and family relationships, but every scene feels fresh. Neeraja Garu introduced very strong characters—Raashii’s and Srinidhi's characters are strong, but the hero's character is even stronger than theirs. This is a very new film. I feel that after its release, it will create its own genre."
Siddhu confirmed that the film contains a unique central point, which was the primary reason he agreed to the project. He also addressed social media rumors suggesting the content shown in the trailer might not be in the film: "Every scene shown in the trailer will be in the movie, except for the Viva Harsha scene at the very end."
Regarding the high expectations following the success of Tillu, Siddhu admitted:
"I have high expectations of myself. That’s why I stick with every film until the last minute. We need to feel that we are doing a crazy character. I’m very excited after watching the DTS mix, and I believe the audience will feel the same way."
Involvement in Filmmaking & Working with the Team
Siddhu, who is known for his deep involvement in the filmmaking process, candidly addressed the challenges:
"When I commit to a project, the producer's motivation is crucial. For Telusu Kada, Viswa Garu said, 'Do the film because you like it.' That puts a lot of responsibility on me. When I get involved, it's because no one wrote stories specifically for me earlier, so I had to learn how to make a film. When producers trust me, I have to give 100% justice."
"If the film is a hit, the credit goes to great direction, music, cinematography, and acting. But if the film fails, because I was involved, the blame falls on me. If it’s a hit, everyone gets credit; if it flops, the blame is solely on me. I'm here ready to face that. (Laughs) I wish I had the luxury to just deliver my dialogue and go back to the caravan, but I don't."
He also shared a piece of advice from director Koratala Siva: "After the movie JACK, Koratala Siva Garu called me and said, 'With Tillu, you saw the all-time high, and with JACK, you saw the low. Now, whatever you do, you will see it somewhere in between those two.' That thought helped me approach any situation with better perspective."
On working with the debut director Neeraja Kona, Siddhu acknowledged the risk but noted the strategic planning:
"Working with newcomers is a risk, but it also comes with a reward. When we decided to work with Neeraja Garu, we pre-planned which experienced technicians to bring on board: People Media Factory, Thaman for music, Naveen for editing. If you look at the trailer and teaser, it doesn't look like a film made by a new director; it looks like a big-budget film."
He concluded by praising his heroines, saying both Srinidhi and Raashii have very strong characters, with Raashii delivering a huge surprise in a scene in the second half. He noted that his character takes a "wild turn" about 23 minutes into the film.
