Rustic Terrors & Supernatural Intrigue: SR Kalyanamandapam Helmer Sridhar Gade Teams Up with Eshwar Rachi Raju for a Rural Horror Tale!
Director Sridhar Gade, who scored an impressive commercial debut by striking a chord across youth and family audiences with SR Kalyanamandapam, is back in the director's chair. Taking a sharp turn from family-rooted emotional drama, Gade is venturing into the horror genre for his second outing.
Backed by passionate producer Venkat Talari—known for bankrolling family entertainers like Aadi Saikumar's Chuttalabbayi and the gritty road thriller Highway starring Anand Deverakonda—the new project marks Production No. 3 under the Sree Iswarya Lakshmi Movies banner.
The film officially kicked off its celluloid journey on Monday with an auspicious, star-graced Pooja ceremony in Hyderabad.
Industry Veterans Bless the Auspicious Beginning
The muhurtham ceremony witnessed senior filmmakers gracing the sets to bless the crew:
-
Ceremonial Clap: Legendary filmmaker A. Kodanda Rami Reddy sounded the honorary clapboard for the muhurtham shot and formally handed over the bound script to director Sridhar Gade and producer Venkat Talari, wishing the team a resounding box-office success.
-
Camera Switch-On: Popular director Veerabhadram Chowdary switched on the camera to mark the formal start of filming.
The Ensemble: Fresh Breakthrough Faces
The project brings together an energetic, young primary cast:
-
Lead Star: Eshwar Rachi Raju, who earned wide acclaim and strong youth recall for his performance in the recent youthful hit Committee Kurrollu, steps in as the male lead.
-
Leading Ladies: Nandu and Likitha are on board as the female leads, while talented actress Poojitha Ponnada and Sindhu Kasaram take on crucial, performance-oriented roles.
-
Supporting Roster: The cast features seasoned character performers including Suresh Guru, Royal Sri, Matta Sivakumar, Viha Dikonda, Sunitha Manohar, and Amma Ramachandraiah.
A Concept-Driven Supernatural Chill
Departing from standard haunted-mansion tropes, the untitled project is anchored firmly in a deep rural setting:
-
Eerie Nativity: The narrative explores folklore-tinged horror, blending authentic village lifestyle with supernatural suspense and psychological dread.
-
Distinct Screenplay: Director Sridhar Gade has designed the film with a non-linear, novel narrative structure, aimed at delivering genuine theatrical chills rather than routine jump scares.
-
Intriguing First Impression: The concept announcement poster unveiled during the launch event has already sparked curiosity among film buffs for its moody, atmospheric visual design.
