Innocent Love, Family Redemption & Unfiltered Heart: Top Directors Gather to Champion Harsh Roshan’s Tella Kaagitham Ahead of Gandhi Jayanti Premiere!
When a small, content-driven film is anchored by sincere storytelling, industry heavyweights naturally rally behind it. Setting the stage for an emotional festive release, the grand pre-release celebration of Tella Kaagitham in Hyderabad saw an extraordinary turnout of ace filmmakers and producers.
Presented by Smt. K. Sridevi and produced by long-time industry veteran Krishna Kommalapati under Arunachala Creations, the period youth romance stars rising talent Harsh Roshan and debutante Nakshatra in the lead roles.
Written by acclaimed writer Nandu Savirigana and directed by debutant Ramesh Bandreddi, the 2006-set drama is locked for its worldwide theatrical premiere on Gandhi Jayanti, October 2, 2026 (with paid premiere screenings on October 1).
Lending major industry stature to producer Krishna’s maiden venture, the event was graced by TFDC Chairman & Producer Dil Raju, star directors Anil Ravipudi, Koratala Siva, Chandu Mondeti, Vassishta, Dr. Sailesh Kolanu, Ram Jagadeesh, and dynamic producer Bandla Ganesh.
"Echoes of Kotha Bangaru Lokam's Innocence": Dil Raju
Veteran producer and TFDC Chairman Dil Raju took the microphone to recall his initial impression of the script:
*"When producer Krishna brought writer Nandu to narrate this script, it instantly struck me as a deeply innocent and pure love story set in the mid-2000s. The emotional purity and adolescent innocence mirrored what we captured years ago in 'Kotha Bangaru Lokam'.
Although the cast—led by Roshan, Nakshatra, and their on-screen family—features young faces, director Ramesh has drawn out natural, unvarnished performances. Backed by top technicians like cinematographer Guhan, composer Vijay Bulganin, and editor Karthik Srinivas, Krishna has put his heart into this film. Over the past two decades, Krishna has earned immense goodwill in the industry, which is why so many leading directors are on this stage today. It delivers a poignant thought that audiences will take home."*
— Dil Raju
"Parents Are Our Ultimate Fortress": Anil Ravipudi & Koratala Siva
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Anil Ravipudi on the Core Message: Having already watched the rough cut, director Anil Ravipudi praised the film’s moral backbone: "When young kids make mistakes out of adolescence or peer pressure, fear drives them away from home, escalating the crisis. This film beautifully shows that no matter what error a child commits, walking up to mother brings the warmth of Ammoru, and standing before father brings the fierce protection of Narasimha Swamy. Ajay garu, who has terrified audiences as a villain, will surprise everyone as an ideal, affectionate father figure."
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Koratala Siva on Authentic Talent: Acclaimed filmmaker Koratala Siva lauded the young team’s lack of artificiality: "These youngsters aren't just 'young talent'—they are 'real talent.' The chemistry between Roshan and Nakshatra feels so grounded that when they face emotional turmoil on screen, you feel as though your own family member is suffering. Vijay Bulganin’s soulful melodies are a treat, and I hope to collaborate with him soon."
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Bandla Ganesh’s Unfiltered Support: Standing up for his 25-year-long brotherly bond with producer Krishna, Bandla Ganesh urged the debutant director to brush off baseless social media trolling: "Krishna’s heart is as pure as a 'Tella Kaagitham' (blank white paper). He breathed cinema for decades. This film is his ladder to success. Never let online negativity deter your craft."
Addressing Leak Controversies: "Judge Us After Watching the Full Film"
Taking the podium, lead actor Harsh Roshan addressed a recent online leak of a scene clip that triggered premature trolling:
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From Prabhas’s Praise to Online Storms: "This past week brought two massive surprises—first, Pan-India Superstar Prabhas anna shared our trailer and gave us tremendous courage. Second, just days before release, an isolated clip was leaked online and misinterpreted out of context. What people labeled 'wrong' in that clip is precisely what our narrative also calls out as wrong!
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A Promise to Audiences: I was offered routine action scripts, but I chose 'Tella Kaagitham' to tell an honest, socially relevant story. Don’t judge our intentions from a brief, isolated visual. Watch the complete narrative on October 2, and I promise your perspective will transform."*
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Director Ramesh Bandreddi’s Emotional Vow: Tracing his humble roots from working as a theatre manager in Bhimavaram to helming a feature, director Ramesh shared: "People even called my mother questioning the leaked snippet. Just like I assured her, I tell everyone: I made a film that will make my family and friends proud. Watch the premieres on October 1 before rushing to judgment."
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Writer Nandu Savirigana’s Dedication: Concluding the speeches, writer Nandu noted that the narrative is a tribute to real-life unsung heroes: the fathers who toil 12-hour shifts for their daughters' education, the self-sacrificing mothers, and the elder brothers who anchor families.
With an ensemble featuring Sharanya, Shravya, Deepak, and Raghuram, pristine frames by P.G. Vinda / Guhan, and soulful compositions by Vijay Bulganin, Tella Kaagitham is poised to be an emotional coming-of-age journey when it arrives in cinemas this October 2!
