“Thammudu Will Offer Audiences a Unique Theatrical Experience with a New-Age Screenplay and Making”: Dil Raju

After the blockbuster success of Sankranthiki Vasthunnam, popular production house Sri Venkateswara Creations is back with another potential superhit Thammudu. The film stars Nithiin in the lead, directed by Sriram Venu, and produced by Dil Raju and Sirish. Actresses Laya, Varsha Bollamma, and Saptami Gowda play key roles. Thammudu is all set for a grand worldwide theatrical release on July 4. Ahead of the release, producer Dil Raju revealed the highlights of the movie in a recent interview with print and web media.

– Sriram Venu has been associated with our banner since Arya – working with us as an assistant director, associate director, and scriptwriter. The reason he has stayed with us is not money, but the wavelength and relationship we share. In this industry, most work is done for money, but my approach is different. I prefer working with people I connect with – be it Anil Ravipudi, Srikanth Addala, Harish Shankar, Vamshi Paidipally, or Dasaradh. Sriram continues to work with us because he feels comfortable here, not because we paid him a hefty amount. I know the talent of these directors. So, I give input when needed – during story development or in the editing room, but never interfere with their creative freedom.

– After the first 20 minutes, the rest of Thammudu takes place in a single day. There are 5-6 action sequences, two of which were considered too violent, prompting the censor board to suggest an ‘A’ certificate. They offered a ‘U/A’ if we removed them, but we refused. This film is made for the theatrical experience, and we want audiences to enjoy it fully. If this was an entertainer like Sankranthiki Vasthunnam, we’d have urged families to come. But Thammudu is an action-driven film. Even if just the theatergoers are satisfied, that’s what matters.

The film took 150 days to shoot, and 80% of it takes place in a forest. Director Sriram Venu has focused on top-quality visuals and sound design to ensure it’s thoroughly enjoyable on the big screen.

– We’re taking strong steps to curb piracy in the industry. Even the central government is supporting these efforts. Recently, four individuals were arrested for recording movies in theaters. These pirated prints are sold for $400 for small films and $1,000 for big ones. While that may be big money for them, it causes crores of losses for producers. We’re tightening security gradually.

– We’re also considering premier shows for Thammudu, but need proper permissions. Since I’m the FDC Chairman, I have to make sure everything is done according to regulations. Netflix has already watched the film and liked it enough to acquire it.

– Whether it’s piracy or negative campaigns, we have to face everything one step at a time. Reviewers should take a moment to consider the producer’s effort. While the director and hero may feel the impact, it’s the producer who takes the biggest loss. If I speak out about these issues, people say Dil Raju has an attitude. Recently, Nithiin was asked in an interview to share his strengths and weaknesses. I told him, as a well-wisher, “You started your career before Allu Arjun, but couldn’t reach his range.” Because of our relationship, I said it honestly. Don’t interpret it negatively.

– Ajaneesh has done brilliant sound design for Thammudu. We all want fresh, new films. Sriram wanted to attempt something new, and we gave him complete freedom. If the audience enjoys the Friday morning shows, it means we’ve got a hit. Story-wise, the film is simple: it revolves around a conflict between a brother and sister and how they resolve it. But the screenplay and action makes it engaging.

– As a producer, I believe in preparing a solid film and releasing it properly. If audiences like it, success will follow. Sankranthiki Vasthunnam did better than we expected because director Anil planned it perfectly. We’re confident about Thammudu as well, though its range will be known only on release day. We’ve stopped prematurely announcing OTT deals. Even OTT platforms are cooperating in this matter. The viewership for Thammudu will be a true reflection of the content.

– We launched Dil Raju Dreams to give talented newcomers opportunities across departments. On day one, we received over 12,000 applications. After scrutiny, we shortlisted 1,400. For the producer category, 81 applied – out of which we selected 7 after checking company history and details. We’re following two models: one, if the story is good, we fund and produce the film with them. Two, they make the film and release it with our presence and guidance. This will help bring new producers into the industry.

– We recently held the Gaddar Awards through FDC. We also plan to resume the Children’s Film Festival, which had paused. Initiatives like online ticketing and run-track are in progress. Currently, our banner is producing Rowdy Janardhan, Yellamma, and Dethadi. Another project is also in the pipeline. Of the four movies we’re making this year, all are scheduled for release next year. 5-6 more projects are in the scripting stage and will begin by 2026. These include films from SVC and Dil Raju Productions. Next year’s lineup includes a film directed by Anil Ravipudi and another with Marco director Hanif Adani. We’ve also locked films with two debut directors. One project is in collaboration with Animal’s production team, for which we’re currently looking for a suitable star hero. Apart from that, two or three more films are lined up under Dil Raju Dreams. We’re constantly discussing what kind of content will draw audiences back to theaters.