“The reason behind Kingdom’s success is its strong emotional core” – Gowtam Tinnanuri

The film Kingdom, starring Vijay Deverakonda in the lead, is directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri and features Satyadev, Bhagyashree Borse, and Venkatesh in key roles. Produced under Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas, the film is presented by Srikara Studios, with Suryadevara Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya as producers. Music is composed by Anirudh Ravichander.

Released on July 31 amidst high expectations, Kingdom has been receiving strong audience appreciation and pulling in impressive collections. Set against the backdrop of brotherhood and rooted in a gangster drama setup, the film is being praised for delivering a fresh cinematic experience and stunning visuals.

With the film receiving such a strong response, director Gowtam Tinnanuri sat down with the media and shared some interesting insights.

How were things before and after the release?
Before the release, right until the last moment, we were working on the final touches. So there was barely any sleep. But once I saw the audience’s response post-release, I finally slept peacefully.

Why the title Kingdom?
Usually, I think of a title while writing the script itself. For example, for Jersey, the working title was 36, which we later changed. Similarly, for Kingdom, we considered a few titles. The lead character here is named Devara Nayak, so we thought of using that. But since NTR’s Devara was already announced, we explored other options. Yuddhakanda was one of them. Eventually, we locked Kingdom, thinking it would resonate across all languages. Personally, Kingdom to me is a place where all your people are, where you feel safe — basically, like home.

Why did you remove the song “Hridayam Lopala”?
Post release, a lot of people asked why we removed such a popular song. Many are even requesting that we add it to the OTT version. While writing the story, the song felt necessary. But during the editing phase, we felt it disrupted the narrative flow. So I, editor Naveen Nooli, Naga Vamsi, and Vijay—after a lot of discussion—decided to remove it. We’re considering including it in the OTT version, along with a few additional scenes. We’ll take a call after discussing with Naga Vamsi.

Did you always imagine Vijay in this role?
This idea had been with me for a long time. I hadn’t fully developed it because I was waiting for the right actor. The script I originally intended to do with Vijay was different. But once we started collaborating, I realized this story fit him perfectly. He loved it too.

You’ve been known for emotional films like Malli Raava and Jersey. Why shift to action with Kingdom?
Regardless of genre, what matters is emotional connection. That’s always my approach. Kingdom may be an action film, but the action is driven by strong emotions. That’s why it worked.

Why cast newcomer Venkatesh for the role of Murugan?
Vijay’s character enters an entirely new world in this film. Having a known face wouldn’t have made it feel fresh. One of our assistant directors suggested Venkatesh. During his audition, we saw his passion for acting and cinema and immediately finalized him.

How did Satyadev come onboard?
From the beginning, I had Satyadev in mind for the role of Shiva. But he was busy with back-to-back films, and at that time, our shoot schedule wasn’t finalized. Once things were locked, we approached him, and he instantly agreed after hearing the story.

You also did a film called Magic recently, right?
Yes. Vamsi and I had always wanted to do a music-based film. Since Kingdom’s shoot took time to start, we used the gap to make Magic. That film’s strengths are Anirudh’s music and Girish Gangadharan’s cinematography.

When does Kingdom Part 2 begin?
We already have the core story in place. Script work will begin soon. But before that, we’re planning a web film for OTT based on the characters Murugan and Sethu.

How’s the journey been these past 8 years as a director?
Honestly, I feel like I should’ve done more films. But not everything is in our control. COVID took away two years. And sometimes, scripts need more time. I’ll try to complete my upcoming projects faster.