Pelli SandaD, the upcoming Telugu film, will mark the acting debut of director K Raghavendra Rao. The 79-year-old filmmaker, who is responsible for introducing several actors such as Allu Arjun, Venkatesh, Sridevi, Taapsee Pannu, Mahesh Babu in Telugu, will also be supervising the film’s direction.
A special first look promo video of the veteran director, who has directed over 100 films, in his role as Vashishta in Pelli SandaD was released on social media on Friday.
The film’s writer and director Gowri Ronanki tells Silverscreen India that Pelli SandaD is a “family entertainer completely based on marriage and celebrations.”
Recommended
Apart from Rao, the film also features an ensemble cast, comprising Prakash Raj, Tanikella Bharani, Vennela Kishore, Rao Ramesh, Pragathi, Jhansi, and Annapoorna in pivotal roles. Debutant Roshan Srikanth (son of actor Srikanth) and Sree Leela are playing the leads.
Notably, Rao has earlier directed a musical romantic film in 1996 with a similar name, Pelli Sandadi, starring Srikanth, Ravali, and Deepti Bhatnagar. “I have used the same title, but this is not a sequel nor does it have anything to do with the earlier film. It is a completely new film and the story is completely different,” says Ronanki, who is making her directorial debut with Pelli SandaD.
Interestingly, MM Keeravani, who composed the music for the 1996 film, will be donning the same hat for the upcoming film too. “We have about six songs and all of them will connect with a contemporary audience,” the director adds.
Speaking about her collaboration with the legendary director, Ronanki says, “It is a debut film for both the guru and the sishya (the teacher and the student). He will debut as an actor and I as a director. I have worked as his assistant; my first film with him was Jhummandi Naadam (2010). I feel blessed and lucky to introduce him as an actor when he himself has introduced so many big names to the industry.”
On the film’s plot, she adds, “There is a surprise element in the film, so I cannot reveal much. However, the film is about how a boy wins the love of his life while convincing parents on both sides. I came up with a one-liner and approached director sir (Rao) in March. He said it was a wonderful idea and put everything aside to work on it. After I developed the idea further, we conducted meetings on Zoom every day and finished the script.”
Pelli SandaD went on floors in December 2020 and was wrapped in July. The film is currently in the post-production stage. It was shot by cinematographer Sunil Kumar Nama in Hyderabad and Kashmir. “We are done with the editing and the re-recording work is on,” says Ronanki.
On the film’s release, the director says, “We want to release it in theatres because it is a debut film for many of us. However, since it is a family entertainer, we expect a family audience and they will not come to theatres until it is safe to do so. Therefore, we will wait for the situation to ease.”