Vinay Ratnam is eagerly anticipating the release of his debut feature film, Sri Chidambaram Garu, which is set to hit theatres on February 6. At just 27, this self-taught filmmaker has invested years of hard work and dedication into bringing his vision to life. Following a recent preview screening in Visakhapatnam, Vinay shared, “The audience response was heartwarming,” underscoring the excitement surrounding the film.
With a creative journey that includes over 25 short films, along with a notable long short titled Saagu, which garnered accolades at various festivals, Vinay’s persistence is evident. “I grew up watching Telugu cinema and was determined not to give up on making films,” he recounted, revealing that he even left engineering behind to fully commit to his passion. His film Saagu has proven to be a pivotal moment in his career, earning recognition in the Top 100 Films at the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival 2024 and winning awards for Best Debut Director and Best Film at the Polish International Film Festival.
The concept for Sri Chidambaram Garu began taking shape four years ago, evolving over a year and a half of intense writing. Initially part of an anthology pitched to OTT platforms, the project was set aside when interest in anthologies waned. “That’s when I reworked it into a full-length feature,” Vinay explained. His festival accolades helped him connect with various producers, but interest waned when they considered the commercial viability of a film featuring newcomers. Asserting the importance of authenticity, Vinay insisted that the film, set in Kollangi hamlet in Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district-a village devoid of electricity or mobile connectivity-needed fresh faces.
The central narrative unfolds around a young man struggling with his squint, which leads him to develop an inferiority complex and hide behind dark glasses. The story reflects Vinay’s keen observations of young people who grapple with insecurities and seek validation. “We need to learn to accept who we are,” he commented thoughtfully. After exploring potential collaborations in Malayalam cinema with little success, Vinay decided to try once more in his native Telugu. He turned to crowdfunding, leveraging social media influencers from his hometown of Rajahmundry. In a remarkable feat, they raised over ₹1 lakh within a day.
His crowdfunding efforts caught the attention of producers Chinta Vineesh Reddy and Gopala Krishna Reddy, who backed the project. “Once they came on board, there was no looking back. We returned the crowdfunded amount,” Vinay noted proudly. Vinay’s childhood friend, Vamsi Tummala, was cast as the male lead, while the female lead, Sandhya Vasishta, and other cast members were selected from an extensive audition process involving over 600 hopefuls. The technical team includes talented professionals like cinematographer Akshay Ram, music composer Chandu Ravi, editor Anwar Ali, and sound designer Swapnik Rao. With rigorous pre-production and workshops, the team remarkably completed filming in just 32 days, benefiting from on-location sync sound recording.
The film’s title is rooted in local slang. Vinay explained that “Chidambaram” is often used as a playful jab for those with a squint, a nod to the late Telugu actor Kallu Chidambaram. In the story, the protagonist even forgets his real name as he’s habitually referred to as Chidambaram. Looking ahead, Vinay plans to shift gears, gearing up for an urban romantic comedy, marking yet another chapter in his promising career.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/debut-director-vinay-ratnam-discusses-his-telugu-film-sri-chidambaram-garu/article70586502.ece
Category : Movies
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Publish Date: 2026-02-04 14:11:00
