Siddhu Jonnalagadda became a mass favourite with the street-smart, fast-talking energy of the Tillu films. His 10th project points in a different direction. The actor's next Telugu film, tentatively called #Siddhu10, went on floors in Hyderabad on Wednesday with a grand pooja ceremony attended by the core team. Going by the makers, the film is a romantic entertainer.
Producer Allu Aravind, father of Telugu star Allu Arjun, clapped the board for the first shot to mark the official launch. The makers said regular shooting will begin later this month with a song sequence. That is a fitting start for a film being presented as a love story.
The project has drawn attention mainly because of who is backing it. Ace director Sukumar is one of the producers, alongside Bunny Vas, Anmol Sharma and Ashok Bandireddy. The film will be directed by Mohan B.
When a filmmaker of Sukumar's standing puts money and his banner behind a newer director, the trade usually reads it as a strong vote of confidence in the script. For Siddhu, it adds weight to a genre shift: a solo romantic lead role with a well-known creative mind supporting it.
Sharing pictures from the ceremony on his Instagram page, Sukumar wrote, "With divine blessings and boundless excitement. The journey of #Siddhu10 begins with a grand pooja ceremony.Shoot begins soon to bring a beautiful love story to life."
Nayan Sarika plays the female lead. With the film centred on romance, the pairing's on-screen chemistry is likely to be the main thing audiences look for.
A director's dream, a composer's canvas
On Tuesday, a day before the launch, director Mohan B posted an emotional note on his Instagram page. "Every storyteller carries a dream within. Today, that dream takes its first step towards the silver screen.A new beginning, a new journey, and a dream turning into reality. Here's to new beginnings! #SIDDHU10. A BEAUTIFUL COLLABORATION to celebrate the magic of LOVE. @sukumarwritings x @bvworksoffl Production No 2 is StarBoy #Siddhu10. Pooja Ceremony, Tomorrow, 11th Nov at 9:32 AM," he wrote.
The post confirms that #Siddhu10 is the second production from the Sukumar Writings and BV Works collaboration. It also shows the team using the "StarBoy" tag for their lead actor.
Music is another major draw. G V Prakash Kumar, a three-time National Award-winning composer, is on board. In a romance, songs often decide how far a film travels, so his signing is a clear statement of intent.
What's next
Sources close to the unit say the rest of the cast and crew will be announced shortly. The title, which is still under wraps, will be the next update fans wait for.
For now, #Siddhu10 brings together Siddhu's popularity, Sukumar's backing and G V Prakash Kumar's music around a director making his big-screen dream real. On paper, that makes it one of the more interesting Telugu launches of the season.
Quotes in this story are from posts shared on Sukumar's and Mohan B's official Instagram accounts.
