Pushpa Director Reveals Upendra's Influence on His Filmmaking
Sukumar went on to acknowledge the deep impact Upendra’s work has had on his screenwriting style
The teaser launch of the upcoming Telugu film Seetha Payanam took place in Hyderabad today, drawing attention not only for the film's debutante lead actress, Aishwarya Arjun—daughter of actor-director Arjun Sarja—but also for the presence of renowned filmmaker Sukumar and Kannada cinema icon Upendra as chief guests.
During the event, Pushpa director Sukumar paid a heartfelt tribute to Upendra, praising him as a trailblazing force in Indian cinema. “I’ve never seen a filmmaker with the kind of madness and frenzy that Upendra brings to his stories,” Sukumar said. “Films like Om, A, and Upendra blew my mind. Honestly, if I had made those films, I would’ve retired happily. That’s how iconic they are.”
Sukumar went on to acknowledge the deep impact Upendra’s work has had on his screenwriting style. “Every director has drawn inspiration from him. Whatever screenplay brilliance people see in my films today, it's all influenced by those three cult classics. I’ve shamelessly borrowed from him,” he admitted with a smile.
On the professional front, Sukumar is currently immersed in pre-production for his next film with Ram Charan. The duo, who previously delivered the blockbuster Rangasthalam, are reuniting for another major project, with groundwork underway in the UAE. The film is being produced by Mythri Movie Makers.
