Anikha Surendran on Butta Bomma: The director gave enough freedom to add my spin to the character

Butta Bomma, the Telugu remake of the Malayalam film Kappela, is hitting screens across the globe on January 26. The film marks the transition of child actor Anikha Surendran as a lead in Telugu cinema. Produced by Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas, Butta Bomma, also starring Surya Vashistta and Arjun Das, is directed by Shourie Chandrasekhar Ramesh.

Ahead of the film’s release, Anikha Surendran spoke to the Telugu media today. While sharing that not much has changed from being a child actor to a full-fledged female lead, she remembered how coming to a movie set was like a vacation as a child. “I understand different aspects of filmmaking and cinema better now. I am grateful for the opportunities I got this decade in many industries.”

Bagging Butta Bomma was a coincidence, she states that the Telugu offer came right after she finished watching the Malayalam original. “After watching the original, I consider myself lucky to be a part of Butta Bomma. My character has many layers and offered me good scope to perform well. My director Ramesh was sure that I need not copy the original and give my own spin to the character.”

Anikha maintains she has worked hard to make the character look different. Stating Ramesh knew exactly what he wanted, the actress mentioned there was no struggle and that she enjoyed bringing it to life. Initially, she shot for 20 days in a schedule alone, before filming with other actors. Labelling Surya Vashissta, a patient and supportive actor, Anikha added that she bonded well with Arjun Das, given he was a non-Telugu person, much like her.

“The assistant directors were immensely helpful in making me understand Telugu better, though I didn’t get to dub for the part (they’ve managed to find a voice that’s closer to my personality.). It was an alien language for me and I, fortunately, delivered the monologues well too. I interacted with the director at length before the shoot to understand every scene better,” she averred.

Despite the experience of working alongside Ajith and Mohanlal earlier, she doesn’t deny the pressure she has about working as a lead in a film. She thanks the director Ramesh for making her feel at ease. “He has his own style, particular with his detailing and the film is more colourful and vibrant in comparison to the original. He doesn’t even miss a small twitch in my eyebrow.”

Associating with a production house like Sithara Entertainments is a dream come true, Anikha said. “It’s the best production house I have worked till date and it felt like being part of a home production.” She is working on Oh, My Darling in Malayalam while a few projects are in the pipeline in Tamil and Telugu. “All my debut projects as a lead in all languages are happening in 2023.”

Does she miss going to college like her other counterparts? “Most of my friends are in colleges but not many get those opportunities that I do as well. I have a friend gang and they’re proud of what I have accomplished. I am happy with the way my career is progressing.”