Ustaad: Sri Simha Koduri, Kavya Kalyanram’s film has a connection with Gautham Menon’s Surya S/O Krishnan

There are four theatrical releases this week in Telugu. While Mahesh Babu’s Businessman returned to theatres after almost a decade with a thumping response yesterday, Jailer has opened to encouraging feedback from audiences across multiple languages today. Bholaa Shankar, Chiranjeevi’s remake of Vedalam, tests its fate at the theatres tomorrow.

Amidst all the biggies, a small/medium budget film Ustaad will be hitting screens this Saturday. Sri Simha Koduri, who shot to fame with Mathu Vadalara, Dongalunnaru Jagratha and was recently seen in Bhaag Saale, is paired alongside Balagam girl Kavya Kalyanram for the coming-0f-age saga, directed by Phanideep. Ravindra Vijay, Ravi Sivateja, Anu Hasan are part of the cast too.

Phanideep, who actively worked in the television industry and assisted Praveen Sattaru for Chandamama Kathalu, is reportedly a huge fan of Gautham Menon since his younger years. As a homage to the filmmaker, he has named Ustaad’s lead characters Surya and Meghana - the names of Surya and Sameera Reddy’s characters in Surya S/O Krishnan, which re-released in theatres last week.

That’s not all, he got to cast his favourite filmmaker in a crucial role as a pilot too. Gautham Menon shot for the film only for three days but the first-time director thoroughly relished the experience. Phanideep insists that he didn’t approach the actor-director as a fanboy but more so as a professional narrating the script to the latter.

Gautham Menon had another admirer from the Ustaad team in the form of Kavya Kalyanram, who came to the set during his shoot-days despite not having any scenes with him. The teaser, trailer and the songs of the feel-good film have given it some momentum ahead of its release. Word of mouth will be crucial for Ustaad to taste success at the ticket window.