Sekhar Kammula, the guy behind feel-good Telugu hits like Fidaa and Happy Days, is switching gears with Kuberaa, his first-ever pan-Indian flick hitting theaters tomorrow, June 20, 2025. Starring Dhanush, Nagarjuna Akkineni, and Rashmika Mandanna, this gritty social thriller dives into a wild clash between a beggar and a mega-rich tycoon. In a chill chat with OTTplay, Kammula spilled the tea on why he’s shaking things up, what it was like working with his dream cast, and why Kuberaa’s gonna stick with you. Here’s the lowdown on this bold new chapter for the director.
A Story That Hits Different
Kuberaa is nothing like Kammula’s usual warm-and-fuzzy vibe. This time, it’s all about extremes—a dirt-poor beggar (Dhanush) and a greedy billionaire whose lives crash after one tiny spark. “It’s about ambition, tough choices, and finding your way back,” Kammula told OTTplay, hyping up the film’s mix of heart and edge. The trailer, which dropped June 15 in Hyderabad, keeps the plot on the down-low but teases a crazy ride with Devi Sri Prasad’s banging score and Niketh Bommireddy’s raw shots of Mumbai’s slums and dumpyards. “We didn’t spill too much in the trailer,” Kammula grinned, “but once you’re in the theater, it’s a whole new vibe.”
Vibe Check with Dhanush and Nagarjuna
Kammula’s all praises for his stars. Dhanush, playing the scrappy Deva, was his one and only pick. “Nobody else could’ve nailed this role like him,” he said, raving about how Dhanush just became the character. Dhanush even shared a funny story at a Chennai event about Kammula making him beg on Tirupati’s streets to get the role right. Nagarjuna, rocking a complex CBI officer role, brings something fresh. “He’s always pushing himself,” Kammula said, shouting out his bold choices in Manam and Oopiri. Rashmika Mandanna and Jim Sarbh round out the crew, with Kammula geeking out over Sarbh’s spot-on Telugu delivery.
Filming in Mumbai’s chaotic streets was no joke. “Dealing with permits, managing big stars like Dhanush and Nagarjuna—it was intense,” Kammula admitted. But producers Suniel Narang and Puskur Ram Mohan Rao had his back, letting him go big with a 181-minute epic (trimmed from 195 minutes after 19 CBFC cuts). With a U/A rating and a release in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam, it’s ready to roll out across 1,600 screens.
Kammula’s Big Moment
Marking 25 years in the game, Kammula’s feeling ready to try new things. “I’m at a point where I want to tell different stories,” he told OTTplay, looking back on his journey from Anand to now. Kuberaa’s got his heart-on-sleeve style but with a sharp socio-political edge, a first for him. S.S. Rajamouli, hyping him up at the pre-release event, called him “stubborn” for sticking to his vision, and that’s why Telugu fans are showing mad love with strong bookings on BookMyShow. Tamil Nadu’s pre-sales are a bit soft, maybe ‘cause it feels Telugu-heavy, but trade folks are still betting on an 8-10 crore opening day.
What’s Next for Kammula?
Kammula’s already got ideas brewing. He’s got a script for Leader 2 but isn’t sure it fits today’s vibe. There’s talk of a project with Nani, but he’s keeping it low-key, saying it’s just early chats. Right now, Kuberaa’s his baby, and he’s pumped for fans to see it. “It’s super close to my heart,” he said, echoing Dhanush’s vibe that it’s a special one. Amazon Prime Video’s snagged the streaming rights, so expect it to drop there in late July or August after theaters.
Will Kuberaa be the big win Indian cinema’s craving? With Kammula’s storytelling magic, a killer cast, and a fresh spin, it’s got all the ingredients.
Source: OTTPlay