A small film with a rural backdrop and based on a true incident, Raju Weds Rambai is gearing up for release on November 21. Directed by debutant Saailu Kaampati, the film features Akhil and Tejaswini in the lead roles. Before turning director, Sailu worked as an assistant director with Venu Udugula and Srikanth Addala.
Hailing from Warangal, Saailu says his passion for cinema began early. “When I was in Class 6, I used to watch a lot of films, and I am a big fan of NTR. Films like 16 Teens and Sampangi inspired me, and I closely followed directors, technicians, and their work,” he shared. A friend who worked on Nagarjuna’s Greek Veerudu encouraged his filmmaking dreams. “My parents wanted me to finish my studies, so I completed my B Tech,” he added.
After completing his education, Sailu's passion for cinema pushed him toward the industry. “I began writing scripts—initially commercial ones—but soon realised I wanted to tell rooted, native stories that carried the soul of the people,” he said. Having worked with Venu Udugula earlier, he narrated this story to him. Venu liked it and asked him to shoot a demo. “That demo led to the film being greenlit, and ETV Win later joined the project,” Saailu explained.
When asked whether the story is about honour killing, he clarified: “Not exactly, but it falls in a similar emotional zone. Raju imagines marrying his love Rambai and keeps writing ‘Raju Weds Rambai’ everywhere. What happens to the lovers is something audiences will discover in theatres. The story is based on a real incident I heard about in my childhood.” He added that the affected family allowed the film to be made but requested anonymity. The incident occurred in 2004.
Speaking about the cast, Saailu said he brought in Akhil, a young actor from Warangal, with ease. Finding the female lead, however, took longer. “Venu Udugula put pressure on me to finalise the heroine, but I wanted a fresh face for Rambai. Finally, a friend sent me Tejaswini’s Instagram profile, and I selected her. She is from Rajahmundry, and only after casting her did I learn she had acted in a short film,” he said. Interestingly, Tejaswini’s other film, Committee Kurrollu, released before this one.
Saailu cast Siddhu Jonnalagadda’s brother, Chaitanya Jonnalagadda, as the heroine’s father. “He had just returned from the USA and looked very polished, but his face carried the psychological depth required for the role. After a quick test scene, he perfectly suited the character of a disabled father and performed convincingly after attending workshops,” Saailu noted.
Addressing the film’s delay, Saailu said the shoot began last year but heavy rains and floods submerged the village where most of the film was shot. “For continuity, I needed the same locations, so I had to wait until the houses were rebuilt. The villagers were initially reluctant to resume shooting due to the flood being seen as a bad omen, but after months of patience and convincing, they finally agreed,” he said.
With Venu Udugula—who has directed two films—also producing this project, Saailu received valuable guidance. “He helped me in many ways, especially with the screenplay,” he said. He added that he is grateful to Venu Udugula, producer Bunny Vas, and Vamsi Nandipati, who are all involved with the film. “They have already watched the film and appreciated my work,” he said.
Speaking about his future plans, Saailu revealed that he has a few stories ready and will begin shooting one of them soon. He said he would announce details of his next project after Raju Weds Rambai releases.