Santhosh Ananddram: Yuva is a character-driven film

Director Santhosh Ananddram is gearing up for the release of his fourth film Yuva, which marks the acting debut of Yuva Rajkumar. Describing himself as a director who has followed a certain style, his films usually revolve around characteristics such as emotions, values, and family backdrops. He is best known as the director of the Yash-starrer Mr. and Mrs. Ramachari as well as the Puneeth Rajkumar-starrers Raajakumara and Yuvarathna. Keeping all the above characteristics in mind, Santhosh says that he has a fresh perspective as he talks about his upcoming Yuva Rajkumar-starrer.

“When I got to direct an actor coming from the Rajkumar family, somehow I felt Yuva Rajkumar would fit into my universe,” says Santhosh. “Since he was making his debut, I thought we should add some youthful essence to it, especially focusing on the aggression and anger side. The first half revolves around college life, relationships, and the toxic nature of people around Yuva, portraying rawness to show the character in a very authentic light. However, life takes a turn, and we witness how Yuva reacts to his commitments, realises his father’s sacrifices and contributions to the family, and learns the importance of life. The second half delves deeper into my style of films, where all the signature elements come to the forefront,” he says.

According to Santhosh, Yuva doesn’t conclude with a cinematic ending but rather depicts a social reality. “We have kept it realistic, something we see in every middle-class family. Life is not about settling; that’s the message conveyed through Yuva,” he adds.

When Santhosh was first approached for Yuva, he only had a concept in mind instead of a full-fledged screenplay. “Though you have a one-liner, it’s crucial to know for whom you are developing the script,” he explains. “So, once I was told about directing Yuva Rajkumar, we designed and presented the script according to him. It’s a character-driven film where every situation revolves around him, affecting and impacting other characters and situations.”

Describing Yuva as a film for the new generation, Santhosh asserts its departure from typical college-themed movies. “It avoids unnecessary action and fights, focusing instead on meaningful confrontations that drive the story forward and have a genuine impact,” he says. “That’s one of the reasons we chose a fight master like Arjun Raj who had the time and could bring authenticity to the action sequences. Arjun has done a fantastic job.”

Having previously worked with established stars like Puneeth Rajkumar and Yash, directing a newcomer like Yuva Rajkumar was a new experience, reflects Santhosh. “Yuva Rajkumar joined the project ten months before we went on the sets. He had been involved since the scripting stages. Even the process of writing dialogues was different. I would get into the shoes of Yuva’s character and speak my lines, which would then be recorded according to how Yuva would deliver them while retaining the original essence. There wasn’t any scripted conversation,” says the director. He goes on to add, “I believe that every film is a learning experience. Each project is new, and this was a first for both me and Yuva Rajkumar. We experimented with different technical aspects. Filmmaking is a continuous learning process, and practice makes perfect. Every film provides a unique learning opportunity, and we’re all students of cinema. Of course, the pressure was there until we cracked the subject. Then, as makers, we ensured confidence and positivity, striving for success.”

As for Yuva Rajkumar’s strengths and weaknesses as an actor, Santhosh comments, “Like every actor starting out, there’s room for improvement. His strengths lie in his expressive eyes, action skills, dance abilities, and the maturity reflected in his face. As for weaknesses, he’ll surely identify areas for improvement in future films.”

Speaking about the rest of the cast, Santhosh highlights Sapthami Gowda’s portrayal of the female lead, who is a representation of a girl facing judgement and striving for self-respect. “Yuva isn’t solely a love story; it explores various themes, with Sapthami’s character impacting the titular character’s journey significantly,” says Santhosh, as he talks about showering praise on Achyuth Kumar’s performance and Kishore’s role as a surprise package. “Additionally, the film features 50 to 60 young artists contributing to a realistic college atmosphere,” he adds.

Santhosh also acknowledges the technical team’s contributions, including cinematographer Sreesha Kuduballi, music director Ajaneesh Loknath, and art director Vishwas Kashyap. “We have a young editor, Ashik Kusugolli, whose talent and expertise added to the film’s tempo and quality—something I eventually learnt,” he says.