Visual effects supervisor-turned-director Caarthick Raju, known for Dinesh's Thirudan Police (2014) and Sundeep Kishan's Ninnu Veedani Needanu Nene (2019) is coming with a light-hearted romantic comedy, #Single, starring Sree Vishnu, Ketika Sharma and Ivana. Backed by the formidable Geetha Arts, the film’s trailer promises a blend of humour and emotions tailored for a wide audience. With Vennela Kishore in a pivotal comic role, #Single is set for a theatrical release on May 9. Caarthick opens up about what drew him to this project and how the film took shape from script to screen.
Caarthick’s filmography includes both horror and action, but #Single marks a return to his earliest instincts as a storyteller. He recalls, “My first Tamil film was a comedy entertainer. It was produced by the late SP Balasubrahmanyam. People might know me for thrillers, but I’ve always enjoyed humour.”
Before he became a filmmaker, Caarthick was a VFX supervisor for big Telugu hits like Pokiri, Okkadu, Varsham, Athadu and Sainikudu. Saying that he always had an interest in storytelling beyond VFX, Caarthick got his big Telugu break with the Sundeep film.
Revealing that the idea for #Single was first formed during the pandemic, Caarthick says, “I told this story to Sree Vishnu during Covid in 2022. Back then he had just made Brochevarevarura, which I loved. Then in 2023, I narrated this to Geetha Arts. They really liked it. That’s how the journey started.”
Caarthick is clear about what Sree Vishnu brings to the role. “I’ve seen all his films. His body language and timing are unique,” he says. “In this film too, you’ll see him with a separate, very distinct rhythm. The film is in a fun mood, and his energy elevates every scene,” says Caarthick, adding that the chemistry between Vishnu and Vennela Kishore will be a highlight. “Vennela Kishore is my favourite. I am a huge fan of his work. In this, he’s there for 90 per cent of the story. The audience will enjoy watching them together.”
Addressing the controversy that erupted regarding a dialogue that referenced Manchu Vishnu’s Kannappa, Caarthick clarifies, “We never intended to troll with the “Shivayyaa” dialogue. It’s just that it was trending on social media and since our film had a lot of meme-infused humour, we incorporated it. There’s no way I will disrespect another filmmaker. I know the pain of making it here. When I shifted gears from VFX to filmmaking, my daughter was in school and that was a tough choice. And for four years I have been struggling for an opportunity. I know the value of a film, and we only wanted it to be funny.”
On casting Ketika Sharma and Ivana, he says that it was a team decision and compliments both the actors saying, “Ivana’s performance in Love Today really impressed me. She’s natural in this one too. Ketika also did wonderfully. Both of them have equal footing in the story.”
He is also candid about the challenges of adapting the script from Tamil to Telugu. “I originally wrote this story in Tamil. The dialogues had that flavour. I worked with Bhanu Bhogavarapu to adapt them for Telugu audiences,” he explains. “The dialogues now are very fun and localised. Sree Vishnu, especially during dubbing, added so much. Because he has that special murmuring style of delivery, I knew we had to give him space during dubbing. While shooting itself, he went through every dialogue and made it trendier. If the script was at 60 per cent, he elevated it to 100 per cent.”
The music, composed by Vishal Chandrasekhar, is designed to carry both the film’s lighter and heavier emotional beats. “Vishal has given beautiful music,” says Caarthick. “All the songs are tied to the story and the audience will definitely enjoy them.”
Caarthick points out that beneath the comic layers of #Single, there is a lot of emotional weight. “This is a very sentimental story. There’s one emotional sequence, especially with Rajendra Prasad gaaru, that I really like,” he shares. “It was a great pleasure to work with a senior actor like him. That part of the story is very close to my heart.”
Despite being a Tamil director working in Telugu cinema, Caarthick says he’s always felt at home. “There’s no problem at all. Most actors here speak good Tamil, and they make you feel comfortable. In fact, I am still learning Telugu. I can understand but speaking is still a challenge. Sree Vishnu and Bhanu were very helpful in the shoot.”
When asked if #Single will have a sequel, he says, “I have an idea for a sequel. Apart from that, I have two more stories I’d like to do with Sree Vishnu. I really like his body language and timing. I want to work with him again and again because he is very supportive.”