After winning hearts with Middle Class Melodies in 2020, Anand Deverakonda and director Vinod Anantoju are teaming up again, this time for a different kind of story. Their new film, titled Takshakudu, was officially announced on Monday, with the first-look poster hinting at a haunting, folklore-driven thriller with Anand playing an intense tribal character. The tagline, “Vetagaadi charitralo jinkapillale nerasthulu (In the history penned by the hunter, the deer is the criminal)” hints at a layered socio-political narrative.
Backed by Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya under the Sithara Entertainments banner, the Netflix original promises a gripping mix of myth, mystery, and emotion. The film’s premise unfolds in a remote tribal landscape, after a cursed night reduces an entire village to ashes, a blind tribal man and his loyal dog set out on a perilous journey to confront the man and the darkness that destroyed his world.
Director Vinod Anantoju, known for his heartfelt storytelling, described Takshakudu as a deeply personal project. “This story comes from the kind of tales I grew up hearing, folklore whispered in villages, stories that stayed with me long after the fire died out,” he shared. “It’s not just a thriller. It’s a world where myths breathe, where silence can scare, and where every sound makes your heart race.”
For Anand Deverakonda, Takshakudu marks a departure from his usual grounded dramas like Baby. Calling the project “more than just an action drama,” he said, “Vinod has reimagined ancient folklore for our times. The story isn’t about heroes or villains, it’s about greed, how it consumes people, and how every action has consequences. Playing Suri allowed me to explore those moral boundaries.”
Takshakudu also stars Nitanshi Goel in a key role, with cinematography by Balaji Subramanyam and music by Midhun Mukundan. With its intriguing premise, mythological undertones, and emotional depth, the project joins Netflix’s growing slate of original Telugu content and is one of the platform’s most anticipated releases of 2025.
