Young actor Sumanth Prabhas, who shot to fame with Mem Famous, is now coming up with Godari Gattupaina. While his debut film was rooted completely in a Telangana setting, he has now opted for a Godavari backdrop for his second outing. The teaser of Godari Gattupaina was released on Friday evening at a function and looks refreshing.
Subhash Chandra is making his directorial debut with this film. Chennai-based Nidhi Pradeep is also making her Telugu debut as the female lead.
“I am from Telangana, and this was the first time I visited the Godavari region for a film shoot. A few days before the shoot, I had gone to Kerala with my friends. But after seeing Godavari, I felt that we have even more beautiful locations and places here in the Telugu states,” said Sumanth Prabhas.
He added that he usually speaks in a Telangana accent as he was born and brought up there. “Learning the Godavari accent was challenging. It is very typical and not easy to pronounce. But the director and co-actors like Raj Kasireddy, Sudharshan and Praveen helped me a lot in getting it right,” he said.
Sumanth Prabhas is a huge fan of Prabhas, which is why he is also popularly known as Sumanth Prabhas. In a few scenes from the teaser, where he interacts with the female lead, he even imitates Prabhas. “The director told me that some scenes have a feel similar to Varsham, starring Prabhas and Trisha. Maybe one or two scenes resemble that film,” said Sumanth.
Talking about his experience in the Godavari region, the actor said he had always thought of Godavari as just a river. “But it is much more than that. It’s a cultural emotion with beautiful locations. The people there offer amazing hospitality,” he said. He added that both the producer and director belong to the same region and took special care of the team, especially when it came to food.
After Mem Famous, Sumanth Prabhas did not sign any films immediately. “I heard nearly 80 stories, but none of them excited me. When Subhash Chandra came to me with Godari Gattupaina, I agreed instantly. I loved the story and the way he narrated it. I have also seen his short films — he has made nearly 100 of them. I watched many of them during my college days and was inspired by the quality of his work,” he said.
“When the same person approached me with a full-length script, I was on cloud nine. I immediately wanted to do this film. It’s like opening a window and seeing a lush Godavari village with greenery and a beautiful river — that’s how this film feels,” Sumanth added.
He said he fell in love with the location, local hospitality and food. “Once you buy a ticket and sit in the theatre, after the movie starts, you will feel like you are travelling on a boat in the Godavari, enjoying the scenic beauty in a very pleasant way,” he said.
Sumanth Prabhas also showered praise on producer Abhinav Rao for backing the film without any compromises. “The way he took care of everyone was excellent. He never compromised on the budget or the quality of the film,” he said, adding that Red Puppet Films will have a lasting presence in Telugu cinema. “He has great passion for cinema,” Sumanth concluded.
