Guntur Kaaram (pronounced [ɡʊɳʈuːɾ kaːɾʌm]; transl. Spice of Guntur) is a 2024 Indian Telugu-language action drama film[5] written and directed by Trivikram Srinivas, and produced by S. Radha Krishna through Haarika & Hassine Creations. It stars Mahesh Babu, Sreeleela, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Ramya Krishna, Jayaram, Prakash Raj and Jagapathi Babu.
The film was officially announced in May 2021 under the tentative title SSMB28, as it is Mahesh’s 28th film in the leading role, and the official title was announced in May 2023. Principal photography commenced in September 2022, predominantly shot in Hyderabad, and wrapped by late-December 2023. The film’s score and soundtrack are composed by Thaman S, with cinematography handled by Manoj Paramahamsa and editing handled by Naveen Nooli.
Guntur Kaaram was released in theatres worldwide on 12 January 2024, coinciding with Sankranti. The film received negative reviews from critics for Trivikram’s direction, screenplay, plot and Thaman’s background score and soundtrack but Mahesh Babu‘s performance was praised.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Trivikram Srinivas |
| Written by | Trivikram Srinivas |
| Produced by | S. Radha Krishna |
| Starring | Mahesh Babu, Sreeleela, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Ramya Krishna, Jayaram, Prakash Raj, Jagapathi Babu, Rao Ramesh |
| Cinematography | Manoj Paramahamsa, P. S. Vinod |
| Edited by | Naveen Nooli |
| Music by | Thaman S |
| Production company | Haarika & Hassine Creations |
| Release date | January 12, 2024 |
| Running time | 159 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
| Budget | ₹200 crore |
Plot:
In 1998, in Guntur, Dokka Marx Babu and Lenin Babu, two notorious individuals in the city, set fire to Satyam’s chili factory. Satyam, witnessing the incident, confronts Marx and Lenin amidst the blaze. During the confrontation, Satyam’s brother-in-law, Rangam, accidentally kills Lenin. Despite this, Satyam takes the blame for the murder, resulting in his imprisonment for 12 years. Additionally, the explosion at the factory partially blinds Satyam’s son, Ramana, in his left eye.
Twenty-five years later, Vasundhara, Satyam’s wife and Ramana’s mother, abandons her family to return to her political roots in Hyderabad, eventually remarrying her cousin, Pakka Rajagopal Narayana. Ramana’s true identity becomes a political tool when Venkata Swamy, Vasundhara’s father and a prominent figure, attempts to dissociate Ramana from the family to safeguard his political standing. Ramana, refusing to sign any document without seeing or speaking to his mother, faces pressure from Venkata Swamy’s camp, led by his lawyer, Basavaraju Sarangapaani “Paani.”
Amidst the coercion, Ramana’s resilience leads to a confrontation at Venkata Swamy’s residence, where Vasundhara, witnessing the turmoil, resorts to drastic measures, compelling Ramana to sign the document. Meanwhile, in Guntur, Ramana’s legitimacy becomes a battleground for political factions. Despite Ramana’s resistance, his true lineage is exposed, leading to further turmoil.
As the situation intensifies, a series of revelations unfold, implicating Venkata Swamy in orchestrating schemes to eliminate Ramana and manipulate political dynamics. Ramana’s journey intertwines with Vasundhara’s quest for justice, unveiling layers of deceit and familial betrayal.
Ultimately, amidst the chaos, Ramana’s resolve to confront the truth leads to a reckoning with Venkata Swamy and those who conspired against him. Vasundhara’s realization of her mistakes prompts a return to Guntur, where family bonds are rekindled amidst the fallout of political machinations.
In the end credits scene, Venkata Swamy’s desperate attempts to salvage his political standing are met with ridicule, highlighting the repercussions of his actions.
Cast:
- Mahesh Babu as Bhogineni Veera Venkata Ramana alias “Rowdy” Ramana, son of Satyam and Vasundhara
- Sreeleela as Basavaraju Amukta “Ammu” Malyada, daughter of Sarangapaani and Ramana’s love interest
- Meenakshi Chaudhary as Raji, Ramana’s cousin
- Ramya Krishna as Minister Vyra Vasundhara, daughter of Venkata Swamy, mother of Ramana, and adoptive mother of Gopal
- Jayaram as Bhogineni Satyanarayana alias “Royal” Satyam, first husband of Vasundhara and father of Ramana
- Prakash Raj as Vyra Venkata Swamy, father of Vasundhara and grandfather of Ramana
- Jagapathi Babu as Dokka Marx Babu, brother of Lenin and rival of Satyam
- Rao Ramesh as Pakka Rajagopal “Gopal” Narayana, second husband of Vasundhara, step-father of Ramana, and adoptive father of Gopal
- Easwari Rao as Bujji, sister of Satyam, wife of Rangam, and mother of Samba and Raji
- Murali Sharma as Basavaraju Sarangapaani “Paani”, father of Ammu and attorney of Venkata Swamy
- Sunil as Dokka Lenin Babu, elder brother of Marx
- Vennela Kishore as Balasubramanyam “Balu”, assistant of Sarangapaani
- Rahul Ravindran as Vyra Raja Gopal, adopted son of Vasundhara and Narayana, and adoptive half-brother of Ramana
- P. Ravi Shankar as Kata Madhu, rival of Venkata Swamy and opposition leader
- Brahmaji as CI Aadhinarayana
- Madhusudhan Rao as Fake Hari Das
- Ajay Ghosh as Hari Das
- Ajay as Gelatin Babji, blind contract killer
- Raghu Babu as Rangam, husband of Bujji, and father of Samba and Raji
- Teja Kakumanu as Samba, son of Rangam and Bujji, and brother of Raji
- Mahesh Achanta as Lenin’s son and Marx’s nephew
- Pammi Sai as Yakob
- Chammak Chandra as Constable Mohammed, assistant of Rajagopal
- Poorna in a special appearance as Ramola in the song “Kurchi Madathapetti”
Production:
Development:
In early April 2021, reports emerged indicating a collaboration between director Trivikram Srinivas, known for successful ventures with Mahesh Babu and Pooja Hegde in “Athadu” (2005), “Khaleja” (2010), “Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava” (2018), and “Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo” (2020). This collaboration was slated to precede his project with N. T. Rama Rao Jr. Srinivas had pitched the script to both Babu and Hegde, impressing them enough to secure their agreement for the project, marking their third collaboration with the director.
On May 1st, the collaboration between Babu and Trivikram was officially confirmed, tentatively titled “SSMB28”. Production was scheduled to commence in November 2021, allowing Babu to wrap up filming for “Sarkaru Vaari Paata” (2022) beforehand. The technical crew, including cinematographer P. S. Vinod, editor Naveen Nooli, music composer Thaman S, and art director A. S. Prakash, was finalized. The project received funding from S. Radha Krishna under Haarika & Hassine Creations.
A muhurtam pooja ceremony took place on February 3rd, 2022, at Ramanaidu Studios in Hyderabad, attended by the film’s cast and crew. Initially promoted as an action thriller, conflicts arose among crew members and the cast after the completion of the first schedule. Consequently, production was halted, and the script underwent revisions. After a prolonged delay, Trivikram presented a modified script, reshaping the film into a family entertainer, diverging from its original action thriller premise. Scenes filmed during the first schedule were slated for replacement. Shooting resumed, focusing on action sequences in accordance with the revised script.
The official title “Guntur Kaaram” was unveiled on May 31st, 2023.
Casting:
Pooja Hegde was initially cast as the lead actress opposite Mahesh Babu, marking their second collaboration after “Maharshi” (2019) and her third collaboration with the director. However, due to scheduling conflicts, she had to withdraw from the project. Subsequently, Sreeleela was brought in as her replacement.
Initially, Sreeleela had been signed on to portray the second female lead. However, with Hegde’s departure, Sreeleela was promoted to the lead actress role, and Meenakshi Chaudhary was cast in the second female lead role.
In February 2023, Ramya Krishna was chosen for a pivotal role in the film, followed by Prakash Raj joining in March to portray Mahesh Babu’s grandfather. Jayaram also joined the cast later on.
In April, it was reported that Jagapathi Babu would play a character described as “endearing yet scary” in nature.
Filming:
Principal photography for the film commenced on September 12, 2022, with an action-packed sequence shot at Annapurna Studios, Hyderabad. The first schedule, featuring adrenaline-pumping stunts choreographed by the Anbariv duo, concluded later that month. However, it was later confirmed by the producers that the fight sequence was removed from the film.
The second schedule was initially planned to begin after the Dussehra festivities at Ramoji Film City, with Pooja Hegde rejoining the sets. However, the shooting was put on hold as director Trivikram decided to modify the script, transforming the action-thriller into a “family entertainer”.
The second schedule kicked off on January 18, 2023, at Sarathi Studios, Hyderabad, with Hegde joining the cast. Filming continued in Hyderabad, where a lavish house set costing ₹10 crore was constructed in Shankarpalli, Telangana, in February. Jayaram joined the sets in March, and the second schedule wrapped up on April 6.
Despite completing more than 50% of the film, the cinematographer P. S. Vinod departed due to creative differences. Manoj Paramahamsa was then announced as his replacement. The third schedule commenced on June 24, and principal photography concluded on December 28, 2023.
Music:
Thaman S. composed the soundtrack album and background score for the film, in his fifth collaboration with Babu after Dookudu (2011), Businessman (2012), Aagadu (2014), and Sarkaru Vaari Paata (2022); third collaboration with Trivikram after Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava (2018) and Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020). Thaman started the work on the film’s music in June 2022. The first single “Dum Masala” was released on 7 November 2023. The second single “Oh My Baby” was released on 13 December 2023.
Marketing:
On 31 May 2023, first glimpse was released, on the occasion of Babu’s father Krishna’s 80th birth anniversary, which was attached with Mosagallaku Mosagadu 4K re-release in theatres. The film’s official trailer was released on 7 January 2023.
Release:
Guntur Kaaram is scheduled to release worldwide on 12 January 2024. Originally intended for a theatrical release on 28 April 2023, the film’s launch was first deferred to 11 August 2023, and then to 13 January 2024, to coinciding with Sankranti. Eventually, the release date was advanced to 12 January 2024.
