Sapthami Gowda on 'Thammudu': "Strong Women Characters Will Make Female Audiences Feel Happy; A Big Theatrical Experience"
Following the blockbuster success of Sankranthi ki Vasthunnam, Sri Venkateswara Creations is set to deliver another super hit with 'Thammudu.' Starring Nithiin in the lead, produced by Dil Raju and Shirish, and directed by Sriram Venu, the film features Laya, Varsha Bollamma, and Sapthami Gowda in key roles. As 'Thammudu' gears up for its grand worldwide theatrical release on July 4th, actress Sapthami Gowda, who portrays the character of Ratna, shared her experiences and highlighted the film's unique aspects.
From 'Kantara' to 'Thammudu': A New Journey
Sapthami Gowda recounted how she joined the project: "After Kantara, I got a call from director Sriram Venu for 'Thammudu.' I came to Hyderabad and did a look test. After the look test went well, they gave me the dialogue version. By then, the complete script of Ratna's character was ready. They also told me to learn horse riding. We shot the film in Araku. Due to an injury to Nithiin's shoulder, the shoot was delayed a bit. Working on 'Thammudu' has been a great experience."
Ratna: A Lively Character with a Unique Love Story
Describing her role, Sapthami said, "I play the role of Ratna, a girl from a village called Ambaragodugu. She is a fan of Pawan Kalyan. There’s also a different love story for my character. Some may feel that my look in 'Thammudu' resembles my Kantara look, but as a character, Ratna is completely different. 'Thammudu' has a slightly serious subject, but my character brings fun to the film." She explained the humorous dynamic: "Laya garu, Nithiin garu visit the village of Ambaragodugu under certain circumstances. How Ratna becomes part of their journey is interesting. Without knowing their situation, I behave jovially with them, which creates humor for the audience. Ratna is not a radio jockey; what she truly is can be seen only in the film." She also highlighted the physical demands: "I had to do horse riding scenes in hilly, rocky areas. Practicing horse riding for 3-4 hours daily was tough, but I'm satisfied with how those scenes turned out."
Sapthami acknowledged the original 'Thammudu': "I know about Pawan Kalyan’s 'Thammudu' movie. Director Venu garu told me about it. We all know how big a success that film was for Pawan Kalyan garu. I haven’t watched the complete movie yet. I will definitely watch it before the release of our 'Thammudu.'"
Impactful Role and Strong Female Portrayals
"I believe this film will definitely give me a good name as an actress. Though my role is not lengthy, it's an impactful one. Director Venu garu always said that among all the characters, he enjoyed writing Ratna's role the most. I was also the first artist selected for the film," Sapthami shared with pride.
She particularly emphasized the film's portrayal of women: "In 'Thammudu,' the characters played by me, Laya, Ditya, Varsha, and Swasika will all have importance. All five women characters are different and powerful. For example, the character Gutthi drives a bus. She even learned bus driving for this movie. Laya garu plays a strict officer. Myself, Varsha, and others also have action sequences. Usually, in movies, we see female characters singing songs with the hero, but here, audiences will see heroines fighting alongside the hero. The way women characters have been portrayed so strongly in 'Thammudu' will definitely make female audiences feel proud and happy when they watch the movie in theatres."
Nithiin's Chemistry, Theatrical Experience, and Future Projects
Sapthami also touched upon the romantic angle: "There’s also a love track between Nithiin and me in the film. Our teenage love story gradually matures over time. By the end of the movie, the audience will root for Ratna and Nithiin’s characters to unite. I'm happy that my first Telugu film under Dil Raju garu's Sri Venkateswara Creations is 'Thammudu.' Only reputed banners can promote and release a film in such a grand manner. Director Sriram Venu garu has worked really hard for 'Thammudu.' He designed every character perfectly. He didn’t compromise on getting the desired output, not just from artists but also from technicians."
She strongly advocated for a big-screen experience: "'Thammudu' is a film that must be experienced in theatres for its grand scale and visuals. If you’ve seen the trailer and release trailer, you’d know how big this movie is going to be. A film like this will not have the same impact if watched at home. You can enjoy 'Thammudu' to the fullest only in theatres."
Looking ahead, Sapthami expressed her career aspirations: "I love doing commercial films. 'Thammudu' is also a commercial film. I really liked Rashmika’s character in Pushpa. If I get such offers, I’m ready to do them. After Kantara’s success, I received many such offers, but I rejected most of them because they weren’t exciting enough. That’s the reason you haven’t seen me in many films. But if different roles come my way, I’ll definitely take them up. Currently, I’m working on two more Telugu films, along with projects in Tamil and Kannada. I’ll reveal those details soon. I want to work in all languages beyond boundaries."
