‘Irumudi’ Is a Unique Family Drama with Crime Elements: Director Shiva Nirvana

Mass Maharaja Ravi Teja’s much-awaited film ‘Irumudi’ is gearing up for its theatrical release on August 21. Directed by Siva Nirvana and produced by Mythri Movie Makers, the film stars Priya Bhavani Shankar as the female lead. The promotional campaign, including the glimpse, trailer and songs, has already created strong curiosity among audiences.

Set against the backdrop of the Ayyappa Swamy mala tradition, ‘Irumudi’ blends family emotions with a crime angle and action elements. Director Shiva Nirvana recently interacted with the media and opened up about the film, Ravi Teja’s character, the title, the locations and the extensive preparation that went into the project.

No Ram Charan Cameo in ‘Irumudi’

There has been considerable speculation on social media that Ram Charan might make a special appearance in ‘Irumudi’. Clarifying the rumours, Siva Nirvana said that there is no truth to them.

“Ram Charan garu is an Ayyappa devotee and has that particular spiritual vibe. Perhaps fans wanted to see him in the film, which is why such rumours started. But he does not appear in ‘Irumudi’. I hope he likes the film,” the director said.

Three Distinct Layers in the Story

According to Shiva Nirvana, ‘Irumudi’ has three major layers – the Ayyappa mala backdrop, family drama and crime.

“I planned the promotions according to these three layers. We gradually revealed different aspects of the film through the promotional material. By the time the trailer was released, audiences got clarity about what the film is actually about. Everyone is now prepared to experience the story, and I am confident that the movie will live up to the expectations,” he said.

Ravi Teja in a Completely New Avatar

The director revealed that presenting Ravi Teja in a never-before-seen manner was one of the major attractions of the project.

“When an actor attempts a subject that nobody has explored before, it has one kind of reach. When a star hero does it, the reach becomes much bigger. A story involving the Ayyappa mala tradition, family emotions and a new setup can reach every household when it is made with a star like Ravi Teja,” Shiva Nirvana explained.

He added that Ravi Teja’s appearance, particularly his beard and overall aura, suited the character perfectly.

“I did not have anyone in mind when I first conceived the story. But after narrating it to Ravi Teja garu, I felt he was perfect for the role. His beard and his personality brought an incredible presence to the character.”

‘Irumudi’ Is Not an Ayyappa Swamy Story

Shiva Nirvana stressed that although the film is set against the backdrop of the Ayyappa mala tradition, it is not a story about Ayyappa Swamy.

“This is a strong family emotional drama set against the backdrop of the Ayyappa mala. It is not an Ayyappa Swamy story. The screenplay explores how the protagonist behaves when he is wearing the mala and how he behaves when he is not on the mala. That contrast creates a powerful human drama,” he said.

The director believes the film’s emotional core will be one of its biggest strengths.

“Once people wear the Ayyappa mala, they follow strict discipline and devotion. Even someone who makes mistakes every day becomes extremely careful during the deeksha period. They are afraid of doing anything wrong. That human drama worked beautifully for Ravi Teja’s character,” he added.

Why the Title ‘Irumudi’?

Shiva Nirvana revealed that the title was decided very early in the filmmaking process.

“The title ‘Irumudi’ represents the different elements that come together in the story. There is a bond between a father and daughter, a bond between an Ayyappa devotee and the mala, and another connection involving the crime element. These three knots coming together led me to the title ‘Irumudi’,” he explained.

Extensive Preparation for the Ayyappa Backdrop

The director said he undertook extensive research to ensure authenticity in depicting the Ayyappa mala tradition.

“After developing the story, I spoke to many people and learned about the traditions and practices associated with the mala. But I still felt something was missing. So I decided to wear the mala myself. I attended padi poojas in Film Nagar and met several Guruswamis. Earlier, I also travelled to Sabarimala with director Hanu Raghavapudi,” he revealed.

He added that the film authentically portrays rituals and traditions such as mangalaharathis, bhajans and the wearing of rudraksha malas.

‘Mallipoola Pallaki’ Gets Huge Response

The song ‘Mallipoola Pallaki’ has emerged as one of the major highlights of the promotional campaign. The song crossed 9 million views within two days of its release.

Shiva Nirvana revealed that the song has a special connection with the Ayyappa devotees in the Seeleru region.

“Since the story revolves around Ayyappa devotees, bhajans and songs naturally become part of the film. I asked a devotee in the Seeleru region which song was popularly sung there. He told me about ‘Mallipoola Pallaki’. We shot the film with that song, and later many people requested us to include it. It was wonderful to see that what we wanted and what the fans wanted were the same,” he said.

The director also revealed why the team chose Dappu Srinu, who originally sang the song around 15 years ago, to record the new version.

“The song has been sung by Ayyappa devotees during padi poojas for nearly 15 years. We wanted to respect the emotions attached to it. GV Prakash Kumar could have brought any singer in the country, but we felt that the song should be sung by the same person whose voice people have loved for all these years. So we recorded it with Dappu Srinu garu,” he said.

Vishnu Sharma’s Cinematography

Shiva Nirvana praised cinematographer Vishnu Sharma for capturing the film’s rural landscapes and working at the pace demanded by the director and Ravi Teja.

“Ravi Teja garu and I both work very fast. We needed a cinematographer who could match that speed, and Vishnu Sharma did exactly that. He delivered some wonderful visuals. The Seeleru landscapes will transport audiences directly into the world of the story,” he said.

Baby Nakshatra as ‘Manemma’

The director also spoke about Baby Nakshatra, who plays the character ‘Manemma’.

“We needed a lot of nativity for this role. The character had to feel like a little girl from our own household. While searching, we came across her reels on Instagram. The ‘Manemma’ character needed a certain earthy quality. We conducted a look test and shot two videos with her. We immediately felt that Nakshatra was perfect for the role,” he revealed.

Why a Completely Different Genre?

Shiva Nirvana is known for films such as ‘Ninnu Kori’, ‘Majili’ and ‘Kushi’, which are strongly associated with emotional storytelling and relationships. Asked why he chose a different backdrop for ‘Irumudi’, the director said his focus has always been on telling stories with intensity.

“I want every story I tell to have a lasting impact. Films like ‘Ninnu Kori’ and ‘Majili’ should remain memorable and continue to be discussed even years later. I want my stories to be remembered even after I leave the film industry. That intensity is possible to achieve in a love story, but I found an equally powerful human drama through the crime angle in ‘Irumudi’,” he said.

Sai Kumar as Guruswami

Actor Sai Kumar plays the role of a Guruswami in the film.

“Sai Kumar garu has done an excellent job. His appearance and personality suited the Guruswami character perfectly,” Siva Nirvana said.

Shiva Nirvana’s Special Approach to Montage Sequences

The director revealed that personally capturing montage sequences has been a practice since his debut.

“From my first film, I have had this habit. While shooting, I capture certain montage visuals and keep them aside. Later, I use them during editing. It makes the audience feel as though they are travelling through the entire region and experiencing the place along with the story. I have followed this approach since ‘Ninnu Kori’,” he explained.

Special Praise for Mythri Movie Makers

Siva Nirvana credited producers Naveen Yerneni and Y. Ravi Shankar of Mythri Movie Makers for giving him complete creative freedom.

“They give directors a lot of freedom. I work quickly and I also keep the budget in mind. They trusted me completely. We shot with nearly 250 people in Seeleru, which was not an easy task. The producers gave us tremendous support throughout the process,” he said.

‘Irumudi’ Shot in the Untouched Seeleru Region

The film was extensively shot in rural locations, with Seeleru emerging as a key backdrop.

“Usually, filmmakers shoot in Kerala villages and try to recreate the look in Andhra Pradesh. Sukumar garu travelled up to Maredumilli for ‘Rangasthalam’, and tourism has increased there since then. For ‘Irumudi’, we travelled another two hours beyond Maredumilli to reach the Seeleru region,” Siva Nirvana said.

Located near the Andhra Pradesh–Odisha border, Seeleru offered the team mountains, forests and lush greenery.

“It was a beautiful location. I would like to thank Seeleru Balaji garu, Kolluru Ramanamurthy garu and the local people for their tremendous cooperation during the shoot,” he added.

With a unique combination of family emotions, crime, action and the Ayyappa mala backdrop, ‘Irumudi’ is now set for its theatrical release on August 21. The film marks an interesting departure for Siva Nirvana while presenting Ravi Teja in a character and setting that audiences have rarely seen him in before.