Once in a blue moon a budding director gets a breakthrough purely because of their talent and instinct. But the movies that follow up and the reception, be it positive or negative, is surely based on the collective experience and the choices made from learning and practicing the craft. Such a unique talent in Telugu cinema who is currently making headlines is director Anil Ravipudi who in his recent theatrical release ‘Sankranthi Ki Vasthunam’ has found great success in Box Office, maintaining a clean sweep record of a 100% success in Box Office.
The impressive feat cannot be labelled as luck or coincidence as 2025 marks a decade of Anil Ravipudi as a director who in his right has achieved immense fan base and trust from some of the prominent actors of Telugu Cinema. His filmography till date has been impressive with 8 movies under his belt as a director with all of them becoming a huge hit and box office success, making him a reliable filmmaker. Anil Ravipudi’s stories might not be unique in the Telugu Film industry but his vision for each story and the casting makes him stand taller than his contemporaries.
Anil Ravipudi’s Comedy Dramas
Anyone who watches Telugu movies watch them for the masala, action and emotions that is carried out throughout the years. Popularly known for the mass elements of a hero saving the day and having dramatic monologues which has been successful for a long time. And one of the most impressive and tough genres to crack and relate it with the audience is Comedy Drama. Surging a huge set of audience who are willing to watch action with perfectly timed and choreographed sequences and clubbing it with mass dialogues is far easier than making the audience chuckle or laugh out loud with the characters and dialogues.
Anil Ravipudi’s strength lies in writing comedy as a live underwire in his family dramas where there is an existing hint of comical aspects or characters who then and now provide comical relief that also blends in with the narrative rather than standing out. Writing logical scenes and screenplay for a bland and generic story like in F2: Fun and Frustration where the oneliner is usual husband and wife banter and issues but he added interesting characters like Vennela Kishore, Priyadarshi Pulikonda who are somehow linked to the plot and issue.
Writing comedy and executing comedy on screen with the receptive set of actors is no small task and director Anil Ravipudi has a knack of knowing who to cast for certain roles while also retaining the magical aspect of family friendly humour. His recent venture ‘Sankranthi Ki Vasthunam’ where it is not just the job of the said and known comedians to maintain a comedy track but for the lead actors to also shake things up with some fun banters and one liners. Anil Ravipudi mentions his all time favourite film as ‘Gundamma Katha’ in his recent sitting with Baradwaj Rangan for Galatta Plus, a complete family drama that has comedy as its base which is also the kind of lane he chose for his journey, evidently seen in the latest Sankranthi Blockbuster.
Anil Ravipudi’s Successful Filmography
Before helming his first directorial project ‘Pataas’, Anil Ravipudi was associate director and writer for years which gave him the push to become a director. The film follows the story of a newly transferred police officer who is corrupt and wants to take revenge on his father. The story might sound generic with the revenge plot and the true colours of an assumed grey character, which has a memorable comedy performance by actor M.S. Narayana.
His second movie ‘Supreme’ follows an estranged true heir to a royal dynasty who is later found with a taxi driver who later safeguards the heir and becomes his guardian. Apart from the needed action blocks, the film also has Posani Krishna Murali, director Ravipudi’s repetitive choice, and actor Ali for the hilarious comedy tracks, taking the movie to a lighter note.
Ravipudi’s third film, ‘Raja The Great’ places a visually impaired character as the main character and puts him as the protector, something that is unique for a telugu lead in a while. The film also places a separate comedy track that elevates the lows and highs equally.
‘The F2: Fun and Frustration’ and the standalone sequel ‘F3: Fun and Frustration’ are set on a simple plane of familial issues, a husband and wife disputes and the furthering family drama is sprinkled with full fledged fun track that stretched across the screenplay, be it Venkatesh and Varun Tej’s banter and mocking their spouses or the separate tracks with the comedy actors.
‘Sarileru Neekervaru’ with Mahesh Babu had all the action elements with a mix of patriotism in it. While the movie mainly focuses on the sacrifices made by the families of the Indian Army and their devotion towards the nation, it also has the enjoyable train sequence which is full of fun and humour.
‘Bhagvanth Kesari’ focuses on the special bond between a brother and sister who share a traumatic past and the lead man’s irresistible bond. The movie was an industry hit with praises from across the state. Ravipudi somehow finds the right spot of how the audience want to see a star and swiftly changes the screenplay and imposes something unique like showcasing Balakrishna as a caring brother with a teenage sister, a stark difference from a longstanding controversy of Balakrishna being paired with heroines who are far younger than him.
The recent Sankranthi release ‘Sankranthiki Vasthunam’ is his typical lane of family drama that sustains a crime element, a love triangle, familial issues blended with comedy is currently running successfully in the theatres has collected triple the amount of its budget, making higher every weekend since its release.
Anil Ravipudi the Trendsetter
While the whole of India is counting the stakes of who is making a larger than life film with the leading characters being highly influential or brimming with action oriented films, Anil Ravipudi entered the game, making a film with the ‘Sankranthi Specialist’ actor Venkatesh as a family man set in a generic premise in a budget of 50 Crore is a gutsy move. While the movie is still on full throttle and doesn’t look like stepping away from the theatres soon, the audience who were craving something unique and something out of the ‘action’ genre was served a typical family comedy drama.
Talking about making this as a family drama and not following the current trend, Anil Ravipudi mentions doing the needed research and understanding what the people want to see. Apart from the usual action drama, the family audience barely get anything to witness on the big screen. This was perfectly understood and executed by Anil Ravipudi as the movie with its basic play of family issues is a winner because of its humour.
We had so much fun shooting this film! Can’t wait for you all to have even more fun watching it on the big screen with your family and friends 🤗❤️#SankranthikiVasthunam in theatres from tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/NSAJpo9Z8j
— Venkatesh Daggubati (@VenkyMama) January 13, 2025
Any director irrespective of their film age must take a step away and try and grasp the current trend and what could possibly make a difference for roping in audiences. He also molds the story for the particular hero and the cast that he chooses, making it customised and a promising project for the actors who are almost always showcased in an atypical way, a fresh perspective for the audience too. It is safer to say that Anil Ravipudi doesn’t follow any trend but seeds a path that is unexplored and forgotten.
