Barely a day before the release of his new Telugu film, Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu starring Chiranjeevi and Nayantara, writer-director Anil Ravipudi takes a breather. It has been a day of media interactions at his office in Hyderabad, in between which he rushes to complete last-minute post production checks.
“My work is done only when the final output is sent. Until the last moment, all our efforts are towards bettering the film. I hope I am able to deliver a mega blockbuster for Chiranjeevi sir,” he reasons. A few minutes ago, he and his team were understandably elated on seeing the frenzied bookings as soon as tickets were available on online booking apps. Yet, Anil Ravipudi is keeping his fingers crossed. “The first show is the key to understanding how the audience will receive a film,” says the director. The film releases on January 12.
In 11 years, Anil has directed nine films and is the only Telugu director apart from S S Rajamouli to have had a 100% box office success record. Reflecting on his career as a director from Pataas (2015) to Sankranthiki Vasthunam(2025), he says, “I never take the audience for granted. I am my biggest critic. After each film, I analyse what worked and which portions could have been better. I watch all my films in theatres, standing in a corner of the hall and keenly observing how people react. The reaction of the audience is the only barometer to assess what works. I have followed this practice even in the years when I was writing for other directors.”
Anil worked as an assistant director and later a screenwriter in the mid 2000s. For him, the knack of assessing films and screenplays began in his engineering days. “I spent more time in theatres than in college. I would watch 40 to 45 films in a month and then animatedly analyse them with my friends. I think all that helped when I began writing”, Anil says.
His writing process has been clear. Once he decides the genre and locks an idea, he outlines the story and character arcs. Then, his team joins in and the screenplay takes shape. “We have several discussions and arguments. I am not rigid about doing it my way. I listen to suggestions, changes are made and finally I take the call. It takes three to four months to finalise a screenplay,” he explains.
Once the screenplay is ready, Anil narrates the story and scenes to a cross-section of people, from his friends to acquaintances. “They are also a part of the audience for my films. So I need to know if a story or a sequence would appeal to them. On sets, I narrate the following day’s scenes to the crew to see if we are on the right track.”
Anil Ravipudi
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Special Arrangement
Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, referred to as MSG in film circles and social media, is Anil’s first collaboration with Chiranjeevi, the superstar whose films he had grown up watching. The director recalls his first meeting with the superstar a few years ago, when he was introduced to him by veteran director Raghavendra Rao. “He introduced me to Chiranjeevi garu as a promising director, and stated that he should work with me. I then pitched a couple of ideas to Chiranjeevi sir but those did not work out. I narrated the idea of Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu sometime before Sankrantiki Vasthunam. He was impressed with the concept and gave me complete freedom to develop it with my trademark comedy family drama traits. Once the screenplay was ready, he heard the entire narration and was convinced about the film,” says Anil.
In the film, Chiranjeevi plays a national security officer, who, on the personal front, has to earn brownie points with his wife, played by Nayanthara. Anil asserts that the effort has been to bring back the aura of the superstar’s vintage era, and that he is presented in a suave avatar. “There’s action, comedy, romance and family drama with two children involved, and the film is tailored to Chiranjeevi sir’s ‘massy’ image,” he says.
In Sankrantiki Vasthunam, the age gap between Venkatesh Daggubati and Meenakshi Chaudhary was addressed through humour. Anil says that there is some self-deprecating humour about the age factor in MSG, but hastens to add, “Look at Chiru sir. He looks like a man in his mid 30s, much younger than his real age (the actor turned 70 a few months ago). He was conscious about his fitness, diet and looks all through the film. He plays a man in his mid 40s and Zarina Wahab plays a wonderful character as his mother.”
Anil says it was easy to establish the director-actor rapport on sets to ensure smooth workflow. However, as someone who grew up watching Chiranjeevi films, Anil also used the opportunity of interacting with the superstar to understand the making of his blockbusters from the 1980s and 1990s, such as Kodama Simham.
Venkatesh and Chiranjeevi in the film
A highlight of MSG would be the portions featuring Chiranjeevi and Venkatesh in an extended cameo. Anil says these portions were well thought out, down to the last line of dialogue, to ensure that the two legends are in sync and that the fun translates onto the screen. “They had fun essaying their respective parts — Shankara Vara Prasad and Venky Gowda — and it is a segment in which they make fun of each other and strike an easy rapport. They improvised on the spot to enhance the fun quotient,” says Anil.
MSG is Anil Ravipudi’s fourth film to be timed for release during Sankranti festivities. But the director says irrespective of release dates, his task is cut out — to deliver films that connect with the audience. “Writing comedy is not easy at all. Sankranti is a time when people want an entertaining film. Only if the content is good will people come to watch a film well after the opening weekend,” says the director.
While he has consistently delivered hits, there has also been some criticism of his style of humour, which isn’t always classy. “I am always open to positive and constructive feedback which can help improve my craft. But I have also learnt to not be bothered by trolls.”
Published – January 11, 2026 12:24 pm IST
