How do you feel about Chennai Love Story entering the ₹50 crore club?
Ravi Namburi: This success has given me confidence that I was able to present a good film to audiences in the right way. More than the box-office collections, the appreciation from viewers and the emotional connection they developed with the film have given me immense satisfaction. I am delighted that my debut film has collected more than ₹50 crore. To be honest, I expected the film to achieve this result.
How did you become associated with the story?
Ravi Namburi: Sai Rajesh narrated the story to me. I was deeply impressed by its emotions and the challenge involved in presenting them effectively. I immediately accepted the responsibility of directing the film. We developed the screenplay together, while I wrote the dialogues. Working with Sai Rajesh was a wonderful and valuable experience.
How do you feel about the response to the film’s dialogues?
Ravi Namburi: I am extremely happy that the dialogues are receiving so much appreciation. My previous experience in the dialogue-writing departments of Maruthi’s Prathi Roju Pandage and Pakka Commercial helped me considerably while working on this film. That experience enabled me to write conversations that felt natural and emotionally connected to the characters.
Why was Sri Gouri Priya selected as the female lead?
Ravi Namburi: I suggested Sri Gouri Priya because I strongly believed she was perfect for the character. After discussing the idea with Sai Rajesh, we finalized her for the role. She did complete justice to the character and strengthened the film’s emotional journey through her performance.
How would you describe Kiran Abbavaram’s performance?
Ravi Namburi: Kiran Abbavaram completely justified the character of Steven Shankar. I consider it one of the most controlled and mature performances of his career so far. During filming, he placed complete trust in me as a director, gave me all the shooting days I required and never pressured me. His support gave me tremendous confidence throughout the production.
How important was Mani Sharma’s music to the film?
Ravi Namburi: Melody Brahma Mani Sharma is one of the film’s greatest strengths. His background score elevated every important scene and strengthened the emotional impact. Anantha Sriram, Mani Sharma and the entire team worked with a shared understanding of the story. As a result, the music, dialogues and emotions blended naturally and connected strongly with audiences.
What were the biggest challenges during filming?
Ravi Namburi: The interval accident sequence and the dog sequence in the climax were the most difficult portions to film. We shot the accident sequence on real roads in Puducherry, which required extensive planning and coordination. We also wanted the climax sequence involving the dog to feel natural rather than staged. Both sequences demanded additional time and budget, but the producers never compromised and supported us completely.
How do you respond to the initial opinions about the second half?
Ravi Namburi: Some viewers expressed different opinions about the second half on the first day. However, once audiences understood the twist and the purpose behind the narrative, they began appreciating that portion even more. The second half is now receiving an excellent response and has become an important reason for the film’s emotional impact.
What kind of appreciation did you receive from the film industry?
Ravi Namburi: Actor Santosh Sobhan, director Sailesh Kolanu and several other film personalities called me after watching the film and congratulated me. Receiving such appreciation from people within the industry was extremely encouraging. Their response has motivated me to work harder and tell even better stories in the future.
Will your next film also be produced by SKN?
Ravi Namburi: I will always remain grateful to SKN for giving me my first opportunity as a director. My next film will also be made under his production banner. It will be based on my original story and will be designed as a family and youth entertainer with strong emotional content.
