Telusu Kada Is A Character-Driven Film: Neeraja Kona

Siddu Jonnalagadda, Srinidhi Shetty, and Raashii Khanna starrer musical love entertainer Telusu Kada, directed by Neeraja Kona and produced by People Media Factory, is set to hit the screens on October 17th. After building anticipation with two songs and a teaser, the makers are now gearing up to launch the trailer soon.

Although Neeraja Kona has never worked as an assistant director, she has been a costume designer for nearly 100 films. “I’ve been in the industry for 12 years, and that’s been my school of learning and experience,” she shares. “I met Nithiin during the trailer launch event of Puli Meka. That’s when I shared this idea, and he suggested that Siddu would be perfect for the role.”

The director reveals that Telusu Kada is a film where each character resonates emotionally with the audience. “It’s a love story that follows an emotional journey between two people. Along with romance, it explores emotional complexity. It’s a character-driven story with three strong, deeply honest characters.”

Though she’s a female filmmaker, Neeraja insists that gender never influenced her storytelling. “It doesn’t matter whether a story is written by a man or a woman. What matters is how honestly it’s told. My focus was on presenting a genuine narrative. There’s no bias here. I want Telusu Kada to be remembered as a film made by a good filmmaker, not just a woman director.”

She is full of praise for Siddu Jonnalagadda. “Siddu has a very unique perspective, which helped me enhance the writing. He brought a fresh dimension to the story. He’s an incredible performer and a great storyteller. From his looks to his mannerisms, everything adds to a strong screen presence.”

Neeraja also reveals that both female leads, Srinidhi and Raashii, play impactful roles. “Srinidhi’s character, Raaga, is complex. I narrated the role to her even before Hit 3. Her experience in films like KGF and Hit 3 really helped. Raashii plays Anjali, a uniquely written character, and she has performed brilliantly.”

She also expressed gratitude to her producers. “I’m thankful to TG Vishwa Prasad and Krithi Prasad for all their support in bringing this film to life.”