Allu Arjun’s Arya Was the Inspiration for Dude

Few films leave a lasting mark, and Sukumar’s directorial debut Arya, starring Allu Arjun, is one of them. More than 20 years after its release, the film and its music, composed by Devi Sri Prasad, are still remembered. The dubbed versions of Arya also made an impact across India, beyond the Telugu states.

This Diwali, four films are set to release, including Dude. Though it is a dubbed film, it has generated significant interest among Telugu audiences, thanks to its promotional material and music. On Wednesday, the team held a pre-release event in Hyderabad to promote the film.

Director Keerthiswaran, making his directorial debut with Dude, spoke at the event. A former associate of Sudha Kongara on Soorarai Pottru (dubbed Aakasham Nee Hadhura in Telugu), he revealed that Arya inspired him while writing Dude. “I love Arya so much. It was an inspiration for making Dude,” he said.

He also spoke about his connection with Telugu people. “Although I was born and brought up in Chennai, my first film offer came from Mythri Movie Makers, who are Telugu. I worked under Sudha Kongara, who is also Telugu. I reached out to Mythri because of my cinematographer and friend Niketh Bommi, who is also Telugu,” he said.

He added, “What’s special about Mythri Movie Makers is that they approved my script in just one narration. They make big films, but more importantly, they encourage debutant directors. That’s very rare.”

Dude stars Tamil actor Pradeep Ranganathan, who gained popularity among Telugu audiences with Love Today and Dragon. The film is written and directed by Keerthiswaran, with music by Sai Abhyankkar. Produced by Mythri Movie Makers, it is set to release on October 17.