What’s Suriya’s Connection to Allu Arjun’s AVPL?

Ala Vaikunthapuramulo, starring Allu Arjun and directed by Trivikram, is still seen as one of the most successful traditional Telugu commercial entertainers in recent years. Its music, comedy and family drama turned it into a reference point for many filmmakers. A new project now seems to be drawing comparisons to that film, and it involves Suriya.

Suriya was last seen in Retro, which did not perform well at the box office. He is currently working on two films: Karuppu with RJ Balaji, and his first straight Telugu project with Venky Atluri. The director has built a strong track record with non-Telugu stars after the success of Dhanush’s Sir and Dulquer Salmaan’s Lucky Baskhar. This has raised expectations for his collaboration with Suriya across Tamil and Telugu markets.

The film features Suriya and Mamitha Baiju in the leading roles and is planned as a lighthearted family entertainer. No promotional material has been released so far. But composer GV Prakash has offered the first hint about the film’s tone.

During a brief interaction with Gulte.com on the IFFI closing ceremony red carpet in Goa, GV Prakash spoke about the project, tentatively titled Suriya 46. He said the film is a family entertainer and has shaped up well. Asked whether it follows the period-style approach of Sir or Lucky Baskhar, he clarified that it is a contemporary story. He added that the film carries a vibe similar to Ala Vaikunthapuramulo for Suriya.

Suriya 46 is directed by Venky Atluri and features Suriya, Mamitha Baiju, Raveena Tandon, Anil Kapoor and others. GV Prakash scores the music. The film is produced by Naga Vamsi under Sithara Entertainments.