Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu (), also known by the initialism SVSC, is a 2013 Indian Telugu-language comedy drama film written and directed by Srikanth Addala. It was produced by Dil Raju's Sri Venkateswara Creations, and stars Venkatesh, Mahesh Babu, Anjali and Samantha, while Prakash Raj, Jayasudha, Rao Ramesh, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Abhinaya and Rohini Hattangadi play supporting roles.
In addition to directing the film, Addala worked on the script for three years after the release of his directorial debut, Kotha Bangaru Lokam (2008). He wrote the screenplay and the story with Ganesh Patro writing the dialogues. Mickey J. Meyer and Mani Sharma composed the soundtrack and background score, respectively. Marthand K. Venkatesh edited the film and K. V. Guhan was its cinematographer. Production began on 6 October 2011 in Hyderabad; principal photography began on 18 January 2012 in Visakhapatnam, and finished on 24 December. In addition to Hyderabad, scenes were filmed in coastal Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu was released worldwide on 11 January 2013 to acclaim. The film was commercially successful, earning a distributor share of 51 crore on a budget of 40 crore, and was the second-highest-grossing Telugu film of the year (after Attarintiki Daredi ). It received seven nominations at the 61st Filmfare Awards South and eleven nominations at the 3rd South Indian International Movie Awards, winning two awards at each: Best Actor Male — Telugu (Mahesh Babu) and Best Playback Singer Female — Telugu (K. S. Chithra). The film won four Nandi Awards, including the Award for Best Home-viewing Feature Film.
Plot A benevolent middle-aged man, fondly referred to as Relangi Mavayya (), resides in his hometown with his wife, children (2 sons and a daughter), elderly mother and orphaned niece Seetha, whom they fostered. Reticent,"Peddodu" () resigns from his uncle Brahmananda Rao's company, upset over being chastised, while "Chinnodu" () is sharp-witted and flirtatious. Friends and kin presume that Seetha, being Peddodu's cross cousin, would marry him. Despite being cognizant of her own feelings for him, Seetha is disappointed with the fact that he never addresses her by her name. Ramachandra Prasad, Seetha's paternal uncle, a wealthy individual, despises the financial stature of Relangi Mavayya's family; his daughter Geetha and Chinnodu meet at the wedding of the former's elder sister, and develop feelings for each other.
A distant relative, Kondal Rao and his son Gooduraju envy Relangi Mavayya and his sons' image among everyone. Geetha's elder sister and her in-laws run into Relangi Mavayya and his daughter Chinni in a train and deem her potential to be the wife of a relative, prompting the alliance to be eventually finalized. Ramachandra Prasad humiliates Peddodu during the wedding ceremony, intensifying the tensions between them. Peddodu and Chinnodu go to Hyderabad with the intent to find employment. Geetha, who has been in the city with her family, summons Chinnodu to a restaurant, concealing her family's presence. Ramachandra Prasad belittles him and his family once again, causing Chinnodu to insult him in front of his family and threatening to beat him up if he insults his family again and furiously walk out. Geetha attempts to cheer Chinnodu up, but they stumble upon Peddodu, who is unhappy about their affair and goes home. Geetha's relationship with Chinnodu is thus strained.
Ramachandra Prasad finds a suitor for her but his mother resists and commands him to get Seetha married in the first place. Ramachandra Prasad discourages Relangi Mavayya's interest in getting Seetha married to Peddodu and finds a marriage proposal for her. Nevertheless, the alliance is spoiled. Relangi Mavayya falls prey to a road accident while rescuing a young boy and sustains minor wounds; Brahmananda Rao, the young boy's uncle, apologizes and offers a job to Chinnodu. Elsewhere, Peddodu and Chinnodu's rift widens, owing to unfinished conversations. Relangi Mavayya and his family attend the annual "Kalyanam () of Rama and Sita in Bhadrachalam, which is coincidentally attended by Geetha and her family. A short circuit causes chaos; Peddodu and Chinnodu rescue Geetha's family and other devotees. Praising the brothers, their father reminds them of their love for each other and details the importance of adjusting, brotherhood and family. This transforms their attitude, prompting their reconciliation. Having eavesdropped on their conversation, Ramachandra Prasad reforms. Peddodu addresses Seetha by her name, hinting his love for her and they marry as Geetha's father performs the rituals on Seetha's father's behalf. Chinnodu and Geetha too harmonize. Later, Chinnodu and Peddodu buy bangles for their grandmother, implying that they have found employment.
Cast
Production
Development After the release of his directorial debut, Kotha Bangaru Lokam (2008), Srikanth Addala worked for three years on Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu script. After Vedam release, in June 2010 Dil Raju began planning a film directed by Addala and featuring Venkatesh and Pawan Kalyan as the male leads. Scripting began, and the film's title was announced in September. When the project stalled, Addala approached Mahesh Babu with its script in June 2011.
Babu agreed to act in the film after Addala met him to read the script during pre-production for Dookudu (2011). He and Venkatesh cited the script's emotional depth and realistic approach as the reason they signed for the film. Addala approached Ganesh Patro in Chennai to write the film's dialogue. Patro used the dialect spoken in the Godavari region of Andhra Pradesh, edited by Addala. It was his final project as a dialogue writer before his death in January 2015. K. V. Guhan, who worked on the previous Babu films Athadu (2005) and Dookudu, was signed as Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu cinematographer.
Mickey J. Meyer, who worked with Addala on the director's debut, composed the film's soundtrack and Mani Sharma composed its score. Sharma had composed the score for Raju's 2011 production, Oh My Friend, whose soundtrack was composed by Rahul Raj. Although production began in Hyderabad on the eve of Vijayadasami (6 October 2011) with a launch ceremony, Venkatesh and Babu did not attend due to previous film commitments. "Simple but beautiful" was announced as the film's advertising slogan in June 2012.
Casting
Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu is considered the first Telugu star-studded film in the last two or three decades. After listening to Addala's narration, Venkatesh felt that they could work more on the film's script and the director agreed. The actor agreed to the film because he considered it a safe bet which would appeal to a family audience. Raju was interested in casting Babu as the lead for two reasons: the film, revolving around two brothers, required two popular actors as the leads and the producer again wanted to work with the actor after Murari (2001), Takkari Donga (2002), Okkadu (2003) and Athadu. Guhan told The Hindu that Venkatesh's and Babu's unnamed characters would simply be called Peddodu and Chinnodu, respectively. The film is considered to be the first multi-starrer of Telugu cinema in recent decades.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu was signed to play Babu's love interest in the film, and Raju asked her to allow 40 days for shooting. After Trisha, Bhumika Chawla and Anushka Shetty were considered for the other female lead, Amala Paul was signed in mid-December 2011. After a photo shoot and the beginning of principal photography, Paul left the project in late January 2012 and Raju replaced her with Anjali.
Prakash Raj was cast in a principal role as the brothers' father. When he failed to join the film unit in Kutralam, it was rumoured that he had walked out of the film due to differences with Raju but Raju denied the reports. Jayasudha and Rohini Hattangadi were signed for supporting roles, and Hattangadi said that she would play the brothers' grandmother. Rao Ramesh played Samantha's father in the film.
Miss Dabur Gulabari 2011 second runner-up Tejaswi Madivada was signed for a supporting role in her acting debut, and Abhinaya was cast as Babu's sister in the film. Rama Prabha, Tanikella Bharani, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Brahmanandam and Ahuti Prasad later joined the film's supporting cast. Traditional and formal costumes were supplied by the clothing chain Kalamandir.
Filming
Principal photography began on 18 January 2012 in Visakhapatnam, where several of Venkatesh's scenes were filmed near the Andhra University campus and on the Ramakrishna Mission Beach. The next shooting schedule began in Kutralam, Tamil Nadu, on 6 February 2012 and filming continued in Hyderabad during March. In Sanathnagar a crowd disrupted shooting, and the film's crew chose an undisclosed location to resume. Samantha joined the film unit on 28 March. After shooting was disrupted three times in Hyderabad by crowds, Babu suggested that Raju move production to Chennai (where several wedding scenes were filmed at a coconut plantation). Rain increased production costs.
Part of the song "Yem Cheddaam" was shot at the Sabarmati Riverfront in mid-April, the riverfront's first appearance in a Telugu film. In addition to the riverfront, scenes were filmed over a fifteen-day schedule in shopping malls and gardens around Ahmedabad. Addala chose the city for its developing infrastructure, friendly people and climatic similarity to Hyderabad. On 31 May 2012, Raju told the media that 35 percent of Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu filming was completed and the next shooting schedule would begin at Ramoji Film City. A house set worth 10 million was built at the studio under the supervision of A. S. Prakash. Venkatesh and Anjali began a four-day shooting schedule at Ahobilam on 4 July. After several key scenes were filmed in Relangi, near Tanuku, a new schedule began in Bhadrachalam on 16 July.
Filming was delayed when Samantha became ill, resuming on 19 August after her recovery. By mid-September, the producers had filmed for nearly 80 working days. Wedding and other crucial scenes were filmed in Chennai. By then the shooting of five songs was completed, with work on two more songs and detail work pending. Raju planned two shooting schedules: one from 28 September to 12 October, and the other from 15 November to the end of the month. Filming continued on 2 October 2012 at Ramanaidu Studios. The film's climactic scenes were shot in mid-November 2012 on a custom-built Bhadrachalam Temple set at Ramoji Film City, and the dialogue was wrapped up on 17 November.
A song featuring Babu and Samantha was shot in Magarpatta, Pune, in early December, and scenes following Chinni's wedding were filmed in Dwaraka Tirumala. Another song featuring Venkatesh and Anjali was shot in Kerala under the supervision of Prem Rakshith; its completion marked the end of principal photography on 24 December.
Post-production On 6 October 2012, a pooja commemorated the beginning of the film's dubbing. Post-production was planned simultaneously for a December 2012 release. On 23 October, Samantha began dubbing her role in the film. This was the first time she dubbed for herself in a Telugu film; her roles had previously been dubbed by the singer Chinmayi. Babu began dubbing his role on 10 December; Venkatesh had completed most of his dubbing work by then, with only a few reels remaining.