The newest kid in the Tollywood block, Sri Simha Koduri, the younger son of Rajamouli’s cousin Keeravani, is getting ready for his acting debut in the upcoming suspense thriller Mathu Vadhalara, which is directed by Ritesh Rana.
Simha, who made brief appearances as a child artiste, tells us that he always wanted to become an actor. To further his passion, he enrolled in an acting course after completing his education.
“But my experiences as an assistant director (AD) for the film Rangasthalam are what eventually gave me a better sense of cinema. And those experiences came in handy and helped me overcome several difficulties in this avatar of mine,” he explains.
Then adding how the works of his dad and Rajamouli Babai, his uncle, had an influence on him, Simha says, “I was raised in an environment surrounded by works related to films. Watching my father and Babai work had a natural effect on me.”
Simha goes on to tell us how upon expressing his desire of becoming an actor, his dad was forthcoming with his support. “He is a father who’s always let his children pursue their dreams,” he adds, smiling.
It’s interesting to note that unlike most debuting actors who prefer to start off with a commercial film, Simha chose to pick a thriller. “I believe the story should speak more than anything,” he states simply.
So, what is Mathu Vadalara about, we ask him. “It is a thriller in which I play the role of a delivery boy. The film is about how my character gets trapped in a crime and how the character brings the culprits to justice,” he explains. And did his father interfere during the filming? “Neither my father nor my Babai even heard the script. It was my call; I liked the story and chose to go ahead,” he replies. “Of course, I was relieved when my father patted me on my back after seeing the film.”
But did he get any acting advice from Rajamouli? “Because I grew up around him, I’ve been naturally influenced by him. So Rajamouli Babai’s tips on how to go about various things helped me a lot in getting a better understanding of films in general,” says Simha. Coincidentally, Mathu Vadalara also marks the debut of Keeravani’s older son Kaala Bhairava, as music composer. “Yeah, it was a pleasant coincidence. We discuss work and share feedback,” says a smiling Simha as he signs off.
