Ravi Teja’s Irumudi is attempting something rarely explored in mainstream Telugu cinema by placing an intense crime story within the world of Ayyappa Deeksha and a deeply emotional family drama. Ahead of its August 21 worldwide release, director Shiva Nirvana has revealed how the unusual combination came together and why authenticity became crucial to the film.

According to Shiva Nirvana, the story is fundamentally about the human drama surrounding the Ayyappa Mala. The discipline and fear of committing a mistake during Deeksha become an important part of the protagonist’s journey, while his relationship with his daughter provides the emotional foundation. The crime thread then adds another layer of tension to the narrative.

Shiva went beyond research for the subject, personally undertaking the Ayyappa Deeksha, attending Padi Poojas and interacting with several Guruswamys before shooting. He wanted the devotional portions to emerge naturally rather than becoming a decorative element in the screenplay. The title Irumudi itself reflects the multiple knots connecting the father and daughter, the devotee and his Deeksha, and the crime surrounding them.

The director also revealed an interesting detail about Mallepoola Pallaki. The song has been associated with Ayyappa devotees during Padi Poojas for years, and instead of using a mainstream playback singer, the team retained Dappu Srinu, the original singer. Shiva believes the song could have audiences dancing in theatres, irrespective of whether they are devotees.

Shiva also dismissed the ongoing rumours of Ram Charan appearing in the song, making it clear that the speculation is false. He credited Ravi Teja for completely owning the protagonist and praised Baby Nakshatra, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Vishnu Sarma and the team at Mythri Movie Makers for supporting the film’s demanding production.

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