At the Minsk International Film Festival 2024 in Belarus, the audience rejoiced when Telugu feature film Gandhi Aur Chettu was declared the best film by the jury. It was a surreal moment for its writer and debut director Padmavati Malladi. A few minutes later, the name of the film was announced again, which surprised her. Gandhi and Chettu Also won the Best Film Award in the Audience Choice category. “It was a vindication of all our efforts,” she recalls when we meet at a café in Hyderabad. The film, which releases in theaters on January 24, began as a crowdfunded indie project. It tells the story of a teenage girl named Gandhi, who adopts Gandhian principles from her grandfather and does everything she can to save a tree from being cut down.
The film stars famous director Sukumar’s daughter Sukriti Veni Bandareddy along with Anand Chakrapani, Raaga Mayur and others. After watching the final cut, Sukumar encouraged Padmavati to present the film at international festivals. “I was very impressed when some of the audiences in Belarus told me that they connected with the idea of non-violence towards people and the environment,” says Padmavati. “He talked about the relevance of nonviolence, especially at a time when Ukraine and Russia are at war.”
idea for Gandhi and Chettu It originated when Padmavati heard a story from her friend and screenwriter Venkata Karnathy. “They didn’t take the story any further, but it got me thinking,” she says. “I started writing about the grandfather and the grandson, but then I thought – why not about the granddaughter? Why can’t Gandhi be a girl?”
Basics of Screenwriting
An MBA graduate, Padmavati learned screenwriting while working with directors Chandra Shekhar Yeleti, Nag Ashwin and Radha Krishna. As she learned to adapt her ideas into a screenplay, she began to enjoy the writing process. “Formally trained writers often talk about a three-act structure, but I realized that this is not necessary in the Indian context because our films have an intermission which comes as a big break during the second act. It is,” she says.
festival headlines
Gandhi and Chettu Some were screened at national and international film festivals and won awards. Some of these include – Official Selection of Eco BRICS Film Festival 2024, 14th Dadasaheb Phalke Film Festival 2024; Best Regional Film and Special Mention Jury Award at New Delhi Film Festival 2024; Best Debut Child Actor at Dubai International Film Festival 2024; Best Debut Child Actor at the International Film Festival of India AP 2024.
Padmavati has been a screenwriter for over a decade and has contributed to projects like Chandra Shekhar Yeleti wishful thinkingsnake of ashwin greatnessCharukesh Sekar’s ammuAnd Surya Manoj Wangla’s web series Vrindaamong others. she wrote Gandhi and Chettu Sporadically, whenever inspiration struck. “There was no pressure on me to complete it within a certain time frame,” she recalls.
Initially content as a screenwriter, Padmavati had no aspirations for direction. “But as the story developed, I felt the desire to direct it. A director’s first film usually comes from a place of innocence, free from commercial constraints,” she explains. Around the same time, Padmavati lost her parents and decided to channel her grief into film, as it was the best way to process it.

Sukriti in ‘Gandhi and Chettu’
Although he had experience on film sets as a writer, his role was limited to negotiating scenes and dialogues with the actors or coordinating dubbing sessions. However, directing meant managing multiple departments, planning workflows, and solving daily challenges. For preparation, Padmavati sought guidance from veteran filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao. “He gave me a two-day crash course in directing and I followed all his advice. During his tenure, he directed big budget films in a short period of time. He taught me that direction is about planning, managing people and making the right choices for the film.” Additionally, Padmavati directed a short film to gain practical experience.

route of production Gandhi and Chettu It was far from smooth. About 18 production houses rejected the script as commercially unviable. However, Padmavati’s friend Shesh Sindhu Rao believed the story and willingly produced it. “But he had only ₹5,000,” laughs Padmavati. Sindhu approached US-based crowdfunding platform Cinema Stock Exchange. The budget of the film was estimated at Rs 85 lakh. “The platform has a policy that the entire amount must be raised within a stipulated time frame, otherwise the money will be returned to the investors. Luckily, we achieved our target on the last day, raising ₹75 lakh, with the remaining amount spent on transaction fees.”
To save costs, pre-production work was conducted at Padmavati’s home. “Looking back I wonder how we managed. When we were planning the film, I used to cook food for 10 to 15 people every day. The team started the work of making tea, coffee and omelette. What kept us going was the belief that we could make this film.”
For the lead role, the team looked for a teenage girl who could embody the character. Sindhu suggested the name of director Sukumar’s daughter Sukriti. Padmavati and Sindhu approached Sukumar and his wife Thabitha for permission. “We were surprised when Sukriti agreed and was even willing to shave her head for an important scene. She was exactly as I had imagined – slim, round-faced and with a smile that reached her eyes. He perfectly reflected the essence of Gandhi.”
Filming began after a two-month workshop with Sukriti. Padmavati chose a secluded location featuring a lone tree in Nizamabad, while the village scenes were shot in Rangampet, Kamareddy district, Telangana. “The village and its surroundings were ideal for the early 2000s. To maintain authenticity, we bought clothes from the villagers. “Our crew performed a number of tasks to keep production on track.”
Thanks to careful planning, the shooting was completed in just 25 days. “We had two cinematographers – Srijitha Cheruvupalli, who portrayed the basic ethos of the village, and Vishwa Devabattula, who handled the more dramatic parts.”
However, new challenges emerged after filming. The crowdfunded budget was exhausted, leaving no funds for post-production. Thabitha came forward to help. Initially, the plan was for a direct digital release, but during a private screening, producer Sashi of Mythri Movie Makers was so impressed with the film that he suggested a theatrical release. “Mythri helmed the film, and Sukumar and Thabeetha came on board as presenters under his production house, Sukumar Writings. “I couldn’t have asked for anything more,” says Padmavati. As the film’s release date approaches, she says, “There’s a feeling of peace now.”
published – January 22, 2025 03:35 PM IST