After '8 Vasantalu', I finally feel like an actor, says Ananthika Sanilkumar
8 Vasantalu follows the journey of a girl through love, pain, strength, and rebirth, just like the seasons. Nature is a silent witness, with scenes set in misty Ooty, soulful Varanasi, and the breathtaking Kashmir valley. 'I had never been to Ooty before. But Kashmir was my favourite,' she smiles. 'It was calm, peaceful and beautiful. The people were so lovely.'
Ananthika plays Shuddhi, a complex character with depth. 'Every character had layers,' she says. 'Usually, I feel like the hero has more to perform. But here, everything was balanced – romance, fights, friendships, and even women's empowerment.'
The film also included an intense fight sequence shot in Varanasi, using the Wing Chun technique. 'We trained for three months, and it took a week to shoot. I used to sleep by 10-11, but the action was shot at night. I got used to it,' she laughs. 'I didn't use ropes; it was a basic-level stunt. I enjoy injuries. It makes me feel like I've done something.'
In a scene where Shuddhi is denied the right to light her master's funeral pyre because she is a woman, Ananthika says, 'I was so happy reading that dialogue. The entire cast read the script together. I cried while reading it.'
One monologue stands out for her, where Shuddhi's mother tells her she is a queen. It reminded her of her mother, who supported her through everything. 'We weren't financially sound. But for all my classical performances, my parents spent a lot without telling me. Till 10th, it was all them. Now that I'm working, I have some peace that I don't have to disturb them anymore.'
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New Indian Express
16-07-2025
- New Indian Express
After '8 Vasantalu', I finally feel like an actor, says Ananthika Sanilkumar
'8 Vasantalu', a journey through seasons 8 Vasantalu follows the journey of a girl through love, pain, strength, and rebirth, just like the seasons. Nature is a silent witness, with scenes set in misty Ooty, soulful Varanasi, and the breathtaking Kashmir valley. 'I had never been to Ooty before. But Kashmir was my favourite,' she smiles. 'It was calm, peaceful and beautiful. The people were so lovely.' Ananthika plays Shuddhi, a complex character with depth. 'Every character had layers,' she says. 'Usually, I feel like the hero has more to perform. But here, everything was balanced – romance, fights, friendships, and even women's empowerment.' The film also included an intense fight sequence shot in Varanasi, using the Wing Chun technique. 'We trained for three months, and it took a week to shoot. I used to sleep by 10-11, but the action was shot at night. I got used to it,' she laughs. 'I didn't use ropes; it was a basic-level stunt. I enjoy injuries. It makes me feel like I've done something.' In a scene where Shuddhi is denied the right to light her master's funeral pyre because she is a woman, Ananthika says, 'I was so happy reading that dialogue. The entire cast read the script together. I cried while reading it.' One monologue stands out for her, where Shuddhi's mother tells her she is a queen. It reminded her of her mother, who supported her through everything. 'We weren't financially sound. But for all my classical performances, my parents spent a lot without telling me. Till 10th, it was all them. Now that I'm working, I have some peace that I don't have to disturb them anymore.'
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Time of India
'8 Vasantalu': Phanindra Narsetti releases original script ‘12 Vasantalu'; The director reveals unseen story arcs
The romance drama film '8 Vasantalu,' starring received a good response on its digital release. Directed by , the filmmaker has shared the extended version of the film's original screenplay online. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He revealed that the story was initially written as '12 Vasantalu,' which has a much broader arc of the protagonist's life. A story that spans around twelve years The film, which premiered in theatres on June 20 and made its OTT debut just days ago, follows the character of Shuddi Ayodhya, played by Ananthika Sanilkumar, through eight formative years, from 19 to 27, touching upon themes of love, loss, ambition, and social pressures. However, according to Narsetti, what audiences saw on screen was just a portion of the original vision. Director shares extended script In a post shared via his private Instagram account, Narsetti announced his decision to make the full script available to the public. "Very soon, I'll put the whole script '12 Vasantalu' as a PDF. What you have seen in '8 Vasantalu' is nothing compared to what Shuddi will undergo in '12 Vasantalu'," he wrote. Staying true to his promise, the filmmaker provided a link to the script for those who might be interested in his complete narrative. Includes bonus material The package includes both the shooting script of '8 Vasantalu' and the original extended version, '12 Vasantalu,' along with a bonus scene inspired by the classic song 'Vidhatha Thalapuna' penned by legendary lyricist Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry for the 1986 film Sirivennela. In his post, Narsetti also explained the creative choices that led to the trimming of several key elements. Entire characters like Ista, Umar, Ramu, and Mamata were removed from the final film, along with plotlines involving a serious accident, a cancer diagnosis, and an emotionally intense confrontation between Shuddi and another character, Varun, in the second half. '8 Vasantalu' is currently streaming in multiple languages on Netflix.
Mint
12-07-2025
- Mint
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