Had I directed Upendra’s cult classics, I would’ve retired happily: Sukumar

Acclaimed filmmaker Sukumar paid tribute to Kannada superstar Upendra during the teaser launch event of the Telugu film Seetha Payanam in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Reflecting on Upendra’s work, Sukumar said, “I haven’t seen any director with the kind of madness and frenzy that Upendra brings to his films.

Honestly, if I had directed those films, I would have happily retired. That’s how iconic they are.”

Recalling the influence of Upendra’s cult classics — Om, A, and Upendra — Sukumar noted how these bold and innovative films reshaped Indian cinema’s narrative landscape. Sukumar also credited Upendra’s influence on his own screenwriting style, saying, “Every director has taken inspiration from him. Whatever screenplay brilliance you notice in my films today is influenced by those three cult classics.

I’ve shamelessly borrowed from him.”Every director has taken inspiration from him. Whatever screenplay brilliance you notice in my films today is influenced by those three cult classics— Om, A, and UpendraCurrently, Sukumar is engaged in the pre-production phase of his next major project starring Ram Charan. Upendra, meanwhile, is in the city to shoot for his next Telugu film with Ram Pothineni.

- TNN