# Sukumar filmography
The Sukumar filmography covers the screenwriting, directing, and producing credits of Bandreddi Sukumar, an Indian filmmaker who works predominantly in [Telugu cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/telugu-cinema). Over a career that began with *Arya* (2004), he has directed nine feature films, written or co-written many of their screenplays, and produced films under his banner Sukumar Writings, including *Kumari 21F* (2015), *Uppena* (2021), and *Virupaksha* (2023).[1](https://letterboxd.com/director/sukumar/) • [2](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/sukumar)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Directed features | *Arya* (2004), *Jagadam* (2007), *Arya 2* (2009), *100% Love* (2011), *1: Nenokkadine* (2014), *Nannaku Prematho* (2016), *Rangasthalam* (2018), *Pushpa: The Rise* (2021), *Pushpa 2: The Rule* (2024)[2](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/sukumar) |
| Signature debut | *Arya* (2004), a romantic entertainer starring Allu Arjun, Siva Balaji, and Anuradha Mehta; Sukumar also wrote the screenplay, and the film ran over 420 days across eight centers[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1335875/bio/) |
| Major awards | Filmfare Award for Best Director – Telugu for *Arya* (2004) and *Rangasthalam* (2018); Nandi Award for Best Screenplay Writer (2004); National Film Award for Best Screenplay (Original) for *Pushpa 2: The Rule*[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1335875/bio/) • [2](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/sukumar) • [4](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/sukumar-bandreddi/filmography/director/) |
| Production banner | Sukumar Writings, founded before *Kumari 21F* (2015), his debut as a producer[1](https://letterboxd.com/director/sukumar/) |
| Highest-rated film | *Rangasthalam* (2018), 100% critics and 91% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/sukumar_2) |
| Upcoming direction | *Pushpa 3 – The Rampage* (listed as pre-production, with a 2028 slot on IMDb and a 2027 announcement listing on Bollywood Hungama) and an untitled film with Ram Charan[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1335875/) • [4](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/sukumar-bandreddi/filmography/director/) |
| Career credits (IMDb) | 23 writing credits, 18 directing credits (including music videos), 9 producing credits, 3 acting credits[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1335875/) |
## Early path into film
Before entering cinema, Sukumar worked as a mathematics lecturer at a junior college in Bhimavaram, and other accounts describe him teaching mathematics and physics for nearly six years.[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1335875/) • [1](https://letterboxd.com/director/sukumar/) After moving to [Hyderabad](https://www.edgepedia.org/hyderabad), he wrote for TV serials and films, worked as an assistant director on movies including *Manasichi Choodu* (1999), and assisted the directors Mohan and [V. V. Vinayak](https://www.edgepedia.org/v-v-vinayak) before directing his own feature.[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1335875/) • [1](https://letterboxd.com/director/sukumar/)
## Directorial films, 2004 to 2016
**Arya (2004).** Sukumar's debut was a romantic entertainer built around three college students with love as the central theme. It became a commercial hit, running over 420 days across eight centers, and won him the Filmfare South Award for Best Director – Telugu and the Nandi Award for Best Screenplay Writer in 2004.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1335875/bio/) The film began a long collaborative streak with actor [Allu Arjun](https://www.edgepedia.org/allu-arjun) and composer [Devi Sri Prasad](https://www.edgepedia.org/devi-sri-prasad), who has since worked with him on six films.[1](https://letterboxd.com/director/sukumar/) • [7](https://filmi.ai/person/sukumar)
**Jagadam (2007) and Arya 2 (2009).** His second film was an action movie with [Ram Pothineni](https://www.edgepedia.org/ram-pothineni) and Isha Sahani, about a child who wants to become a thug and the challenges that fascination brings him in adult life; Sukumar wrote the screenplay as well.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1335875/bio/) He then wrote and directed *Arya 2* (2009), a namesake sequel to *Arya* featuring Allu Arjun, Navdeep, and [Kajal Aggarwal](https://www.edgepedia.org/kajal-aggarwal), dealing with the love-hate relationship between two childhood friends who fall for the same girl.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1335875/bio/)
**100% Love (2011).** The romantic comedy *100% Love*, which Sukumar wrote and directed, followed in 2011.[2](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/sukumar)
**1: Nenokkadine (2014) and Nannaku Prematho (2016).** *1: Nenokkadine*, released in January 2014, is described as a psychological action thriller starring [Mahesh Babu](https://www.edgepedia.org/mahesh-babu); Sukumar wrote and directed it.[2](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/sukumar) • [8](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/sukumar-bandreddi/2278/filmography) Two years later came *Nannaku Prematho* (January 2016), an action thriller starring [N. T. Rama Rao Jr.](https://www.edgepedia.org/n-t-rama-rao-jr), which Sukumar again wrote and directed.[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1335875/)
## Rangasthalam and the Pushpa series
**Rangasthalam (2018).** Sukumar wrote and directed this period action drama, winning his second [Filmfare Award for Best Director](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-award-for-best-director) – Telugu.[2](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/sukumar) The film, released on 30 March 2018 and running 2 hours 50 minutes, stars [Ram Charan](https://www.edgepedia.org/ram-charan), Samantha Akkineni, Jagapati Babu, and [Prakash Raj](https://www.edgepedia.org/prakash-raj).[9](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Sukumar/movies) It stands as his highest-rated film on Rotten Tomatoes, at 100% from critics and 91% from audiences.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/sukumar_2)
**Pushpa: The Rise (2021) and Pushpa 2: The Rule (2024).** Sukumar wrote and directed *Pushpa: The Rise – Part 1*, released 17 December 2021, an action drama following the rise of a laborer in a violent red-sandalwood smuggling syndicate.[2](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/sukumar) • [10](https://apnews.com/article/11f634610029566f9ca60071bf3430d5) It was a commercial success and became one of the highest-grossing Indian films of 2021.[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1335875/) He wrote and directed the sequel *Pushpa 2: The Rule*, released 5 December 2024, with Allu Arjun reprising the role of Pushpa Raj alongside [Rashmika Mandanna](https://www.edgepedia.org/rashmika-mandanna) and [Fahadh Faasil](https://www.edgepedia.org/fahadh-faasil).[4](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/sukumar-bandreddi/filmography/director/) • [9](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Sukumar/movies) For *Pushpa 2: The Rule*, Sukumar won the National Film Award for Best Screenplay (Original) at the 72nd [National Film Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-film-awards).[4](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/sukumar-bandreddi/filmography/director/)
A third installment, *Pushpa 3 – The Rampage*, is in development: IMDb lists it in pre-production for 2028, while Bollywood Hungama records it as announced for 2027.[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1335875/) • [4](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/sukumar-bandreddi/filmography/director/)
## Writing and producing credits
Under his banner Sukumar Writings, Sukumar made his producing debut with *Kumari 21F* (2015), a film he also wrote.[1](https://letterboxd.com/director/sukumar/) The banner subsequently produced *Darshakudu* (2017) and *Uppena* (2021), and he wrote the screenplay and co-produced the supernatural thriller *Virupaksha* (2023), directed by Karthik Varma Dandu.[8](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/sukumar-bandreddi/2278/filmography) • [2](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/sukumar) • [7](https://filmi.ai/person/sukumar) Under the same banner he wrote the story for *18 Pages* (2022).[2](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/sukumar)
A sequel to the banner's first production, *Kumari 22F*, is being developed by Sukumar Writings in collaboration with Thabitha Sukumar Films, a production house launched by his wife, with Nandini Reddy directing.[11](https://epaper.truepointnews.com/media/2025-10/tg-271025.pdf)
## Upcoming projects
IMDb lists three upcoming directing projects for Sukumar: *Pushpa: The Rampage – Part 3* (pre-production), an untitled film with Ram Charan (pre-production), and an untitled film with Vijay Deverakonda (production stage undetermined).[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1335875/) The Letterboxd filmography also records an untitled Ram Charan–Sukumar film with him credited as both director and writer, and a writing credit for *Vrushakarma* (2026).[1](https://letterboxd.com/director/sukumar/) • [12](https://followthecredits.com/creator/sukumar)
## Style and recognition
Sukumar's screenplays are described as complex and multi-layered, which has earned him a reputation as an intelligent screenwriter, and his protagonists often carry gray shades or physical handicaps.[1](https://letterboxd.com/director/sukumar/) His awards include two Filmfare Awards for Best Director – Telugu (*Arya*, 2004; *Rangasthalam*, 2018), the Nandi Award for Best Screenplay Writer (2004), the K. V. Reddy Memorial award for contributions to Telugu cinema (2014), and a National Film Award for Best Screenplay (Original) for *Pushpa 2: The Rule*.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1335875/bio/) • [1](https://letterboxd.com/director/sukumar/) • [4](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/sukumar-bandreddi/filmography/director/)
One basic biographical detail is reported differently across databases: IMDb and Fandango give his birth date as 1971, while filmi.ai, Plex, and Letterboxd give January 11, 1970.[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1335875/) • [7](https://filmi.ai/person/sukumar)
## References
1. [Films directed by Sukumar, Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/director/sukumar/)
2. [Sukumar Movies and TV Shows, Plex](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/sukumar)
3. [Sukumar – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1335875/bio/)
4. [Sukumar Bandreddi Filmography, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/sukumar-bandreddi/filmography/director/)
5. [Sukumar Movies List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/sukumar_2)
6. [Sukumar (I), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1335875/)
7. [Sukumar movies, filmi.ai](https://filmi.ai/person/sukumar)
8. [Sukumar Bandreddi Filmography, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/sukumar-bandreddi/2278/filmography)
9. [Sukumar Filmography, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Sukumar/movies)
10. [Epic tales and star power: How Tollywood is reshaping Indian cinema, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/11f634610029566f9ca60071bf3430d5)
11. [Point – Screen e-paper, Truepoint News](https://epaper.truepointnews.com/media/2025-10/tg-271025.pdf)
12. [Sukumar, Follow The Credits](https://followthecredits.com/creator/sukumar)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Awards and screen reference › Individual filmographies › South Asian filmographies*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license