# Sundaram Master (film)
**Sundaram Master** (Telugu: సుందరం మాస్టర్) is a 2024 Indian Telugu-language comedy-drama film written and directed by Kalyan Santhosh, starring Harsha Chemudu as a government school teacher sent to a remote tribal village to teach English, only to find that the villagers already speak the language fluently.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28181729/) • [2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/telugu/news/2024/Jan/02/sundaram-master-to-hit-theatres-on-february-16-50891.html) It was produced by actor [Ravi Teja](https://www.edgepedia.org/ravi-teja) and Sudheer Kumar Kurra and released in theaters on 23 February 2024.[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/sundaram-master/story.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Title | Sundaram Master (సుందరం మాస్టర్) |
| Language / genre | Telugu; comedy-drama |
| Director and writer | Kalyan Santhosh, in his directorial debut[4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2024/Mar/25/sundaram-master-gets-ott-release-date) |
| Lead cast | Harsha Chemudu (Sundar Rao), Divya Sripada (Myna), Harshavardhan (MLA), Chaitu Babu (Ojha), Balakrishna Neelakantapuram (Peddayya)[5](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/sundaram-master/umc.cmc.4xp90zwde4n8gdgreuftn0fov) |
| Producers | Ravi Teja (RT Team Works) and Sudheer Kumar Kurra (Goalden Media)[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/sundaram-master/story.html) |
| Release | Theatrical 23 February 2024; Aha streaming from 28 March 2024[6](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/sundaram-master/ott.html) |
| Runtime / certification | 121 minutes; U (India)[6](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/sundaram-master/ott.html) |
| IMDb rating | 6.1/10 from about 412 votes[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28181729/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot and premise
Sundar Rao (Harsha Chemudu) is a self-absorbed, money-minded government school teacher who is sent to Miryalametta, a remote village that has voluntarily cut itself off from the modern world, to teach English to its indigenous inhabitants.[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/sundaram-master/movie-review/107928953.cms) The village is modeled on communities like the [Sentinelese](https://www.edgepedia.org/sentinelese) of the [Andaman and Nicobar Islands](https://www.edgepedia.org/andaman-and-nicobar-islands), which avoid contact with outsiders.[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/sundaram-master/movie-review/107928953.cms)
The teaching job is a cover. The local MLA (Harshavardhan) believes the isolated villagers possess something valuable and sends Sundar to gain their trust while pursuing this hidden agenda; Sundar, eager to rise in his profession and eyeing a promotion to District Education Officer, volunteers.[8](https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/sundaram-master-telugu-movie-review/) • [9](https://www.thenewsminute.com/amp/story/flix/sundaram-master-harsha-chemudus-preachy-film-does-not-make-for-a-compelling-watch) The comic premise is that everyone in the tribal hamlet already speaks fluent English, probably better than the teacher himself.[2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/telugu/news/2024/Jan/02/sundaram-master-to-hit-theatres-on-february-16-50891.html) Over the course of the film, Sundar learns about the villagers' culture, beliefs, and social fabric, and the story becomes a commentary contrasting a self-sufficient way of life with greed and materialism.[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/sundaram-master/movie-review/107928953.cms)
## Production and release
The film was announced in 2023 as a project of Ravi Teja's banner RT Team Works, produced in association with Sudheer Kumar Kurra's Goalden Media; it was Ravi Teja's third film as a producer, after *Matti Kushti* (2022) and *Changure Bangaru Raja* (2023).[2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/telugu/news/2024/Jan/02/sundaram-master-to-hit-theatres-on-february-16-50891.html) The first-look teaser was released on 11 July 2023 and introduced Harsha as the eponymous teacher in a tribal village.[10](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/telugu/news/2023/Jul/12/teaser-of-sundaram-master-is-here-45536.html) Megastar Chiranjeevi launched the trailer on 15 February 2024, and the film reached theaters eight days later, on 23 February.[11](https://www.republicworld.com/entertainment/ott/movies/sundaram-master-on-ott-when-where-to-watch-harsha-chemudu-s-telugu-comedy-drama)
**Lead debut.** Sundaram Master marked Harsha Chemudu's first role as a lead actor. Known popularly as Viva Harsha after the 2013 comedy sketch that made him an internet presence, he had spent a decade in supporting and comedian roles before director Kalyan Santhosh, whom he knew from the direction department of *Month of Madhu*, brought him a story written with him in mind.[12](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/2024/Feb/22/i-always-wanted-to-debut-as-a-lead-with-a-fantastic-script-sundaram-master-actor-harsha-chemudu) Divya Sripada, his co-star, had previously worked with him on the film *Colour Photo*.[2](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/telugu/news/2024/Jan/02/sundaram-master-to-hit-theatres-on-february-16-50891.html)
The technical crew included music director Sricharan Pakala, cinematographer Deepak Yeragera, editor Karthik Vunnava, and art director Chandra Mouli Eathalapaka.[13](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/sundaram-master-telugu-movie-review.html) The film was certified U and ran 121 minutes.[6](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/sundaram-master/ott.html)
## Streaming
The digital rights were acquired by the Telugu platform Aha. FilmiBeat reported an OTT premiere date of 28 March 2024,[6](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/sundaram-master/ott.html) while the Free Press Journal reported a premiere on 22 March 2024 on [ETV Win](https://www.edgepedia.org/etv-win) and Aha.[14](https://www.freepressjournal.in/amp/entertainment/sundaram-master-ott-release-date-when-where-to-watch-harsha-chemudu-divya-sripadas-film) As of later catalog listings, the film streams in India on Amazon Prime Video and aha.[15](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/sundaram-master)
## Reception
Critical response was mixed, with reviewers praising Harsha Chemudu's performance while faulting the screenplay and the second half. The Times of India gave 3.0/5, calling it a thought-provoking comedy-drama whose performances, visuals, and soundtrack outweighed narrative shortcomings.[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/sundaram-master/movie-review/107928953.cms) The Cinema Express review, also 3/5, wrote that Harsha "shines as an unlikeable character" but found the tribal characters' design increasingly questionable once the film shifted from comedy to drama.[16](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/review/2024/feb/23/sundaram-master-movie-review-harsha-shines-as-an-unlikeable-character-in-an-unlikely-drama-52335.html) 123telugu rated it 2.5/5, citing a thin plot and a slow second half,[13](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/sundaram-master-telugu-movie-review.html) The South First gave 2/5,[8](https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/sundaram-master-telugu-movie-review/) and Gulte gave 1.75/5, writing that the film's social message was lost in execution.[17](https://www.gulte.com/moviereviews/281087/sundaram-master-movie-review) On IMDb the film holds a 6.1/10 rating from about 412 users.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28181729/)
Reviewers repeatedly compared the film's transformation theme to earlier Telugu films such as *Gamyam* and *Vedam*, in which a protagonist is changed by the people around him.[8](https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/sundaram-master-telugu-movie-review/) The Free Press Journal reported, attributing to unnamed reports, that the film had collected Rs 500 million (Rs 50 crores) in India and been called a blockbuster.[14](https://www.freepressjournal.in/amp/entertainment/sundaram-master-ott-release-date-when-where-to-watch-harsha-chemudu-divya-sripadas-film)
## References
1. [Sundaram Master (2024), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28181729/)
2. [Sundaram Master to hit theatres on February 16, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/telugu/news/2024/Jan/02/sundaram-master-to-hit-theatres-on-february-16-50891.html)
3. [Sundaram Master: Story, Preview, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/sundaram-master/story.html)
4. [Sundaram Master gets OTT release date, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2024/Mar/25/sundaram-master-gets-ott-release-date)
5. [Sundaram Master, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/sundaram-master/umc.cmc.4xp90zwde4n8gdgreuftn0fov)
6. [Sundaram Master OTT Release, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/sundaram-master/ott.html)
7. [Sundaram Master Movie Review, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/sundaram-master/movie-review/107928953.cms)
8. [Sundaram Master Telugu movie review, The South First](https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/sundaram-master-telugu-movie-review/)
9. [Sundaram Master: Harsha Chemudu's preachy film does not make for a compelling watch, The News Minute](https://www.thenewsminute.com/amp/story/flix/sundaram-master-harsha-chemudus-preachy-film-does-not-make-for-a-compelling-watch)
10. [Teaser of Sundaram Master is here, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/telugu/news/2023/Jul/12/teaser-of-sundaram-master-is-here-45536.html)
11. [Sundaram Master On OTT, Republic World](https://www.republicworld.com/entertainment/ott/movies/sundaram-master-on-ott-when-where-to-watch-harsha-chemudu-s-telugu-comedy-drama)
12. [I always wanted to debut as a lead with a fantastic script: Harsha Chemudu, The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/2024/Feb/22/i-always-wanted-to-debut-as-a-lead-with-a-fantastic-script-sundaram-master-actor-harsha-chemudu)
13. [Review: Sundaram Master, 123telugu](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/sundaram-master-telugu-movie-review.html)
14. [Sundaram Master OTT Release Date, Free Press Journal](https://www.freepressjournal.in/amp/entertainment/sundaram-master-ott-release-date-when-where-to-watch-harsha-chemudu-divya-sripadas-film)
15. [Sundaram Master streaming, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/sundaram-master)
16. [Sundaram Master Movie Review, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/review/2024/feb/23/sundaram-master-movie-review-harsha-shines-as-an-unlikeable-character-in-an-unlikely-drama-52335.html)
17. [Sundaram Master Movie Review, Gulte](https://www.gulte.com/moviereviews/281087/sundaram-master-movie-review)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Telugu films of the 2020s › Telugu films of 2024*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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