3 minutes of readingHyderabadUpdated: February 9, 2026 07:53 pm IST
When a filmmaker makes fun of the film that put him on the map, audiences take notice. That’s exactly what happened when the teaser for Gaayapadda Simham dropped, featuring a moment that has since dominated online conversations and meme threads alike.
In the viral trailer, Faria Abdullah’s character mentions Pelli Choopulu, the 2016 hit that established Tharun Bhascker as a distinctive voice in Telugu cinema. Your answer? A deadpan dismissal of the film as “an average movie that was overrated.” The irony is not lost on anyone: this is the same project that launched his directorial career and catapulted Vijay Deverakonda to stardom.
Social media erupted with reactions, with some fans delighted by the audacity and others wondering if there was a deeper meaning behind the joke. During the teaser launch event on Monday, Tharun put an end to any speculation. “Cinema is about fun and entertainment. That dialogue is just for humour,” he explained, adding with his characteristic ease: “In fact, Vijay Deverakonda is a funny guy, he will take it in his stride.”
When asked about Vijay Deverakonda’s upcoming wedding to Rashmika Mandanna on February 26 in Udaipur, Tharun displayed the same wit that defines his work. “I haven’t gotten an invite yet,” he joked, adding, “If I get one, I’ll forward the message to you and we can go together.”
But Gaayapadda Simham offers more than meta-commentary on past successes. Directed by Kasyap Sreenivas, the film addresses contemporary anxieties through a satirical lens, following a protagonist who achieves his long-awaited goal of moving to the United States, only to see his future crumble when mass deportations loom on the horizon.
The premise taps into current concerns around immigration, belonging, and the gap between aspiration and reality. It’s ripe territory for the kind of observational comedy and social criticism that has become Tharun’s signature.
Joining Tharun and Faria Abdullah are Subhalekha Sudhakar, Maanasa Choudhary and Vishnu Oi, forming an ensemble that suggests both comic chemistry and dramatic weight. Behind the camera, cinematographer Vidya Sagar Chinta captures the visual narrative, while composer Sweekar Agasthi provides the sonic backdrop. Editor Viplav Nyshadam shapes the pace and production designer Chandrika Gorrepati builds the world.