Summer Holidays is coming out in theatres at a time when family audiences need to be drawn to theatres, said chief guest Dil Raju at the movie's teaser launch event today. He complimented producer Dheeraj Mogilineni for choosing to produce movies while he could have just been a successful businessman.
"Before Dheeraj entered the industry, he used to run a restaurant business. He is driven and has been on the right path. Summer Holidays is the right children's film," Dil Raju said. He acknowledged the fact that the Telugu film industry has been going through a very rough patch, particularly the exhibition sector.
Producer Dheeraj was discouraged by many from making a children's film. "I am proud of making Summer Holidays. As a child, I thoroughly fell in love with Little Soldiers. Unfortunately, the genre (children's film) has gone out of currency over the years. A good children's film every year will revive the genre, with the family audience returning to theatres to watch it. I have produced this movie in collaboration with Giri, a friend. He reposed faith in me and the subject," he said. Dheeraj revealed plans to get the appointment of not just Pawan Kalyan but also Amit Shah regarding issues faced by the exhibition sector. He has previously distributed movies like Devara, which fetched him handsome profits.
The young cast of Summer Holidays shared how the project reflects the universal joys of childhood. Child artist Khushi briefly talked about her happiness at being part of the team, while Arun spoke of how the movie captures the essence of carefree holidays filled with mangoes, games, and trips to a grandmother's house. He further audiences not to dismiss it as just a children's film but to embrace the nostalgia it evokes.
As far as director Srikar is concerned, the credit for the movie goes to Dheeraj. He added that child artist Rohan will be seen in a completely new light. "Arun (of 35: Chinna Katha Kadu fame) is a single-take artist. After this, Khushi will become a star heroine in the not-so-distant future," he said, praising artists like Vasuki Anand, Harshavardhan, and Harshini.
Adding a personal milestone to the project, Rohan Roy, known for his comic roles in 90's - A Middle Class Biopic (ETV Win), shared his gratitude for the opportunity to break out of his usual typecast. He said that it had been a lifelong dream of seeing his solo photo on a movie poster.
Writer Kondal Rao and Editor Santosh Naidu said that the film "beautifully captures the universal nostalgia of childhood friendships and vacations at a grandmother’s house, blending fun, fantasy, and emotion". They noted that the exceptional performances by the child actors will easily connect with audiences. Lyricist Kittu Vissapragada stressed his script-first approach, having read the entire story before crafting the lyrics. Music director Sinjith Yerramilli added that the film features five special songs, brought to life by Kittu's wonderful writing.
Praising the child artists for their "brilliant" work, actor Rajeev Kanakala shared that his role comes with a strong Godavari scent. He added Harishini's character is going to be a surprise; it's likely that the character falls in the grey zone. He also named Harshavardhan and Vasuki Anand as playing interesting roles in Summer Holidays.
Vasuki said that "content is king" and the dictum has been established by the teaser. Everyday moments and emotions are the soul of the film. "I personally love women-centric and children’s films, and I hope we see more such movies," she added.
Several directors, who attended the event as guests, shared their insights on the film Summer Holidays. Their speeches focused on its nostalgia, production, and cultural relevance. Director Kaushik praised producer Dheeraj for making the movie purely out of passion. He noted that it revives childhood memories and represents a risk few other producers would take. Director Nanda Kishore Emani revealed that his film 35 gave Dheeraj the confidence to pursue this project. He added that the movie offers a refreshing theatrical experience that reminds audiences of their own childhoods and their children's mischief. Nostalgia was also a key takeaway for Director Ravi Namburii, who commended director Srikar's "beautiful storytelling for personally triggering his own memories".
Director Sai Marthand of Little Hearts fame shared that despite being a children's film, Dheeraj maintained exceptionally rich production values. Director Ram Abbaraju remarked on the strong sense of familiarity and camaraderie within the team. This sentiment was echoed by Director Pavan Sadineni, who stated that the compelling teaser alone creates a strong urge to watch the film in theaters. Director Rahul Ravindran, whose The Girlfriend last year was a hit, spoke of the severe lack of contemporary Telugu children's cinema. He thoughtfully noted that parents currently have to rely almost entirely on Hollywood studios like Disney and Pixar. He commended Dheeraj for backing a story-driven project over star power.
Director Sai Rajesh delivered a heart-felt speech, doffing his hat at Dheeraj for backing "meaningful stories". He lamented the reality of whole genres vanishing from the movie-making scene. "Rom-coms, for example, have disappeared. We are making Chennai Love Story (starring Kiran Abbavaram in the lead) at this juncture. Dheeraj is passionate," he added. The filmmaker stated that Baby (Anand Deverakonda's movie) wouldn't earn even half of what it made in 2023 if it were to be released today.
