Sumanth

Sumanth Kumar, known mononymously as Sumanth, is an Indian actor known predominantly for his work in Telugu cinema. The eldest grandson of the late Akkineni Nageswara Rao,[1] he is also a partner in Annapurna Studios.[2] He is best known for starring in the films, Satyam, Gowri, Godavari, Madhumasam, Golconda High School, and more recently Malli Raava.

Sumanth
Born
Yarlagadda Sumanth Kumar

(1975-02-09) 9 February 1975
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Alma materColumbia College Chicago
OccupationActor, Producer
Years active1999–present
Spouse(s)
​
(
m. 2004; div. 2006)
RelativesSee Daggubati-Akkineni Family

Background and early life

Sumanth was born in Hyderabad, India, on 9th February, 1975.[3] He is the only son of Yarlagadda Surendra and Akkineni Satyavathi,the eldest grand child of the Telugu film actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao. A few months after his birth, Sumanth's parents returned to the US where they were residing. Sumanth however remained in India on the request of his grandfather Akkineni Nageswara Rao, who was then on a hiatus from films after a major heart surgery. The latter had often said that his busy acting career prevented him from fully experiencing fatherhood with his own children, so he wished to raise his first grandchild himself. Hence Sumanth was adopted by his maternal grandparents.[4]

Family

Sumanth's father Surendra Yarlagadda is a retired film producer, noted for several hit films such as Shiva, Rao Gari Illu, Gaayam, Muchattaga Mugguru and Collector Gari Abbayi. Sumanth has one sister, Supriya Yarlagadda, who is the executive director of Annapurna Studios. Prominent actor Nagarjuna Akkineni is his maternal uncle. The famous late film producer D. Ramanaidu is his uncle from his paternal side. Also, actors Venkatesh Daggubati, Rana Daggubati, Naga Chaitanya, Akhil Akkineni and Sushanth are his cousins; so is the noted film producer Daggubati Suresh Babu. In August 2004, Sumanth married former actress Keerthi Reddy. They, however, were divorced amicably in 2006.[5]

Education

Sumanth studied at the Hyderabad Public School, graduating in 1991. For his undergraduate studies, he enrolled in an engineering course at Michigan. Realising after 2 years that it wasn't in his best interest, he transferred to Columbia College Chicago, from where he graduated with a B.A in Film Studies in 1997.[6] He was selected to the Dean's List during his final two semesters due to his academic excellence. He said that it was only in film school where he truly enjoyed and thrived in academics.

Career

Sumanth started his acting career, playing the lead in Ram Gopal Varma's Prema Katha, which released on April 15, 1999. Despite moderate commercial success, Sumanth's performance was well appreciated, and the film too won critical acclaim and several Nandi Awards.[7] His next film, Yuvakudu, directed by Karunakaran and co-starring debutant Bhumika Chawla, did positive business at the box office and was critically hailed as well. His third film Pelli Sambandham gave him the opportunity to act beside his grandfather Akkineni Nageswara Rao, and was directed by K. Raghavendra Rao. The film, however, managed only average business at the box office. The same was the case with Snehamante Idera, where he was cast alongside his uncle Nagarjuna Akkineni.

Box office breakthrough

In 2003, after a self imposed hiatus of almost 2 years, he starred in his first blockbuster Satyam. It also happened to be Genelia D'Souza's debut Telugu film.[8] Satyam, which was produced by his uncle Akkineni Nagarjuna, was one of the highest-grossing films of 2003/2004. Sumanth revealed that he was actively involved in the production and creative inputs for this film besides just acting.

Changing gear into another genre, he followed up with another hit film, the action/drama Gowri, which confirmed him as a bona fide box office draw, and gave him an action image.[9]

2005-2010

After the flop Dhana 51, and the average running Mahanandi alongside Anushka Shetty, Sumanth shifted paths in 2006, starring in Sekhar Kammula's romantic comedy/drama Godavari. It remains one of the most acclaimed films in his career.[10] In addition to receiving rave reviews and box office success, it went on to win multiple Nandi and Filmfare awards.[11] Godavari was responsible in giving Sumanth an urban and NRI following, and is widely considered a modern-day classic.[12]

Sumanth's next film was the average running action/family drama Chinnodu (2006). In 2007, he starred in two movies: Madhumasam and Classmates. The former, a romantic comedy/drama alongside Sneha, produced by D. Ramanaidu, and directed by Chandra Siddhartha, was a hit, whereas the latter did not fare too well, despite good reviews.[13] In early 2008, Sumanth's home production, the action/drama Pourudu alongside Kajal Aggarwal turned out to be a moderate success.[14] It was especially appreciated for its action sequences. However, his next film, the action/romance Boni alongside Kriti Kharbanda released in mid 2009, and failed at the box office.

2011 to present

In 2010, after a gap of almost a year, Sumanth took a rather experimental turn by starring in Golconda High School, directed by the national award-winning Indraganti Mohan Krishna. It was based on the English novel The Men Within, written by ex-cricketer Harimohan Paruvu, and it is regarded to be one of the first sports dramas in Telugu.[15] Released on 15 January 2011, it garnered excellent critical acclaim and was declared a commercial hit as well. The critics as well as audience termed Sumanth's portrayal of a cricket coach with a chequered past to be one of his finest roles.[16]

Sumanth's next was the romantic drama Raaj, which released in March 2011, but failed miserably at the box office. Sumanth candidly admitted after release that he wasn't expecting much from this film as it was plagued with several problems during production. Following this, he starred in Daggaraga Dooramga, a romance/ thriller under the direction of Ravi Kumar Chavali. It released in August 2011, and did below average business at the box office. In 2013, Sumanth teamed up again with director Chandra Siddhartha for the romantic comedy Emo Gurram Egaravachu[17] It released on 25 January 2014 to a lukewarm response from the audience. Sumanth's foray into the comedy genre however received fairly positive reviews from the critics.[18] Next came the romantic comedy Naruda Donoruda, the remake of the Hindi hit Vicky Donor. It released in November 2016, but this too did not fare well. Demonetization, which came into effect a few days after its release, was deemed one of the main reasons for its box office failure.

After a series of disappointments, Sumanth made a comeback with the romantic drama Malli Raava, under the direction of debutant Gowtam Tinnanuri. Released on Dec 8, 2017, it received positive reviews, and was a box office hit. Some critics even went to the extent of calling it his best film to date.[19] Sumanth's performance too was praised, and he won the best actor award from the Telugu Chamber of Film/Commerce. The film also won in the best film and best director categories.

Sumanth's next was a supernatural mystery/thriller Subrahmanyapuram, directed by debutant Santhossh Jagarlapudi. Released on December 7, 2018, it received mixed reviews and turned out an average grosser. It was a profitable film for its producer though. This was followed by the drama/thriller Idam Jagath, which didn't fare too well.

Sumanth was most recently seen donning the role of his grandfather Akkineni Nageswara Rao in the Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao biopic N.T.R: Kathanayakudu, directed by Krish Jagarlamudi.[20] This film opened on January 9, 2019 to critical acclaim . Sumanth's portrayal in his first supporting role drew unanimous praise from all quarters.[21]

Sumanth currently has completed shoot, playing the lead, for a neo noir investigative drama/thriller titled Kapatadhaari.[22] It's slated for a summer 2020 release.

He's also signed on to play the main role in a gangster comedy caper directed by debutant Vinu Yagna. This film goes on floor in March 2020.[23]

In addition, Sumanth has expressed an interest to diversify into playing author backed supporting and negative roles in the future.[24]

Filmography
Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released
YearFilmRoleNotes
1999Prema KathaSuriDebut Film
2000YuvakuduSiva
Pelli Sambandham
2001Ramma ChilakammaKasi
Snehamante IderaChandru
2003SatyamSatyam
2004GowriGowri
2005Dhana 51Dhana
MahanandiShankar
2006GodavariRam
ChinnoduChinna
2007ClassmatesRavi
2008MadhumasamSanjay
2009PouruduAjay
BoniDD
2011Golconda High SchoolSampath
RaajRaaj
Daggaraga DoorangaGowtham
2014Emo Gurram EgaravachuBullebbai
2016Naruda DonorudaVicky
2017Malli RaavaKarthik
2018SubrahmanyapuramKarthik
Idam JagathNishith
2019N.T.R: KathanayakuduAkkineni Nageswara Rao
N.T.R: Mahanayakudu
2020 Kapatadhaari Gowtham Filming completed
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References
  1. "telugu365.com". telugu365.com. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  2. "Archive News - The Hindu". Hinduonnet.com. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  3. "'I am not resisting any woman' - HYDB". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  4. "Sumanth Said Yes For Second Marriage". Greatandhra.com. 18 September 2011. Archived from the original on 10 February 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  5. "Archive News". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 April 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  6. "Sumanth". GoTelugu. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
  7. "The Nandi Awards For 1999". fullhyderabad.com.
  8. "Satyam Review". Idlebrain. Archived from the original on 14 March 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  9. "Gowri Review". Full Hyderabad. Archived from the original on 29 December 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  10. "Godavari - Telugu cinema Review - Sumanth & Kamalinee Mukherjee". idlebrain.com. Archived from the original on 15 October 2007. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  11. "Nag, Genelia get Nandi Awards for 2006". indiaglitz.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  12. nmagesh. "Frankly dear, I don't give a damn". nmagesh.blogspot.in. Archived from the original on 10 February 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  13. "Madhumasam 100 days function - Telugu cinema - Sumanth, Sneha & Parvati Melton". idlebrain.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  14. "Sumanth interview - chitchat - Telugu film actor". idlebrain.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  15. "Golconda High School Review - Golconda High School Movie Review - Sumanth - Swathi - Sunita's Reviews - CineGoer.com". cinegoer.com. Archived from the original on 25 April 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. "Chandra Siddhartha's next: Yemo Gurram Yegaravacchu". indiaglitz.com. Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  18. "Emo Gurram Egaraavachchu Movie Review". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 29 January 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  19. "Malli Rava movie review". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  20. "Sumanth as ANR in NTR biopic". tupaki. Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  21. "NTR Kathanayakudu review byJeevi". Idlebrain. Archived from the original on 13 January 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  22. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 January 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  23. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. "In 2013, Sumanth sets his sight on bad boy role". Zee News. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
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