January 12 Vidudala Ooty schedule begins; Venkatesh, Keerthy Suresh on set
Synopsis
Director Anil Ravipudi's star-studded January 12 Vidudala has kicked off its Ooty schedule, hot on the heels of a Mysuru shoot featuring all four leads. With Venkatesh cast as a counter-terrorism Army officer and a Sankranti 2027 release date baked into the title itself, this is shaping up as one of Telugu cinema's biggest festive bets.
Key Takeaways
January 12 Vidudala has commenced its Ooty shooting schedule as of 12 October 2026 , confirmed by director Anil Ravipudi on social media.
Lead cast includes Venkatesh , Nandamuri Kalyan Ram , Keerthy Suresh , and Krithi Shetty ; previously filmed in Mysuru last month.
Colonel Venkat Reddy , a counter-terrorism and hostage negotiation specialist in the Indian Army; first look released on his 40th anniversary in cinema.
Actor Sriman shared excitement over a song choreographed by Brinda Master โ his first collaboration with her in nearly eight years .
The film, formerly titled #VenkyAnil5 / #NKRAR2 , is produced by Sahu Garapati under Shine Screens and targets a Sankranti 2027 release.
Music by GV Prakash Kumar ; cinematography by Sameer Reddy ; presented by Suresh Productions Archana and Zee Studios .
The production unit of director Anil Ravipudi's highly anticipated entertainer January 12 Vidudala has kicked off its next shooting schedule in Ooty, Tamil Nadu, with lead cast members Venkatesh, Nandamuri Kalyan Ram, Keerthy Suresh, and Krithi Shetty in attendance. The development was confirmed by the director himself on social media on 12 October 2026, marking a fresh milestone for a project that is shaping up as one of Telugu cinema's most-watched releases of Sankranti 2027.
Director Confirms Ooty Schedule
Ravipudi announced the new schedule via a video clip shared on his social media handles. In his post, he wrote: 'The beau๐๐๐๐ful schedule begins with my wonderful team. #January12Vidudala #Sankranti2027' โ a playful wordplay embedding 'OOTY' within 'beautiful.' The clip signals that the team has moved swiftly from its previous outdoor stint to this fresh picturesque location.
Prior to Ooty, the unit had filmed in Mysuru last month, where all four principal cast members were present at the shooting spot. According to reports, the team also completed a song sequence in Mysuru during that schedule.
Actor Sriman's X Post on Brinda Master Choreography
Actor Sriman, also part of the film's ensemble, shared his excitement on social media platform X, expressing delight at working on a song choreographed by celebrated dance director Brinda Master โ his first such collaboration in nearly eight years. He wrote: 'Rocking choreography by the legendary dance master BRINDA. It's been almost eight years since I got a chance to be a part in her choreography Thank you DIRECTOR Anil ravipudigaru @AnilRavipudi.' This points to an elaborate song sequence being a notable component of the Mysuru schedule.
Title, First Look, and Character Details
The film, which was previously referred to by working titles #VenkyAnil5 and #NKRAR2, was officially christened January 12 Vidudala only recently. The title itself doubles as a release-date announcement, hinting at a theatrical debut on 12 January 2027, coinciding with the Sankranti festive window.
Marking Venkatesh's 40 glorious years in the film industry, the makers unveiled his first look, presenting him as Lt. Colonel Venkat Reddy of the Indian Army โ a character specialising in counter-terrorism and hostage negotiation. The poster showed the veteran actor in an Army camouflage uniform, sunglasses, and a scarf, standing beside a rugged SUV, with the Army insignia and crossed-swords emblem prominently featured in the backdrop, establishing an intense military aesthetic.
Cast Pairings and Technical Team
Keerthy Suresh stars opposite Venkatesh, while Krithi Shetty is paired with Kalyan Ram. The combination of Venkatesh and Kalyan Ram โ two actors known for contrasting screen personalities โ is expected to be a central draw in Ravipudi's trademark blend of high-energy comedy and drama.
On the technical front, GV Prakash Kumar is composing the film's music, Sameer Reddy is handling cinematography, Tammiraju is in charge of editing, and AS Prakash is designing the production. S Krishna serves as executive producer. The film is produced by Sahu Garapati under the Shine Screens banner, presented by Suresh Productions Archana and Zee Studios.
Scale and Expectations
According to sources close to the production, work on January 12 Vidudala is progressing at a brisk pace, with the project taking shape as a grand-scale entertainer. Given the star power assembled and the Sankranti 2027 release target, the film is already generating considerable buzz in Telugu film circles. The Ooty schedule is expected to yield visually rich sequences that complement the film's military backdrop.
Point of View
Which matters for a Sankranti 2027 target โ one of Telugu cinema's most competitive release windows. Ravipudi's pairing of Venkatesh and Kalyan Ram is a smart commercial calculation: two actors with distinct audience bases and complementary comedic registers. The military character framing for Venkatesh, however, is the real creative gamble โ a departure from his usual massy-comedy persona that will test whether the film can hold both the action and entertainment lanes simultaneously. How that balance plays out will determine whether January 12 Vidudala owns the holiday or splits the audience with rival releases.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is January 12 Vidudala currently being filmed?
The team is currently filming in Ooty, Tamil Nadu, having commenced the schedule on 12 October 2026. Prior to this, the unit had shot in Mysuru last month, where all four lead actors were present and a song sequence was reportedly filmed.
Who are the lead actors in January 12 Vidudala?
The film stars Venkatesh, Nandamuri Kalyan Ram, Keerthy Suresh, and Krithi Shetty in the lead roles. Keerthy Suresh is paired opposite Venkatesh, while Krithi Shetty stars alongside Kalyan Ram.
What is Venkatesh's character in January 12 Vidudala?
Venkatesh plays Lt. Colonel Venkat Reddy, an Indian Army officer specialising in counter-terrorism and hostage negotiation. His first look โ featuring him in Army camouflage with sunglasses and a scarf โ was released to mark his 40 years in the film industry.
When is January 12 Vidudala releasing?
The film is targeting a Sankranti 2027 release, with the title itself suggesting a 12 January 2027 theatrical debut. The makers have used the hashtag #Sankranti2027 in official communications.
Who is producing and presenting January 12 Vidudala?
The film is produced by Sahu Garapati under the Shine Screens banner and is being presented by Suresh Productions Archana and Zee Studios. S Krishna serves as executive producer, with music by GV Prakash Kumar and cinematography by Sameer Reddy.
