Sita Ramam

Sita Ramam (transl. Sita and Ram) is a 2022 Indian Telugu-language period romantic drama film directed by Hanu Raghavapudi, who co-wrote the screenplay with Raj Kumar Kandamudi. Produced by C. Aswini Dutt under the banners of Vyjayanthi Movies and Swapna Cinema, the film stars Dulquer Salmaan and Mrunal Thakur in the titular roles, alongside Rashmika Mandanna and Sumanth in supporting roles. Set in 1964, the narrative interweaves themes of love, duty, and identity against a backdrop of war and political unrest.

The story follows Lieutenant Ram, an orphaned army officer posted at the Kashmir border, who begins receiving anonymous letters from a woman named Sita Mahalakshmi. Determined to uncover her identity, Ram embarks on a journey that transforms into a tale of romance and sacrifice. Principal photography commenced in April 2021 and concluded in April 2022, with filming across Hyderabad, Kashmir, and Russia. Cinematography was handled by P. S. Vinod and Shreyaas Krishna, while the original score and soundtrack were composed by Vishal Chandrashekhar with lyrics by Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry, Anantha Sriram, and others.

Sita Ramam released theatrically on 5 August 2022 to widespread critical acclaim. Reviewers praised Raghavapudi’s direction, the screenplay, music, production design, and particularly the performances of Salmaan and Thakur. The film emerged as a major commercial success, grossing over ₹100 crore (US$13 million) worldwide and ranking as the ninth highest-grossing Telugu film of 2022. It was screened internationally and found notable success in overseas markets, strengthening its reputation as a modern Telugu classic.

At award ceremonies, the film received multiple honors, including the Telangana Gaddar Film Award for Best Feature Film. At the 68th Filmfare Awards South, Sita Ramam led the ceremony with 13 nominations, and won 5 awards, including Best Actress – Telugu (Thakur), Best Film Critics – Telugu (Raghavapudi), and Best Actor Critics' – Telugu (Salmaan).

In subsequent years, Sita Ramam has been cited by critics and scholars for its evocation of old-world romance and its blend of historical and fictional elements, positioning it among the most celebrated Telugu films of the decade.