Director Sai Rajesh’s cult blockbuster Baby, produced by Mass Movie Makers banner SKN and starring Anand Devarakonda, Viraj Ashwin, and Vaishnavi Chaitanya, has achieved another historic milestone. At the recently held Filmfare South 2024 Awards, Baby won 5 awards out of 8 nominations. In light of this achievement, the movie team spoke exclusively to the media at a press meet.
Lyricist Ananth Sriram shared his excitement: “This is my second Filmfare Award in my career, with a 12-year gap since my first. I’m thrilled to receive it after so long. I wouldn’t have won this award without the support of everyone here. There was a time when lyricists feared that good songs would lead to higher demands. However, producer SKN supported us, ensuring that our song contributed to the film’s widespread appeal. Director Sai Rajesh did not ask for any changes to the song, and Vijay Bulganin created a beautiful tune. Thanks to their efforts, ‘Oo Rendu Prema Meghalila’ won the Filmfare Award.”
Singer Sreeramachandra expressed his gratitude: “I am honored to receive the Filmfare Award for Best Singer for my work on Baby. This is my first Filmfare Award, and I am thankful to Sai Rajesh and the entire team for giving me this opportunity. Vijay Bulganin’s beautiful composition played a significant role in this success. Your support during Indian Idol has contributed to this achievement.”
Music Director Vijay Bulganin said: “I had two aspirations—to create a great film and to win a Filmfare Award. With Baby, I’ve achieved both. I am grateful to director Sai Rajesh for giving me the opportunity and for suggesting the voice of a child for this song. I am excited to work on more great projects with the enthusiasm that comes from receiving this award.”
Co-producer Dheeraj Mogilineni added: “Our journey with Baby has been memorable. After four years of working on this project, it’s rewarding to see it win 5 Filmfare South Awards. Congratulations to the entire team. We hope the film also receives National Awards.”
Heroine Vaishnavi Chaitanya said: “I am thrilled to have received the Best Actress award for Baby at the Filmfare Awards, and to see the film win 5 awards overall. This achievement is thanks to everyone who supported and loved Baby. My gratitude goes to producer SKN, director Sai Rajesh, and Maruti for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this great film. This encouragement inspires me to continue working on excellent projects.”
Director Sai Rajesh said: “I am delighted that Baby won 5 awards out of 8 nominations at the Filmfare Awards. This is our first Filmfare win, except for Ananth Sriram. In the first two weeks, the media carried the film, and the audience supported it from there. Baby won the Best Movie award and received critical acclaim. Ananth Sriram wrote three versions of the song ‘O Rendu Meghalila,’ and music director Vijay selected this tune after much consideration. Initially, we wanted to use SPB garu for the song, but after his passing, we chose Sree Ramachandra. Both versions were good, and combining them created the final track. Maruthi provided moral support, and Vaishnavi Chaitanya performed excellently. All credit for Baby goes to my friend SKN.”
Director Maruthi said: “I am pleased that Baby received 5 Filmfare Awards. It’s gratifying to see a small film receive such recognition, challenging the notion that awards are reserved for big films. The media’s support was crucial. We believed Sai Rajesh would make a commercially successful film, and he delivered a great movie. His talent is evident, and we continue to support him. The Hindi remake of Baby will showcase his talent nationwide. Vijay Bulganin composed excellent music, and Vaishnavi delivered a remarkable performance. SKN’s dedication is commendable. Congratulations to Sri Ramachandra, Ananth Sriram, and Dheeraj.”
Producer SKN said: “This is a moment that disproves the notion that awards are only for star-studded films. Baby winning 5 Filmfare Awards is a significant achievement. We hoped the film would do well, but receiving these awards is a bonus. Baby continues to create memorable moments for us. It is proving that a good film can achieve great success, combining both critical acclaim and box office performance. Director Sai Rajesh is a talented friend, and Baby is a milestone in my career. Vijay Bulganin’s dedication was invaluable, and Dheeraj’s support was crucial. Arvind’s financial help was also essential. Success requires hard work, and our journey with Baby began with numerous premieres. The media’s support helped, and Anand Deverakonda’s performance was excellent. Vaishnavi’s Best Actress award was well-deserved. Thanks to Maruthi, Ananth Sriram, and Sri Ramachandra for their contributions.”