Sukumar’s decision to replace Devi Sri Prasad with Anirudh Ravichander for his next film with Ram Charan has split fans right down the middle. For the first time in his career, Sukumar is making a film without DSP, and while Ram Charan fans are celebrating, Sukumar’s loyal fans are finding it hard to accept.
Ram Charan Fans Are Thrilled
For Ram Charan fans, this is big news. RC17 will be the first time Ram Charan is working with Anirudh, and fans are already celebrating the combination on social media.
Anirudh is currently the most in-demand music director in South cinema. Today, almost every star’s fans want their hero to work with him, because his music adds so much value to a hero’s screen presence. His background scores turn simple scenes into big theatre moments, and his songs become chartbusters even before release. In Telugu, he has already shown his impact with films like Devara, The Paradise where his songs and BGM played a big role in the film’s mass appeal.
With Sukumar’s vision and Anirudh’s music together, Ram Charan fans feel RC17 can create a massive impact.
Sukumar Fans Feel Let Down
On the other side, those who love Sukumar’s films are disappointed. For them, Sukumar and DSP are not just a director and a composer. They are one of the most successful combinations in Telugu cinema history.
From Arya in 2004 to Pushpa 2 in 2024, DSP has composed music for every single film Sukumar has directed. Fans point out that DSP always gives more than 100 percent for Sukumar’s films, and that his music has been one of the main pillars behind their success. From Arya and Arya 2 to Rangasthalam and the Pushpa films, the songs from this combination are still loved years later. DSP even won the National Award for Pushpa: The Rise.
Pushpa 2 Is Their Biggest Argument
Sukumar fans are using Pushpa 2 to make their point. Even though other composers were brought in for the background score, DSP’s songs for the film became massive chartbusters. Tracks like Pushpa Pushpa, Sooseki and Kissik became huge across languages, and his thumping music played a big role in the film’s record run.
For fans, it is hard to understand why the man behind these songs is not part of Sukumar’s next film.
“Issues Can Be Fixed, But Leaving Completely?”
Many fans understand that there may have been issues during Pushpa 2, especially around timelines and commitments. The background score had to be shared with other composers close to release, and that was a clear sign that all was not smooth.
But what fans cannot accept is Sukumar leaving DSP completely after a 20-year partnership. For many, problems with timelines could have been sorted out, and the combination that gave them so many memorable songs did not deserve to end this way.
All Eyes on Anirudh Now
With the decision made, the pressure is now on Anirudh. He is stepping into a space that DSP owned for two decades, and Sukumar fans will compare every song of RC17 with what DSP delivered for the director. If Anirudh delivers, the debate will end quickly. If not, the DSP question will keep coming back.
