Over the last two decades, from Arya to Pushpa 2, Devi Sri Prasad remained the constant musical force behind Sukumar’s storytelling style and emotional elevations. They eventually turned into one of the most consistent director-composer combinations in Telugu cinema.
However, things became uncomfortable during Pushpa 2.
For the first time in their long partnership, reports suggested Sukumar was not fully satisfied with portions of Devi’s background score for certain sequences. Eventually, other composers were reportedly brought in to handle parts of the BGM work. The issue became more noticeable when Devi Sri Prasad indirectly expressed disappointment publicly during stage appearances and promotional events.
Even though things later appeared to settle between the two, the incident triggered strong discussions within the industry about whether Sukumar might eventually move away from Devi Sri Prasad for future projects.
Now, those conversations have resurfaced because Sukumar’s next film with Ram Charan is currently under development.
Recent speculation claimed Sukumar may replace Devi Sri Prasad as music director for the project. At the same time, backlash surrounding Devi’s recent work has also increased, with some industry observers feeling his musical consistency is no longer at the same level as before.
Adding to the discussion is Devi Sri Prasad’s latest move into acting. He is now making his debut as a lead actor with Yellamma. Together, these developments have fueled speculation that several filmmakers may slowly be exploring alternative music directors.
However, according to current industry information, no final decision has been taken yet regarding Sukumar’s next film with Ram Charan.
While Sukumar has reportedly locked the core story idea, the full screenplay is not yet complete. The film still needs several more months of writing and development before technical departments are finalized.
Only after the script reaches its final stage will Sukumar decide which technicians best suit the film. At that point, factors like Devi Sri Prasad’s availability, the musical demands of the story, and whether another composer could better match the film’s tone will reportedly influence the final decision.
