No slow motion, no stunt doubles: Samantha Ruth Prabhu on going all in for ‘Maa Inti Bangaram’

Samantha Ruth Prabhu walked into a press event in Chennai this week and said something most actors avoid admitting. She got hurt while making her own film. The actress faced questions about the action in her upcoming release, ‘Maa Inti Bangaaram’, at a pre release event held in Chennai on Wednesday. She disclosed that she took blows while performing the action sequences and even bled during the stunts.

In her own words, “I too have suffered blows. I’ve bled.” She made it clear the injuries were not for show. They came from filming sequences built around contact, not choreography tricks.

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No slow motion, no flying shots

Samantha explained why the action in the film looks different from typical masala fare. There are no slow motion shots, no flying sequences, and no build up shots in the film. Every punch lands as a real punch. She also said she performed the stunts herself, which is why audiences are responding to the action as authentic. This was a deliberate choice by the team. Stripping away the usual visual tricks meant the physical toll fell directly on the lead actress.

 

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Who is Anusuya?

The story follows a character named Anusuya, the younger daughter in law of a household. The family refers to her as “maa inti Bangaaram,” which translates to the gold of the house. Anusuya does not fit the mould the family expects. She is told a daughter in law should be beautiful, lean, well behaved, and skilled at cooking and singing. She admits she has none of those traits. But she has one quality that matters more. “I can risk everything to keep my family safe.” That line sets up the rest of the plot, where her hidden past starts to surface.

The trailer for the film leans heavily into this contrast. At one point, a woman questions why Anusuya spoke harshly to a man, and Anusuya fires back that the right words can scare anyone, whether they come from a hero or a housewife. It is a small moment, but it captures the tone of the film. A woman written off as ordinary turns out to be anything but.

Action in a saree

One detail stands out across reports on the film. Samantha performs most of her action sequences while wearing a saree. A source close to the production noted that after her work in The Family Man and Citadel, she wanted to push herself further by handling most of the action on her own, in traditional clothing that made the work physically harder. The source called the result something audiences rarely get to see on screen.

This is not a small creative choice. Action sequences are usually built around clothing that allows free movement. A saree restricts that. Choosing to fight in one, and doing so without slow motion or stunt doubling, explains why Samantha walked away from the shoot with actual bruises.

Team behind the action

The film is directed by Nandini Reddy, known for blending emotional storytelling with sharp character writing. International action director Lee Whittaker handled the stunt choreography, aiming for grounded and impactful sequences rather than stylised ones. Cinematographer Om Prakash shaped visual language of the film. Composer Santhosh Narayanan worked on the score.

Costume design also played a functional role rather than just a visual one. Designer Pallavi Singh built outfits that needed to support the action while still keeping the cultural setting believable. Raj Nidimoru is credited as the creative force behind the project. Producer Himank Duvvuru described the film as rooted in strong emotions and values, while still carrying the scale of a full action spectacle.

Produced by Samantha herself

Maa Inti Bangaaram is not just an acting project for Samantha. She produced the film through her own banner, Tralala Moving Pictures. The cast includes Diganth and Gulshan Devaiah alongside her. The film is being positioned as a family action comedy drama, blending humour with the physical intensity of the action scenes.

Back in January, Samantha had spoken about why this project mattered to her. She described the character as someone whose strength grows out of both vulnerability and courage. Producing the film while playing this role, she said, turned into one of the most fulfilling experiences of her career so far.