Costume Designer Neeraja Kona Transitions to Directing with 'Telusu Kada'

Neeraja Kona, a renowned costume designer known for her work in Tamil and Telugu cinema, is preparing to make her directorial debut with the film 'Telusu Kada.' The movie, set to release in theaters on October 17, 2025, stars Siddhu Jonnalagadda, Srinidhi Shetty, and Raashi Khanna.

Kona's transition from costume designer to director has been a long-held dream. In a recent press conference, she revealed that her passion for storytelling dates back to her school days, where she had been writing and even published a book of poetry. "I have loved writing since my school days," Kona shared. "I have also published a book of poetry. I love telling stories."

Although Kona never worked as an assistant director, her 12 years of industry experience as a costume designer have served as her "learning school." She explained that designing costumes for nearly 100 films has provided her with the necessary skills and understanding to take on the role of director. Kona's directorial debut, 'Telusu Kada,' is described as a character-driven love story, with the three lead characters being "very strong" and "emotionally connected."