April 10, 2025 at 11:30:00 PM
AFS Cinema
Online May 2 - 4
Smoke Cheyyaku Bro (Don't Smoke Bro)
USA | Short
2024 | 13 mins | Telugu
Oakcliff International Film Festival, Dallas
Dallas International Film Festival Shorts, Dallas
Anirudh, devastated by job loss, finds comfort in the advice of gas station clerk Sai Santosh. But when a seemingly innocent whistled tune triggers a sudden emotional outburst, the night takes an unexpected turn.
Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation
Film Heritage Foundation used the best surviving elements for the restoration – the original camera negative and the 35 mm print preserved at the NFDC – NFAI. Unfortunately, the sound negative was not available. We digitized the sound from the 35 mm print preserved at Film Heritage Foundation. The film elements were repaired by the Film Heritage Foundation conservators and the scanning was done in Prasad Lab in Chennai We found that due to the deterioration of the print, there were vertical green lines on many parts of the film. While the scanning and digital clean-up was done at Prasad under the supervision of L’Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna, the grading, sound restoration and mastering was done at the lab in Bologna. Both Shyam Benegal and Govind Nihalani, the cinematographer of the film, have been involved in the restoration of the film.
Restoration Process
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Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation
About the Artist
Photo courtesy:
Film Heritage Foundation
Prithvi Raj Karreddula is a Dallas-based, award-winning filmmaker originally from Hyderabad, Telangana, India. He has been crafting compelling narratives as a writer and director, seamlessly bridging English and Telugu cinema. His multifaceted expertise extends beyond directing to include cinematography and editing, allowing him to shape every aspect of his projects for a cohesive cinematic experience.
In 2024, Prithvi’s short film Smoke Cheyyaku Bro (Don't Smoke Bro), which he directed, garnered significant acclaim, winning the Best Texas Film award at the DIFF SHORTS Film Festival. The film, a dark comedy, was also featured among the best short films of 2024 by Shorted.
His 2023 short film, Learning Not To Drown, which he also directed, received recognition at multiple prestigious festivals, including the Burbank International Film Festival, Indie Meme Film Festival in Austin, and the SOHO International Film Festival in New York.
A strong believer in blending stories beyond language barriers, Prithvi has a diverse filmography with experience in multiple genres, always weaving his own South Asian roots into his storytelling. With a passion for cinematic innovation and cultural authenticity, he continues to make his mark in contemporary cinema.
Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation
Trailer
Credits
Director:
Prithvi Raj Karreddula
Writer:
Prithvi Raj Karreddula
Producers:
Prithvi Raj Karreddula
Chiranjeevi Pamidi
Film Editor:
Prithvi Raj Karreddula
Sateesh Peddaiahgari
Raaman BV
Darcy Doyle
Kaci Fullinwider
Restoration Effort Led By: Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Director, Film Heritage Foundation
Restoration Credit:
Restored by Film Heritage Foundation in association with Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd.(Amul), the cinematographer Govind Nihalani and the director Shyam Benegal. Funding supported by Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd.(Amul)
Thank you to our community partners for this screening!
