On May 2, 2025, Bhairathi Ranagal star Shivarajkumar officially announced the start of his next production venture A for Anand, a children’s film based on the bestselling Japanese novel, Totto Chan: The Little Girl At The Window. Produced by Geetha Shivarajkumar’s Geetha Pictures, A for Anand, will be directed by MG Srinivas, who made Ghost with Shivarajkumar. The title, incidentally, is a derivative of Shivarajkumar's debut as a leading man, Anand . 

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A for Anand not a children's film; it's a family entertainer

Speaking at the muhurtha of the film, Shivarajkumar, who starred in both of Geetha Pictures' earlier productions, Vedha and Bhairathi Ranagal, said that when Geetha told him about the subject and what the intention was with the film, he was keen to be a part of it. “Education, these days, is very stressful for children, including very young ones. It doesn’t have to be that way,” he said, adding that while children are at the centre of the tale, the aim is not to call it a children’s film, but rather, a family entertainer that will appeal to parents and young ones.

The actor adds that the purpose of his character is what struck him as well as the focus to keep the dialogues relatable and age-appropriate for the young artistes in the film. “Just because we are making a commercial film, we cannot get children to say punch lines or let the conversations have a bookish tone to them. It has to be very natural and that’s the brief that Srinivas and his team have been given,” said Shivarajkumar.

Also read: 5 films that establish Century Star Shivarajkumar’s love for the machete 

The Century Star added that A for Anand is not a film that audiences should watch expecting Shivarajkumar, the star. “People should watch movies for the story, not for the stars,” he said. Director Srinivas had earlier revealed that A for Anand would go on floors only after Shivarajkumar completes his current commitments, including the as-yet-untitled 131st project and Peddi with Ram Charan. At the muhurtha, Shivarajkumar said that he’s looking at beginning the film in October or November, as they are want to shoot in Sakleshpur and surrounding areas during the misty season.