‘Impure’ movie: Varahi Mallipamula’s Telugu-English dramedy addresses patriarchy and virginity

The note from the makers of an upcoming English-Telugu film titled Impure, which is set in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, reads: “This isn’t an anti-patriarchy or an anti-men film. There are no angry feminist tropes here, just a sharp and funny takedown of a system that shames women for their sexuality and sidelines men who do not fit the mold of success.”

Written and produced by Varahi Mallipamula and directed by Nishanti Evani, the film is expected to arrive in theatres on October 2. Impure had its premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles recently, as part of the Indiewood Film Festival 2026, where it won the Audience Award, followed by another screening in New York.

Varahi, who was born in Kakinada and moved to the US at the age of 11,  wrote the story nearly six years ago. A stand-up comic and an IT professional, she pitched the story to a few producers who told her that “the story was too much of a feminist take” and wondered if it would have an audience. However, she was determined to narrate the story. “In the American context, I observed that people knew a lot more about Tamilian settlers and their culture than about Telugu-speaking people, despite the latter’s sizable population. This felt like a good story to put forth,” she says, speaking over the phone from the US.

Impure is her first production, for which funds came from the jewellery her mother had saved for her wedding, and soon after, another investor came on board. The film follows the journey of the female protagonist, played by Yashna Muthuluti, whose wedding is called off when her prospective in-laws find out that she is not a virgin.

Varahi describes the film as a “dramedy” and believes it will have a universal appeal. “During the premiere, it was heartening to see people from different nationalities, ranging from Armenia to Mexico, relate to the theme and share their thoughts. Patriarchy is universally relatable. We see women being shamed for their sexuality and men being wallet shamed for their professional journey.”

Nishanti Evani
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

While Varahi plays the NRI cousin of the lead character, she was particular that the female protagonist should be someone who looks vulnerable in order to draw the audience’s empathy. “We had a casting director but also put out open calls on social media to hire the cast and crew,” she adds. 

When Nishanti stepped in as director, she too weighed in on the script, bringing in lived experiences. Mumbai-based Nishanti, who earlier acted in the Telugu film LBW before moving to direct commercials, says she and Varahi bonded instantly over several issues when they first met a few years ago. “We had not kept in touch. And one fine day she called for this film and we decided to collaborate.”

Sex, still a taboo

Nishanti reiterates that Impure is not a serious film. “Indian families don’t talk about sex; the topic is still considered blasphemous in many homes. We make fun of this mindset. Women are conditioned and guilt tripped when they exercise their freedom of choice, be it in choosing a stream of education, work, or marriage.” Nishanti observes that although films such as Queen and Thappad have addressed varied aspects of patriarchy, there is room for more.

Varahi and actor Kireeti Damaraju during the screening at LA
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Filmed over 24 days in Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad, Impure also stars Sai Krishna, Abhijith Sreenath and Kireeti Damaraju, with cinematography by V.S. Gnanashekhar and music by Raja Kumari and Karan Pandav. 

Having witnessed the reception to the film in Los Angeles, actor Kireeti says, “It was fascinating to see how the audience from different countries could connect to the emotions portrayed in an Indian film.” He plays a character named Balalingam, abbreviated to Balls, and brings in an element of quirk. “I have played the pelli koduku (bridegroom) part earlier, but this one is different. The body language and diction reflect that of several NRIs but we ensured that the portrayal is not a caricature.”

The title Impure, through the course of the story, changes to denote ‘I’m Pure’.