Amma Cheppindi

Gunnam's previous films Little Soldiers (1996), Aithe (2003) and Anukokunda Oka Roju (2005) could not garner much at the box-office. In an interview, he said that he "could not connect with larger section of audiences."[1] However, he expressed optimism that the viewership has increased for his last two movies.[1] While he produced the last two, his last directorial venture was Little Soldiers back in the nineties. This hiatus, according to him, was neither optional nor intentional but, it was either due to lack of funds or lack of offers to direct films.[2] It was only after his friend who began a production house, Just Yellow Productions, he ventured into production.

For Amma Cheppindi, the short story Flowers for Algernon that Gunnam read a long time ago, provided him with the necessary ideas. However, he said that the film's final screenplay is not similar to that story.[2] The script for the film was written six years before filmmaking, even before his last two production ventures were conceptualized. Despite this, the script remained the same.[1]

Urmila Gunnam, the director's wife and producer for the film was responsible for selecting the cast for the film.[1]

The Gunnams noticed Sharwanand in Vennela (2005) and called him to discuss about this project. After a screen test, he was selected for the role of Bose.[3] After Sharwanand was selected after a long and futile search, director Gunnam said that he could not imagine any one else performing that role.[2]

About Suhasini, who plays the mother of the protagonist, Gunnam was initially hesitant about her being too young and slim to play a mother's role. However, he appreciated her performance and termed it as one of the most natural ones seen in recent times.[2] Gunnam said that Sriya Reddy performance was one of the rarest seen by a Telugu actress in a while.[2]