Interviews

Mass Maharaja Ravi Teja’s new film Irumudi is arriving this Friday. The emotional family drama, directed by Shiva Nirvana, features Priya Bhavani Shankar as the female lead. Mythri Movie Makers has bankrolled the film. Ahead of the release, Shiva Nirvana interacted with the media, and here’s the transcript.

Each and every promotional asset clicked well, raising expectations. Will the film live up to them?

There are three layers in the film — Ayyappa Swamy Mala, family drama, and crime angle. We planned the promotions accordingly. With the trailer, we gave a hint of what the film is about. Audiences are well prepared now. Irumudi will live up to expectations.

What preparation did you do to present Ravi Teja in a new manner?

When a new point is explored and a star becomes a part of it, the reach will be on another level. The Ayyappa Swamy backdrop is new, and if a star like Ravi Teja garu headlines it, the reach will be massive.

When the first look was released, there were comparisons with Maalikapuram, right? How did you feel?

Very few films have explored the Ayyappa Swamy backdrop in the South. Long ago, a film called Ayyappa Swamy Mahathyam came. We haven’t had a star like Ravi Teja featuring in such a film. Since there aren’t many films in this space, comparisons are quite common. I didn’t worry about it much because I know my content.

Was Ravi Teja the first choice?

I didn’t think about actors when I wrote the script. But later, I felt Ravi Teja garu would be the right fit. His beard and look have perfectly aligned with the protagonist’s role. He gave me complete freedom and didn’t pressurize me.

Tell us about Baby Nakshatra.

We needed a lot of nativity for this character. She should look like a kid from our home. That’s when I came across her Instagram Reels. We did a look test and shot two test videos. Later, we felt she was the perfect choice.

Irumudi looks very different from your previous works. How do you see this?

I intend to tell every story in the best way. Ninnu Kori and Majili are memorable films. Even when I’m not in the industry, people should talk about my stories. Such intensity is generally found in love stories. The Irumudi story also came out pretty well, blending family and crime elements.

After Malli Pelli, veteran producer MS Raju once again returned to the director’s chair with the horror thriller Agadha. The movie starring Kamakshi Bhaskarla, Ulka Gupta, and Shravan Reddy releases on August 14. It is produced by Kasi Visalakshi Balusu under the Sri Adi Varaha Productions LLP banner and presented by Ajay KR. Ahead of the release, MS Raju interacted with the media, and here’s the transcript.
What is meant by Agadha?

Once the title was announced, many searched for its meaning online. Agadha can be defined as something profound or a void. We haven’t seen gods or ghosts. The Agadha story is about the battle between those forces. Currently, youth and the masses are driving the openings. Later, with word of mouth, the family audience will flock to theatres. At the pre-release event, Shyam Prasad Reddy garu said that, knowing everything about me, I wouldn’t make another horror film. As he said, Agadha is much more than a horror film. The evil force that works against God is shown as Agadha.

What research did you do for this film?

I traveled to a lot of places and did a lot of research. But that is not required for the audience. I made sure Agadha would appeal to a wide range of audiences instead of approaching it as an art film. I added fantasy to the reality that I know to deliver a cinematic experience. During Devi, I faced many financial hurdles, but a powerful force showed me the way forward. I felt the same even for Agadha. I wanted to make a film on an evil force, keeping this generation in mind. I also wanted to attract the multiplex audience.

You seem to be highly confident in the film’s success?

I never openly said on stage that a film of mine was good. But after watching Agadha, I was satisfied and strongly felt that it would do well at the box office. I said the same thing. I am sure that people will also receive the movie in the same way as I did.

Tell us about the film’s distribution.

Initially, I didn’t want to sell the film to others. But once the trailer dropped, I received many calls for distribution. Hombale Films approached me from Kannada. A few from Geetha Arts and Annapurna Studios have seen the film. I wanted to release the film here first and then in other languages. Dubbing has also been done for other languages.

Will you continue as the director going forward, or will you produce movies?

Lately, I have been focusing on story, screenplay, writing, and making. I am not concentrating on financial matters. For Dirty Hari and Agadha, my friends came forward to produce. Hence, I am only focusing on making rather than money matters.

Is the Agadha 2 story ready?

After Agadha releases, I will tell if it’s a prequel or a sequel. This film has the scope for another installment. Agadha is a mystic divine thriller. It will appeal to all sections of the audience.

Interview: Varun Tej – Korean Kanakaraju is an out-and-out entertainer

Mega Prince Varun Tej will next be seen in the horror-comedy entertainer Korean Kanakaraju. The film, directed by Merlapaka Gandhi, features Ritika Nayak as the female lead. The movie is jointly produced by Rajeev Reddy and Sai Baba Jagarlamudi under the banners of UV Creations and First Frame Entertainments. Thaman is the music composer. Ahead of the release tomorrow, Varun Tej interacted with the media, and here is the transcript.
What aspects of the Korean Kanakaraju story impressed you?

I liked the entertainment the most. Even during the narration, I was laughing nonstop. I usually listen to a story as a viewer watching a film in a theatre. Like every actor, I wish to do versatile roles. After COVID, I have been doing more serious films. I wanted to do an entertaining film. Korean Kanakaraju was made with the intention of amusing the audience for two and a half hours.

Premieres are filling up fast. Has the pressure reduced?

We completed shooting much earlier, and we had ample time for post-production. The film has come out very well, and hence we are exuding the same confidence during promotions. Director Gandhi, Ritika, and Satya promoted the film wholeheartedly, treating it as their own. With the teaser and trailer, audiences have decided to watch the film, and the same is being reflected in the bookings.

You approached promotions quite differently. Tell us about it.

We need to do something unique to take the film closer to the audience these days. Also, the promotional campaign should be in sync with the film’s content. Some said that we revealed the whole story, but we wanted to prepare the audience. Korean Kanakaraju is an out-and-out entertainer. It is tough to edit trailers for this kind of film.

How was it learning Korean?

I like learning new things, and that’s one of the reasons I became an actor. I love playing new roles and being able to behave like a new person. I work hard to ensure that the character appears on the screen and not me.

Some are comparing the film to OG. What do you say about it?

For Kalyan Babai’s fans, OG is very special, and it left a huge impact. It has a Japanese touch. Hence, some might have felt that way. But Korean Kanakaraju is in no way similar to OG.

How are you maintaining a work-life balance?

After Lavanya and I were blessed with a baby boy, I didn’t have any shootings, and hence I spent more time at home. But whenever there is a shoot, I miss them. I am at home only when there is no shooting. I travel only with my family. It is important to balance professional and personal lives.

Mega Prince Varun Tej will next be seen in the horror-comedy entertainer Korean Kanakaraju. The film, directed by Merlapaka Gandhi, features Ritika Nayak as the female lead. It is set to hit the big screens on August 7, 2026. The movie is jointly produced by Rajeev Reddy and Sai Baba Jagarlamudi under the banners of UV Creations and First Frame Entertainments. Thaman is the music composer. Ahead of the release, Merlapaka Gandhi interacted with the media, and here is the transcript.

From where did the story originate?

I went to a marriage with friends in Anantapur. We stopped at the Kia factory, and that spot was visually superb. We got to know that there are restaurants, a community, and markets specially designed for Koreans working at the company. It piqued my interest instantly. That is when I thought of an idea to unite Anantapur and Korea. This is how the idea for Korean Kanakaraju stemmed.

Was this story written for Varun Tej?

No, I had a different story for him. Later, I told him the Korean Kanakaraju concept. He liked it very much and asked me to develop it. Later, I gave the final narration, and he was heavily impressed. He also suggested minor changes. I like his acting. He always attempts new concepts. Varun did a solid job in Korean Kanakaraju, playing two shades.

Tell us about Ritika’s role.

She works in a Korean factory in the film and loves Korean culture. In real life, Ritika knows the Korean language, and her look also matches their culture. There are many Korean dialogues in the film. We brought tutors from Korea to train the lead pair. Also, for the Anantapur slang, we sought help from local tutors.

Did you get permission to shoot in Korea easily?

No. If we want to go there, or even if they need to come here, there is a huge process involved. We shot on a Korean island for 20 days. Once the script was locked, we wanted to shoot there. Also, it costs a lot to film in Korea. Hence, we went there with a minimum crew. We also shot some portions in Kazakhstan.

How confident are you about the film?

We will surely entertain audiences with Korean Kanakaraju. Varun Tej and I took extreme care regarding the film. We worked very hard with the motive of scoring a big hit.

What about your upcoming projects?

I am currently working on a story. It also belongs to the comedy thriller genre. Comedy is my comfort genre.