Interview : Srikanth Odela – Dasara is based on a real incident

Nani Ka Dussehra is all set for a grand release tomorrow in multiple languages. Directed by debutant Srikanth Odela, the film is produced by Sudhakar Cherukuri under the banner of Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Cinemas. Keerthy Suresh is the female lead, and Santhosh Narayanan has composed the music. Ahead of the release, we had a brief chat with the film’s director, and here is the transcript.

When did you write the script? Did it happen before Rangasthalam or after Rangasthalam?

No, I had the idea long before Rangasthalam. I have been listening to this story since childhood. When you watch the film, you will understand what inspired me. Dussehra is based on a real incident and I have created the story around it.

How did your film journey begin?

After 10th, I saw Jagdam of Sukumar Garu. That film inspired me a lot. That’s where I got attracted to filmmaking. I directly approached Sukumar sir and he asked me to do a short film. After that sir made me a part of Nannaku Prematho.

What is the reason for choosing Keerthy Suresh? Why didn’t you have someone who knows the dialect of Telangana very well?

I aggressively searched for a Telugu girl for eight months. When I approached common people, they were hesitant to act in films. Even Nani Anna had said that it was okay to have a Telugu girl in the film, but I could not find any. Keerthy has a huge grasping power, and has also done dubbing for the film.

How much do you think the audience will accept Nani in a mass avatar?

I don’t have this kind of calculation while making a film. What matters is how genuine I am in terms of filmmaking. The audience will watch the film from the perspective of the story and accept Nani Anna in a collective avatar.

Were you worried about the budget and scale of the film?

Me, Nani Anna and Sudhakar Cherukuri Garu understood that the budget is going up after the first schedule. We had clarity on how much the film would cost. I decided to tell the story and told Sudhakar Cherukuri garu about the budget. I tried to control the budget in some instances.

Have you tried shooting the film at live locations?

I decided to shoot the film at live locations, and I found a location that was almost like the one I wanted for the shoot. But at the last moment there was a problem due to a Jio, so we called off that plan. Also we needed 106 days to shoot.

Can you tell us about your future projects?

I have a few stories that I am working on. I haven’t discussed them with anyone yet. I am very excited about the release tomorrow and also tense.

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