Jathi Rathnalu is a film that has caught the imagination of many. On the eve of the film’s release, we caught up with the director Anudeep for a brief interview. Here is the transcript.

How did you bag this film?

Nag Ashwin happened to watch the short film that I made ten years back. He liked it very much and asked me to narrate a comedy film. I gave him two options and he picked Jathi Rathnalu. Even though my first film Pittagoda flopped, I thank Nag for trusting me

Tell us about the casting and roles that the main leads play?

Naveen Polishetty was confirmed by Nag Ashwin himself. We auditioned a lot of actors but ended up hiring Priyadarshi and Rahul Ramakrishna. All three the characters of losers who get entangled in a criminal case. They are quite serious but the way they act evokes comedy.

What kind of inputs did Nag Ashwin give?

Once the basic idea was ready, Nag joined me and Sameer for the story development. Though the plot and essence is mine, he gave his outputs in several areas like screenplay, music, promotions, and editing part.

What is Jathi Rathnalu all about?

The film is about three guys who get into serious trouble. They understand the seriousness only after they land in jail. The situational comedy in the film also has a thrilling element that has been kept a secret.

Your background?

I am from Sangareddy and did my graduation in a college in Ameerpet. I always wanted to get into films and pursued it from the day I finished my graduation and here I am.

Why did you not choose an OTT release?

The film was supposed to come last year but that did not happen due to COVID. From day one, we always knew that our film is a big-screen experience and stayed away from all the lucrative offers for OTT.

Future Projects?

I want to do films in all genres except for violence and horror. As of now, I am writing a martial arts comedy that I will make soon with a noted hero.