Nani’s Dasara is up for a grand release tomorrow in multiple languages. Directed by debutant Srikanth Odela, the movie is produced by Sudhakar Cherukuri under the banner of Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Cinemas. Keerthy Suresh is the female lead, and Santosh Narayanan scored the music. Ahead of the release, we had a brief interaction with the film director, and here is the transcript.

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

No, I had the idea much before Rangasthalam. This is the story I have been hearing since my childhood. When you watch the film, you will understand what inspired me. Dasara is based on a real incident, and I created the story around it.

How did your film journey start?

After my 10th I saw Sukumar Garu’s Jagadam. That movie inspired me heavily. That is where exactly I became fascinated towards filmmaking. I approached Sukumar sir directly, and he asked me to do a short film. After that, sir made me part of Nannaku Prematho.

What’s the reason to pick Keerthy Suresh? Why didn’t you have someone who knows Telangana slang well?

I scouted for a Telugu girl for eight months aggressively. When I approached normal people, they hesitated to act in the film. Even Nani anna said okay to have a Telugu girl in the movie, but I couldn’t find one. Keerthy has got huge grasping power, and she even dubbed for the movie.

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

I don’t have such calculations while making a film. The thing that matters is how genuine I am with regard to filmmaking. The audience will see the movie from the story’s perspective and accept Nani anna in a mass avatar.

Were you worried about the film’s budget and scale?

Me, Nani anna, and Sudhakar Cherukuri Garu understood that the budget is increasing after the first schedule. We had clarity on how much the movie will cost. I was determined to tell the story and told Sudhakar Cherukuri Garu about the budget. I tried to control the budget in a few instances.

Didn’t you try to shoot the film in live locations?

I decided to shoot the movie in live locations, and I got to find a place that almost was in the way I wanted for the shoot. But at the last minute, we got a problem due to a G.O. So we called off that plan. Also, we needed 106 days for the shoot.

Could you tell us about your future projects?

I have got a few stories that I am working on. I haven’t discussed them with anyone till now. I am pretty excited and also tensed about the release tomorrow.