Director Murali Manohar's debut movie, Simbaa, dealt with serious issues like industrial pollution. A crime thriller, its delayed release did hurt the passionate filmmaker. However, he is now gearing up for box-office glory with the upcoming dark comedy thriller, Gurram Paapi Reddy. Co-starring Naresh Agastya and Faria Abdullah, the December 19th release will be constantly engaging. In this interview, Murali Manohar talks about his journey, his immediate release, and more.
Bankrolled by Venu Saddi, Amar Bura, and Jayakanth (Bobby), the film is presented by MJM Motion Pictures and Bura and Saddi Creative Arts. Jeevan Kumar has a prominent role.
I was inspired by cult classics like Shiva and Naayakudu as a child. They influenced my interest in cinema. After finishing my MBA in Hyderabad, I moved to London, where I worked at Warner Bros for eight years before coming back to India and joining the direction team of Sampath Nandi (Raccha fame). While in London, I pursued a course in filmmaking. And then, I have had practical exposure in the Telugu film industry since 2010.
Gurram Paapi Reddy is a far cry from Simbaa. This is an entertainer. I must thank my producers for trusting my vision. The title refers to Naresh Agastya's character. Paramapadasopanam is the name we had in mind originally; since it sounded complex, we didn't opt for it.
The core idea behind the film is that otherwise smart people can sometimes do silly things. And otherwise foolish guys can be clever in their conduct. This inherent dichotomy is what informs the screenplay. And since the treatment is humorous, the mood remains vibrant amid the chaos. The silly comedy is delectable and organic. The ridiculous mishaps caused by people's foolishness often provide us with a good laugh. Due to the complexity of the robotic-arm camera setup, we can only film three to four scenes daily.
I am aware that Gurram Paapi Reddy will be clashing with Avatar 3. However, both movies are as different as they can get. The Telugu audience will encourage our movie. Throughout its run-time of 150 minutes, there is not a single dull moment.
Faria is the perfect fit for the role. Having watched her in Jathi Ratnalu and Mathu Vadalara 2, I could sense her suitability. One of the songs in the movie was written, rendered and performed by her. Talking of songs, Paisa Dum Dum is momentous because it plays out when the main characters slip into a fictional world.
It was a pleasure working with Brahmanandam garu, who came on board immediately after listening to the concept. The film's opening and closing sequences feature him. His feedback after his dubbing was very positive. Yogi Babu is another popular comedian whose casting we were very intent on. We were ready to wait three months for his dates. Thanks to casting him, we have been receiving inquiries from the Tamil movie industry. After the Telugu release, we will dedicate our focus on the Tamil release. The successful run of Gurram Paapi Reddy in Telugu will fuel demand from Tamil Nadu.
I have readied a musical romantic drama. I have also prepared the story of a horror-thriller. My next film will be one of these.
