Ahead of the theatrical arrival of Annagaru Vostaru on December 12th, actor Karthi made some interesting remarks about the movie, which touches on the audience's admiration for heroes turning into devotion.
"Director Nalan Kumarasamy has made this film as a tribute to the 70s–80s mass commercial cinema. Batman or Superman are not the only superhero types that exist. We have icons like NTR and MGR, who profoundly transformed not just cinema, but also the realms of politics and society," Karthi said, adding that our audience have accepted virtually any larger-than-life stuff they did. "They are not merely actors; they are our demigods. When these heroes perform actions that benefit society within the framework of a commercially successful film, the impact is profoundly moving and uniquely special," Karthi said. In his speech, he mentioned many contemporary Telugu filmmakers.
In his speech, the versatile actor mentioned the legendary thespians NTR and MGR, who "rose from humble beginnings" to become legends AKA superheroes. Annagaru Vostaru leans into the question of what happens if such legends remerged today. Set in a fictional world, the action-comedy is "unique". Karthi thanked the Telugu audience for embracing Sathyam Sundaram with love.
Krithi Shetty once dreamt of just getting to meet Karthi but Annagaru Vostaru offered her the platform to be his heroine. "I couldn't have asked for a better debut in Tamil. Karthi garu is much like a Telugu hero here in the Telugu States," the Uppena actress said, adding that the Telugu audience have no borders when it comes to embracing actors/movies. "Since the 60s, commercial cinema had a charm - a kind of magic which took audiences to theatres. We made this film to bring back that magic," Krithi further said, talking about Annagaru Vostaru.
Mythri Distribution’s Sashidhar, who is releasing the movie in Nizam, said that the trailer for Annagaru Vostaru has been universally appreciated. "Whoever I shared it with loved it," he added.
Actor Sundeep Kishan, one of the guests, suggested that Karthi has always inspired him. It was his filmography that boosted his confidence to enter Tamil cinema. The Mazaka actor described Nalan as a "great filmmaker". Director Bobby Kolli described the Karthi-Suriya duo as someone who feels like our family members. He lauded Karthi's choices, particularly mentioning Sathyam Sundaram. Nalan's cult treatment of stories also came in for mention.
Director Sailesh Kolanu feels that Annagaru Vostaru has Karthi in the "perfect zone". The Telugu audience's love for Karthi goes beyond their buying tickets for his movies. Director Rahul Ravindran of the recent The Girlfriend described Krithi Shetty as sister-like. He appreciated Karthi for doing movies like Sathyam Sundaram, the kind of content "our society needs". He praised director Nalan. Director Vivek Athreya briefly spoke of Karthi's affable personality. He likened his unexpected choices and versatility to that of Natural Star Nani. "I am excited to see how Nalan has made a fantasy film like Annagaru Vostaru," the Saripodhaa Sanivaaram maker added.
Director Deva Katta said that Karthi made a debut with the widely acclaimed Paruthiveeran in the late 2000s. Yuganiki Okkadu was another movie that found a mention in the speech of the Prasthanam maker. Karthi's love for Telugu is evident from the fact that he has dubbed his own voice for years.
Producer Bunny Vas spoke of the level of admiration Karthi enjoys among Telugu filmmakers. He remembered the response for early Karthi movies in Telugu. The Suriya-KE Gnanavelraja duo have had a strong bond with many in Tollywood. The distributor-producer of films like Little Hearts appreciated Karthi for teaming up with a variety of directors time and again.
