'Junior' is a Good Emotional Family Drama, Audiences Will Definitely Enjoy It: Cinematographer K.K. Senthil Kumar
Kireeti Reddy, son of prominent politician and businessman Gali Janardhan Reddy, is making his debut as a hero with the youth entertainer 'Junior,' directed by Radha Krishna. Sreeleela stars as the heroine, and the film is produced by Rajani Korrapati under the Vaaraahi Chalana Chitram banner. The film's songs have already become chartbusters, and its teaser and trailer have received a tremendous response. Star cinematographer K.K. Senthil Kumar has handled the cinematography for this film, which is set to release on July 18th. On this occasion, K.K. Senthil Kumar shared insights about the film at a press conference.
Project Origin and Core Attraction
When asked about how the project started, K.K. Senthil Kumar explained, "I have a good acquaintance with producer Sai Garu. I did the film Eega with him. After RRR, he told me about this film. I really liked the story narrated by director Radha Krishna. It's a good production house, and the technical team is also very good. That's how I became part of this project."
Regarding what attracted him to the story, he stated, "When introducing newcomers, people usually don't go for the family drama genre. They just think dances and fights are enough. But this film has a strong emotion. That impressed me a lot. I really liked that a new hero took on such a challenge."
Praising Kireeti Reddy's Debut Performance
Speaking about the debutant hero, Senthil Kumar remarked, "Kireeti is a very hard worker. He is a very wonderful dancer. He performs action very well. His acting is also very good. He is a balanced actor. He is one of the best newcomers."
Transition from Large Canvas to Newcomer Film
Addressing the choice to work on 'Junior' after grand films with Rajamouli, he clarified, "Every film is special in its own way. After working on a film with heavy graphics and CGI, doing a film like this felt refreshing for me. I too felt refreshed doing this film. I really liked the core emotion in it. Family emotional dramas have become less common. I am happy to have gotten the opportunity to do this film at such a time."
He also noted the film's strong promotional content: "The songs of this film have appealed to the public. Kireeti and Sreeleela's dances in the 'Viral Vayyari' song have captivated everyone. The trailer was also very well-received. All the promotional content is reaching well. Audiences will definitely enjoy the film."
Selection Criteria and Future Plans
When asked what elements he looks for in a story when selecting a film, Senthil Kumar emphasized, "I look if the story moves emotionally or not. That is very important. If the emotion doesn't move us, no other elements will work out."
Regarding the gap in his continuous work with Rajamouli, he humorously responded, "It's not just now. Even in the past, when Rajamouli Garu and I were doing consecutive films, there used to be gaps. I didn't do Vikramarkudu or Maryada Ramanna. There's no need to be shocked by this (laughs). We will work together again later."
Working with Co-stars and Director's Vision
On working with Ravi Chandran Garu, he said, "Ravi Chandran Garu is a great actor. Seeing the energy he has at his age is unbelievable. It was a really great experience working with him."
About Genelia's character, he revealed, "You will see a very different Genelia in this. Her character and performance in this film will be completely new. Audiences will be very surprised."
Praising the director, he stated, "Director Radha Krishna is a director with a very clear vision. He has great clarity on what he wants. I really liked the way he narrated the story and directed it. Clarity is very important for a director. He has that clarity."
Producer's Passion and Technical Strength
Speaking about producer Sai Garu, Senthil Kumar highlighted, "He produced this film without compromising anywhere to launch a new hero so wonderfully. He worked with a passion to deliver a good film. He chose a very wonderful technical team, like Devi Sri Prasad's music, and a fight master like Peter Hein... Technically, the film is very strong. Working with Vaaraahi Production gave me great joy."
When asked about his directorial aspirations, he admitted, "I do have the thought. But it's not now. There's still a lot of time for that. Work is being done on some stories."
Reflecting on his journey, he expressed, "It's been 25 years since I entered the industry. It gives me great joy to have earned the name that I am doing good films and working well for these 25 years. I consider it my good fortune to have gotten the opportunity to do films like Baahubali and RRR."
Upcoming Projects
Regarding his new films, he mentioned, "I am doing Swayambhu. That is a Baahubali-like genre. It's a story from the time of kings. Also, I am doing the film Indian House."
