Director TG Keerthi Kumar made his debut with 'Malli Modalaindi' (streaming on Zee5) in 2021. Vennela Kishore's 'Chaari 111', set to hit the screens on March 1, is his next release. Produced by Aditi Soni under Barkat Studios, the film is a spy comedy wherein the protagonist belongs to a spy agency named Rudranetra.
In his latest interview, Keerthi Kumar says that he hadn't worked in the direction department before wielding the megaphone. "I started as an editor after doing a course in visual communication. I edited TV commercials and corporate films for nearly a decade before debuting with a feature film," Keerthi says, talking about his background.
'Chaari 111' could turn out to be a franchise with proper sequels. "Vennela Kishore read the script and okayed the project even without asking for an oral narration. He trusted me from the word go. This film is inspired by the core theme of 'Pink Panther' and the 'Johnny English' franchise," he says, adding that the casting was half-done once Kishore and Murali Sharma were onboarded.
Keerthi is pretty much clear about the genre specifics. "The 'James Bond' series is a spy actioner, while the 'Johnny English' series is a spy comedy. My film falls under the second category," he says, adding that the script was written precisely for Kishore. "Kishore's character irritates his boss to no end. I wanted a serious-looking actor for the role and that's why I went with Murali Sharma," he informs.
