"'Devaki Nandan Vasudeva' is a good emotional, action, commercial entertainer. Family audiences will enjoy it immensely": Director Arjun Jandyala
Ashok Galla, grandson of superstar Krishna and nephew of superstar Mahesh Babu, is ready to entertain with his second film, "Devaki Nandan Vasudeva." The film is directed by Arjun Jandyala, known for his hit film "Guna 369." The story is provided by Prasanth Varma, and it is produced by Somineni Balakrishna under the Lalithambika Productions banner, presented by Nallapaneni Yamini. The teaser, trailer, and songs have already created good buzz for the film, which is set to release in theaters on November 22nd. Director Arjun Jandyala recently shared some interesting insights about the film in a press meet.
Why was there such a gap after "Guna 369" for your second film?
- There was no gap as such. Naturally, everyone had a two-year gap due to the pandemic. After that, I've been traveling with this project for about a year and a half. So, there's no gap, really.
We see references to Kamsa and Krishna in the trailer of "Devaki Nandan Vasudeva." Is the story inspired by that?
- That reference is there in the film. We clearly stated in the trailer that death would come from the third child. However, there are many details that haven't been revealed yet. There's much more to the story than what's shown in the trailer.
Devotional films have been successful recently. Did you make this film in that style?
- Not really. We locked this story before the release of "Hanuman."
- The producer and I wanted to do a film together. The producer also had a commitment with Prasanth Varma. I had narrated a story to Ashok Galla earlier. While that was in progress, Prasanth Varma narrated this story, and Ashok liked it. We have a good bond among us. Prasanth liked the film "Guna" that I directed, and he felt I would be suitable for this story. That's how this project happened.
What changes did you make to the story narrated by Prasanth Varma?
- As a director, you have to own the story. When you do that, you get some ideas. You want to tell the story even better. Prasanth Varma was happy with some of the ideas I suggested. He was very surprised after watching the film.
Ashok Galla looks very different in this film. What care was taken with his look?
- We worked a lot on what kind of look would suit this story and his character. Everything was designed based on the character.
- Ashok Galla excels in action and emotion. He did a wonderful job in this film and worked very hard for his role.
Many people are comparing the film to "Murari" after watching the trailer?
- There's a sense of destiny in "Murari." It's different in this film. The hero faces danger, and how he escapes that is interesting. That's why we mentioned in the trailer that there's a Vasudeva idol with the Sudarshana Chakra buried in the ground, which is unique. There's a connection to that. When the audience watches that, they'll go into a separate trance. I can definitely say that.
Are you going to show the film to Mahesh Babu?
- Mahesh Babu really liked the trailer. He appreciated the entire team and posted about it on social media. He's also going to watch the film. Everyone who has seen the film so far has appreciated it and said it's wonderful.
About the heroine, Manasa Varanasi?
- Manasa is Miss India 2020. Her role has a lot of importance, and she's a perfect fit for this character. It's a very strong character.
About Devadatta who played the role of Kamsaraj?
- Devadatta did a wonderful job as Kamsaraj. He will gain a lot of recognition with this film.
How did you blend devotional elements with family elements?
- This film will be loved by family audiences. It's a good emotional action entertainer. The saying "Dharma is God" is also key in this film. Its essence runs as an undercurrent in the story. There are also out-and-out commercial elements. Everyone will enjoy it. The visual effects in the film are very natural. There's a very good visual feel.
Why did you choose Vijayanagaram as the backdrop for this film?
- We felt that such a temple and location would be apt for this story. It gives the audience a very new experience.
What were the challenging elements in this film for you?
- To do 100% justice to a story given by a successful director. And to definitely make this film a hit. Working with these two things in mind is challenging.
About Sai Madhav Burra's dialogues?
- Sai Madhav wrote some wonderful dialogues. He captured the emotional depth and provided dialogues that suited the story.
- Bheems breathed life into this film with his background score. Musically, the film will be wonderful.
About the support from the producers?
- Balakrishna is a very passionate producer. He provided everything this story needed and produced the film on a grand scale.
About new projects you're working on?
- I have a story ready. I'll focus on it after the release of "Devaki Nandan Vasudeva."
