"Drinker Sai" Producer Basavaraju Laharidhar: "Youth Will Love and Enjoy This Film"
Basavaraju Laharidhar, producer of the upcoming film "Drinker Sai," recently shared insights into the making of this intriguing project. Starring Dharma and Aishwarya Sharma, "Drinker Sai," with its tagline "Brand of Bad Boys," is produced by Everest Cinemass and Smart Screen Entertainments. Directed by Kiran Tirumalasetti, the film, based on real events, is set for a grand theatrical release on December 27th.
Here are the highlights from the producer's interview:
On receiving encouragement from Megastar Chiranjeevi:
"Coming from a non-film background, we sought guidance from Megastar Chiranjeevi garu, who has a long-standing relationship with my father, Basavaraju Srinivas," Laharidhar revealed. "Chiranjeevi garu listened to our story and gave us his blessings, which motivated us to move forward with the project. He even appreciated the film and expressed interest in seeing the songs."
On the film's journey and director Kiran Tirumalasetti:
"We embarked on this journey in 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our plans," Laharidhar explained. "We resumed filming last year, with director Kiran making significant improvements to the initial story. Kiran, who has experience working with Maruthi garu as a writer, is making his directorial debut with this film and has poured his heart and soul into it."
On the casting of Dharma and Aishwarya Sharma:
"Dharma was our first choice for the role of Drinker Sai," Laharidhar shared. "He trained with Satyanand garu and has delivered a remarkable performance. Aishwarya Sharma, who plays the female lead, Baghi, impressed us with her audition and brings a strong presence to the character."
On the film's release and target audience:
"We strategically chose December 27th for our release, as there are fewer films releasing on that date," Laharidhar explained. "We've partnered with AP distributors and are handling the Nizam release ourselves. We've secured good theater bookings and are currently in the censor process. 'Drinker Sai' is a love story with a powerful message, and we believe it will appeal to both youth and families. The first half caters to a younger audience, while the second half has a broader appeal."
On the film's music and grand production values:
"We aimed for a grand production and didn't want to compromise on quality," Laharidhar emphasized. "Sree Vasanth's music has been a major highlight, with the songs already becoming hits. We collaborated with renowned music director Hesham Abdul Wahab and featured top singers. Oscar-winning lyricist Chandrabose also contributed a song, adding to the film's musical appeal."
On the current industry climate and future plans:
Laharidhar acknowledged the challenges faced by small films in the current theatrical and OTT market but expressed confidence in "Drinker Sai's" content and its potential for success. He stated that their current focus is solely on this film, with plans for future projects to be explored after its release.
