Producer Rahul Yadav Nakka's Brahma Anandam is up for a theatrical release on February 14. His banner, Swadharm Entertainment, has earned the reputation for making meaningful movies. From the detective comedy Agent Sai Srinivas Athreya to the new-age horror movie Masooda, from the heart-touching love story Malli Raava to the latest comedy drama, the banner has held on its own.
In this interview, Rahul talks about teaming up with the legendary Brahmanandam and his son Raja Goutham for Brahma Anandam. Saying that he has bankrolled the film on his own without seeking any collaborations, the talented producer adds that Brahma Anandam is about the relationship between a grandpa and his grandson.
The title of the film is named after Brahmanandam himself. What went into coming up with it?
The co-directors of the film came up with the idea. There had been a lot of thinking and grappling with different titles before we zeroed in on the title.
The film seems to be a comedy-drama. What kind of elements can we find in it?
It is a grandfather-grandson relationship story. Besides a strong emotional core, there is lots of entertainment in the movie. In a way, the story is a personal tribute to my late grandfather, who yearned to see become successful in life but breathed his last before I could. After listening to the story, Brahmanandam garu fell in love with it. His character has an emotional range in the movie. Both the grandfather and his grandson do self-introspection and realize the follies they have committed in life.
How could you pull off the casting at a time when Brahmanandam has been extremely choosy?
It is true that he has been selective. To a great extent, Rangamarthanda changed the perception that he must do only comedy roles. He is a fantastic actor. Our film taps into his versatility. Moreover, he loved the story. So, he was in.
Brahmanandam and Vennela Kishore share a personal rapport in real life. How was it casting Kishore?
It was Brahmanandam garu himself who recommended Vennela Kishore’s name. He could have played the role of the male lead. But Kishore chose to play the male lead's friend, Giri. We then went in for Raja Gautham for the lead role. Everyone is going to talk about his performance after the movie's release.
Your films have been highly successful. What kind of calculations do you make before proceeding with your investments?
I never hanker after big-scale movies. When you make a film with rational calculations, profits are assured. You need to know your target audience. If you make a film with a limited budget and within a short time frame, profits are guaranteed. I analyze the script and ensure that the right technical pool is roped in. We make adequate changes during the scripting stage without compromising on the essence.
You are currently producing Vibe, directed by Swaroop RSJ of Agent Sai Srinivas Athreya fame. Tell us about it?
Once again, it stars Raja Gautham in the lead. Vibe is going to tell the audience what his true potential is.
