'Karthikeya 2', starring Nikhil Siddhartha, Anupam Kher, Aditya Menon and Anupama Parameswaran, heads to theatres on Aug 13. In this interview, director Chandoo Mondeti talks about the film. He also says that his next is going to be produced by Geetha Arts.
The primary reason for the healthy buzz around 'Karthikeya 2' is that this film is a sequel. Secondly, its premise is exciting. The Lord Krishna mystical theme has caught the audience's attention. Usually, sequels to a hit movie enjoy high expectations. While writing the story of 'Karthikeya 2', I was conscious of the huge expectations the project would ride on.
Even if you see 'Karthikeya 2' as a standalone movie, you will enjoy the content. There is no problem even if you have not watched 'Karthikeya'. You will follow the story of the sequel clearly.
I have always been attracted to mystical and spiritual themes. In our family, my elders used to read Sundarakanda, Sri Bhagavatham and all. I am enamoured of Lord Hanuman's personality. He looks like a normal human one time and can morph into a gigantic being the next minute. There is science behind such a 'miraculous' phenomenon. Science and divinity complement each other. Even what looks mysterious has also scientific truth in it.
The Krishna truth has been shown in 'Karthikeya 2'. You have to watch the film to know what it is. As far as I am concerned, the idea of divinity is about discipline and ethical conduct. It's about having a conscience.
The two trailers released have done really well. The audiences have loved them.
Swathi Reddy couldn't have been cast as per the story in the sequel. The male protagonist moves to Dwaraka soon after the film starts. So, I had to drop the first part's characters, as it wouldn't look organic to retain them.
I and my producers (TG Vishwa Prasad, Vivek Kuchibotla and Abhishek Agarwal) have been conscious of the budget from Day 1. In pre-production, we planned everything in detail. The budget didn't shoot up beyond 10% and that was because of the pandemic. The producers were totally supportive. At one stage, the budget looked like it was shooting up badly but they were not nervous.
We are getting an adequate release on August 13. As days pass, we are likely to get more theatres.
The Computer Graphics has got many divisions, such as animation, mapping, etc. All aspects have been used enormously to generate stunning visuals.
I have a project lined up with Geetha Arts next. Allu Aravind garu and Bunny Vas garu are going to produce it. They have got two stories in mind, one of which is written by me. Either of the stories will be taken up. The producers themselves will announce the star cast. It will be set in contemporary times.
I prefer out-and-out entertainers. The likes of Jandhyala garu, Srinu Vaitla garu have made such movies.
