The upcoming Telugu film Nagabandham: The Secret Treasure, directed by Abhishek Nama, has generated very good buzz with its promotional content. Slated for a July 3 release, the movie features Virat Karrna, Nabha Natesh, and Iswarya Menon in the lead roles. The film is jointly produced by Kishore Annapureddy and Nishitha Nagireddy under the banners of NIK Studios and Abhishek Pictures. Ahead of the release, the producers interacted with the media, and here is the transcript.
How did you become a part of the film?
We successfully ran a software company. We intended to diversify and felt the movie industry had good potential. We heard another story before Nagabandham, and it was supposed to be made with a top hero. But since we were new, the opportunity wasn’t given to us. Ravinder Reddy garu told us about Abhishek Nama garu’s script. That’s how we met Abhishek Nama garu, and we liked his vision. As the story kept developing, our confidence levels increased. Nagabandham’s content made us invest Rs. 110 crores.
Cinema is a risky business, right?
Risk is a part and parcel of every industry. When we established our startup, most of our peers used to go abroad for jobs. We broke that trend. Though we were IIT graduates, we worked hard for four years without any revenue. In the same way, we took a risk in the film industry.
Director Abhishek Nama and hero Virat Karrna are new to the industry. How did you invest so much in them?
We have immense confidence in the content. We wanted to make a larger-than-life mythological film. We watched Devil, and for Nagabandham, Abhishek Nama garu did excellent pre-production work. We believe in his vision. We felt Virat Karrna was the right fit for the protagonist. He underwent a stunning physical transformation, and his dedication is awesome.
Did you watch the final output?
Yes, and we are happy with what we have made. The visuals came out superbly. The movie exceeded our expectations, and every rupee spent is visible on the screen. Nagabandham is a visual spectacle.
What challenges did you face during the production?
We built huge sets for Nagabandham. The costs involved were high, and we also had to employ more staff. Deciding how much of the film should be built through practical sets and how much should rely on visual effects was the biggest challenge we faced.
How are the PAN-Indian promotions going?
We are getting a solid response from every language. Everyone who has seen the visuals is mesmerized. Popular Bollywood analysts told us that the movie will reach great heights if promoted well. We didn’t compromise on the marketing. We are carrying out massive promotions across North India.