Virata Parvam Is 1st Love Story In Naxal Backdrop: Venu Udugula

Director Venu Udugula made his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed and commercial hit movie Needi Naadi Oke Katha. The director’s second film Virata Parvam with Rana and Sai Pallavi will be hitting the marque on 17th of this month. The director, ahead of the film’s release, interacted with media. Here are the excerpts:

Why did you choose such a heavy subject for your second movie?
The environment in which I was born and raised and the books I read gave me a vision on the kind of movie I need to make. Virata Parvam is an attempt to tell the life I know and also the hidden stories in the history. I don’t want to tell a heavy or a complicated story. My temperament is my movie.

Do you believe or follow the left-wing ideology?
Telangana is a laboratory of politics. The incidents happened here influenced the national politics. Since, I had grown up under these circumstances, I naturally will have progressive ideology. However, that doesn’t mean I believe or follow the left or the right wing ideology.

Was there any inspiration for Vennela’s character?
Yes, the movie was made based on real incidents. It’s the story of a woman named Sarala.

Do you believe younger generation connect to the story, as they don’t have any idea about left-wing ideology?
More than the backdrop, the major emotion of the movie is important. We’re narrating a beautiful and epic love story in Virata Parvam. We’ve shown the political situations in 1990s as a personal conflict. The movie buffs always momentously appreciate stories told in the context of human relationships. Virata Parvam is a love story narrated in a girl’s perspective. This is the first love story in Naxals backdrop.

Did the delay cause mental pressure?
There was positive buzz, ever since we started the project with great star cast and technical crew. However, the corona had negative impact on almost everyone. I penned two stories during the period. We come across all the hurdles and are finally releasing the movie.

Virata Parvam got may OTT offers?
We got some OTT offers. But producers Sudhakar Cherukuri and Srikanth had great belief on the movie.

How did you link love with naxalism?
Revolution is an act of love. This proverb needs to be understood broadly. Love is not just between two people. It is between a group of people. We can’t make sacrifices for people, if we don’t love them that much.

This is the story of Vennela, then how did you convince Rana for the movie?
It’s Rana’s greatness to accept this movie. He immediately gave his nod, after I narrated him the story. He was of the opinion that a new director came up with a unique concept and we don’t do it, who else will do?

Did you make any changes for Rana?
No. Rana didn’t want any changes in the story.

What’s Sai pallavi’s first reaction, when she heard the story?
I gave 10 minutes of narration to Sai Pallavi. She accepted to do it immediately. In fact, Suresh Babu and others too okayed the movie in single sitting. This story has such great vibration.

What were the challenges faced during the making of the movie, as the story was set in 90’s backdrop?
We planned the film’s shoot in remote areas as to bring genuineness to the narration. However, cell towers and cell phones become problematic for us. Lots of efforts were put in for graphics as well. The producers didn’t compromise on anything and all the credit goes to them.

Did you do any research for naxalism and naxals body language?
It became easy as I observed naxals during my childhood in my village.

Does Virataparvam have all the facts?
An incident took place in 1992. Since there are political reasons behind that incident, I wanted to narrate the story. However, there is some fiction, when we make it as a cinema. It is not a biopic, but it’s a film based on an incident.

How does this movie end?
I can’t reveal much about the end of this movie. However, I can say for sure that the ending will have a great impact on the audience.

Where did the Virata Parvam title idea come from?
Virata Parvam in Mahabharata is an underground story. It’s indeed an apt title for the movie.

Virata Parvam has a Pan India star cast including Rana. But why didn’t you promote it in that direction?
The producers have plans of releasing the movie at Pan India level. We at first thought of releasing the movie on July 1st. However, it got preponed to June 17th. We didn’t have much time left.

Why promoting it as Sai Pallavi’s movie, when there is a star like Rana?
Because it is a Sai Pallavi movie. This is the story of a girl named Vennela. Rana is also the producer of the film. He told me that the film made with a great thought and honesty needs to be taken to the audience with the same uprightness, then only audience will appreciate it. That doesn’t mean that, the entire story revolves around Vennela. There’s no moonlight, without moon. Likewise, Rana’s role is also very important.