‘Aatagallu’ is a mind game: Paruchuri Murali

Ahead of the release of ‘Aatagallu’ on August 24, its director Paruchuri Murali tells us that the film is an intelligent one.  He was inspired by a concept narrated by a software engineer in making this movie.  Excerpts:

Why do you take so much gap between every two films?

When I started my career and did ‘Peda Babu’, I took two years gap to make my next film.  After ‘Andhrudu’, I took three years gap.  I don’t like to do a movie unless I have a strong story ready.  My aim is to impress the audience with good films.  They should give me a thumbs-up when I watch my movie.

What’s the subject that ‘Aatagallu’ deals with?

I have always made commercial movies in which the villain creates problems and the hero comes as a solution.  But ‘Aatagallu’ is in a different mould.  This is about a mind game.  Both Jagapathi Babu’s character and Nara Rohit’s character are engaged in playing mind games with each other.  Throughout the film, the characters played by these two actors try to outsmart each other.  

What about other characters?

Darshan Banik’s character, too, is interesting.  She is a Bengali actress who has worked on six movies in Bengali.  We felt only she can do this role.  Brahmanandam garu has done total justice to the comic character that I wrote.  His character is as per the trend. 

Do you have an inspiration for making this film?

I wanted to make a film with Uttar Pradesh as the backdrop, ‘Andhrudu’-style.  When I was to my brother-in-law’s place, he told me a nice concept.  Although he works as a software engineer, I went ahead with the idea as I found it so nice.  

Since the concept seems to be ‘hatke’, was it difficult to find producers?

I joined hands with my friends, who have bankrolled the project.  These people have invested in our movie out of passion.  They didn’t make any calculations in their minds.  I am happy that I got to work with such passionate producers.