'Sasanasabha' is up for a theatrical release this Friday and its writer Raghavendra Reddy can't be more confident about its relevance and purpose in today's times. As someone who did his Masters in Political Science and who has been a political journalist in the past, Raghavendra Reddy knows issues that the political system is riddled with.

In this interview, he says that the Indrasena-Rajendra Prasad-Sonia Aggarwal starrer is a commercial film while nudging the audience to think about the political health of India.

Tell us about your background.

It was in 1996 that I started my journalism career. After years of doing the political beat, I changed gears and started the Entertainment beat. I later switched to starting a consultancy through which I secured satellite deals for many popular movies starting from 'Simha' in 2010.

It seems you were well-versed in movies for a very long time as a journalist.

Yes. Both as a journalist and later as a consultant, I got to watch movies and also critique them. After I started a consultancy, I was shown movies before their theatrical release. During that phase, I would tell the makers my feedback. If something felt amiss or if something was not as impactful, I would flag it.

Coming to 'Sasanasabha', is it not a dry subject for today's audiences?

Not at all. It raises a relevant issue within the mould of a commercial political drama. The second half is packed with intense moments. The first half sets up the story. When actor Indrasena, who is the leading man, listened to the story, he was so impressed with it that he came forward to invest money.

The film started as a small one. It became a pan-India project. Does 'Sasanasabha' have relevance for other States in India?

The recent high-profile bypoll in Telangana was a high-stakes election during which voters received money to the tune of thousands. It's adversarial for society and democracy. Voters have to instead ask for jobs and other durable things, not for money. 'Sasanasabha' passionately talks about such issues. Aren't such issues relevant to other States as well? They are.

'Sasanasabha', the title, suggests that the drama will take place in an Assembly. Isn't it?

In a democracy, an Assembly is like a temple. It's where laws that govern and shape our lives are made. The sanctity and purity of law-making bodies has deteriorated these days. Rajendra Prasad garu, as Narayana Swamy, represents the old-school political class that stood by values and integrity. There is an effective story built around the central issue that 'Sasanasabha' deals with. In the past, meaningful films like 'Prathighatana' were passionate about the issues that they brought up. 'Sasanasabha', too, tries to do the same.

'KGF' fame Ravi Basrur doing the film really raised expectations. Tell us about that.

We are glad that Ravi Basrur has done our film. He did it because he felt the story has that span. There is an adequate drama that necessitated his score.

Indrasena's character is commercial. You have spoken of Rajendra Prasad's character, too. How about others?

Aishwarya Raj Bhakuni played the heroine. Syed Abid Bhushan, the grandson of the popular actor Nagabhushanam, has a key role. Sonia Aggarwal, Amit and Prudhviraj have interesting roles as well.

What are your next films as a writer?

I am doing an action-filled investigative thriller produced by NRIs. It's a pan-India movie with a useful message. Then there is a crime thriller.