Vijayendra Prasad in this interview talks about what scripts he is currently working on, what Rajamouli told me about his next film, and more.

On what 'Mersal' says:

The GST-related dialogues only echo the pain of the common man. Isn't it true that, despite the high GST, we get nothing for free? It's a thought-provoking scene, which is why people are liking it. A law should be put in place to make it mandatory for politicians and bureaucrats and their families to get treated only in government hospitals. It will improve accountability. If there is political will, this can be had.

There is a joke about Communist Russia. When the ruler was asked for funds for schools and sports, he refused. But when asked for jails, he immediately granted because he knew that Russians would rather prefer the amenities in jail to the lack of them in other places!

On criticizing corporate hospitals:

The scene where the hero in 'Mersal' outrages over hospitals reflects the reality. It's true that corporate doctors are commercial. How can the common man, who is burdened with unaffordable healthcare, survive this? If you go to them with a headache, they extract thousands by putting you through 20 tests.

When Shankar made 'Gentleman' to speak out against the exploitative educational system that leaves the meritorious in the lurch, people loved it because it reflected the reality.

Nothing new in this at all:

As long as the system is corrupted, we will see films like 'Mersal' being made.

Response for 'Adirindhi':

To speak the truth, Vijay doesn't have as much market in Telugu as other heroes of Kollywood have got. But I hope that 'Adirindhi' will do better.

Taking up direction:

'Srivalli' has failed. Every director makes a movie with the hope that it will definitely work. I am going to shortly announce two movies in my direction.

Rajamouli's next:

I am not in a hurry. Rajamouli has asked me to come up with a story that can excite him. He is not decided about which hero to work with. He is not particular about which genre to do next. He wants to do a film that doesn't have anything to do with graphics. It may happen tomorrow. Or it may take an indefinite period of time. Nothing can be said now.

Upcoming scripts:

Besides 'Manikarnika', I am writing a biopic on the life of Guru Golwalkar, the second chief of RSS. Besides, I am writing a biopic of an Assam king who fought with Aurangazeb. I am penning an extension to the films 'Rowdy Rathore' and 'Nayak'. Atlee (Tamil director and maker of 'Raja Rani' and 'Mersal') is keen on working with me. We haven't decided on what it should be.