Mass Maharaja Ravi Teja and mass director Harish Shankar’s highly anticipated movie, Mr Bachchan, is carrying a strong buzz. Produced by TG Vishwa Prasad under the banner of People Media Factory, the film features Bhagyashri Borse playing the heroine opposite Ravi Teja. Mr Bachchan is set for release on Independence Day on August 15th, with premieres scheduled for the evening of August 14th. Meanwhile, director Harish Shankar shared insights about the film during media interaction.

“The Only Hope” is the tagline. What makes the hope given by the hero special?

The hope in this film lies in the hero’s characterization. He is a very honest man. It’s based on a true incident from the 80s in North India. Despite offers of bribes worth lakhs of rupees, an officer did not yield. I found this point very compelling.

How did you include the entertainment in this serious-themed film?

Ride and Mr Bachchan are quite different in terms of their approach. The film is tailored to fit Ravi Teja’s persona. Honest individuals have fun, romance, and love in their lives, and these elements are portrayed with authenticity in the film. The honesty is evident in the fights as well. The whole concept revolves around this authenticity.

Ride was a serious film with no entertaining elements at all in the first half as well as the second half. We avoided that in this film. You will understand how entertainment is handled in the first half when you watch it.

Who influenced you to follow this commercial movie template?

My father. He’s a fan of Amitabh Bachchan. He realized my interest in films when I was in intermediate. I’ve always loved Telugu and Hindi literature and cinema. I was greatly influenced by the dialogues of Jandhyala, Bapu, and Ramana, and was also attracted to EVV Satyanarayana’s films.

Your films often have super-hit songs. The songs in Mr Bachchan are also excellent. How was it like working with Mickey J Meyer?

We completed the music for Mr Bachchan in just one week. Delivering four chart-busting tunes in a week is no small feat. Even though I have failed as a director on some occasions, my music has never failed. Aditya Music released a cassette of Harish Shankar’s hits. I’ve always had a deep love for music. All the songs in Gaddhalakonda Ganesh were hits. I feel Mickey is the most underrated composer. Mickey is very reserved, and our combination worked well together.

You are very cautious about lyrics, right?

I have loved literature since childhood. There may be days without watching a movie, but never a day without listening to music. A good line can inspire like nothing else. Music is a therapy for me. I am in the habit of listening to lyrics with great care and drawing inspiration from them. I strive for my songs to be memorable for their lyrics. Kasarla Shyam, Vanamali, Bhaskara Batla, and Sahithi have written wonderful lyrics for this film.

This film reflects the era when cassette recording centers were prevalent. Posters and cassette records were a big deal then. To reminisce about that time, we included Amitabh Bachchan and Chiranjeevi’s posters in the lyrical video.

I grew up in BHEL and always wanted to make a good love story. However, my mass image made it difficult. This film somewhat fulfilled that desire. The love story in this film is beautifully portrayed.

How did you show Ravi Teja in this film?

We have made the film with elements that evoke memories of forgotten times and show elements that audiences have cherished, reflecting what they would expect from Ravi Teja.

The audience will experience something new when they see Ravi Teja’s performance in the second half. His acting shows a complete sense of fulfillment. We altered the story to suit Ravi Teja’s style, balancing both aspects.

The film was completed quite quickly. How was the support from the producer?

Without Vishwa Prasad, this film wouldn’t have been as grand or released on the 15th. He provided more than what we asked for, regardless of market or financial constraints. When Pawan Kalyan was busy with elections during the making of Ustaad Bhagat Singh, we aimed at completing this film before the results came out. With a hero like Ravi Teja and a producer like Vishwa Prasad, we managed to complete it on time.

Why did you choose a debutante heroine Bhagyashri Borse?

When the film required a girl named Jikki from the 90s backdrop, we chose a new actress without any past film image. She worked very hard and performed excellently.

Is Jagapathi Babu playing a dual role?

No, he is playing a single role as an MP.

The film has four fights. How are they impactful for the mass audience?

These four fights have the impact of ten fights. Ravi Teja’s films attract both mass and family audiences. This film is a wholesome entertainer.

About working with DOP Ayananka Bose?

This is our fourth collaboration. We are ready to work on ten more films. I have learned a lot from him. He has changed my vision. Working with him is very comfortable.

About editor Ujwal Kulkarni?

After watching KGF, I was first attracted by the editing. I asked about the editor then. When he came to my office, I was shocked to see he was just twenty-three years old. I initially assigned him Ustaad Bhagat Singh.

What would you like to tell the audience about Mr Bachchan?

Mr Bachchan is a film you will want to watch repeatedly. It is sure to attract repeat audiences. The premieres will be held from 7 PM on August 14. The film will be released worldwide on August 15th.