“Everyone Is Enjoying Watching Patang in Theatres” – Director Praneeth Pattipati
Director Praneeth Pattipati expressed immense happiness over the overwhelmingly positive response received by his debut film Patang. Sharing his excitement, he said the appreciation from audiences has been deeply satisfying and has made all the hard work worthwhile.
“The love and appreciation I am receiving for Patang is truly gratifying. Seeing audiences respond so positively makes me feel that all the effort we put in has paid off,” said Praneeth Pattipati.
Directed by Praneeth Pattipati, Patang is produced under the banners Cinematic Elements, Rishan Cinemas, and Monsoon Tales, and is presented by noted producer D. Suresh Babu. The sports drama is produced by Vijay Shekhar Anne, Sampath Maka, Suresh Kothinti, and Nani Bandreddy.
Since its release, Patang has been widely received as a youthful entertainer, with many viewers calling it “one of the best films in recent times.” Speaking to the media on Monday, the director shared insights into the film’s journey and reception.
Talking about audience feedback, Praneeth said,
“Both word-of-mouth and box-office collections are increasing day by day. The response has been universally positive. Audiences are coming out satisfied, saying they’ve watched a really good film. Everyone is enjoying it, especially the climax, which gives the feel of watching a live match in a stadium.”
Sharing details about his background, he said,
“I was born and brought up in Hyderabad. I studied DFTech at Ramanaidu Film School, and Patang is my debut film as a director.”
Explaining why he chose kite competitions as the central theme, Praneeth said,
“It was a Sankranti day when the idea struck me. We often make sports films inspired by foreign sports like rugby, but kite flying is our native sport. I felt it deserved a film. That’s how Patang began. Once we started, I understood why no one had attempted this earlier—the CG work involved is massive.”
Addressing the delay in the film’s release, he clarified,
“The CG work alone took nearly two years, especially the climax. Since there was no reference material, achieving realistic visuals was extremely challenging. We didn’t compromise at any point until the kites looked completely authentic on screen.”
He credited the producers for standing firmly by the project, saying,
“Our producers are the biggest strength of Patang. There were moments when I thought of compromising, but they never allowed it. They invested heavily to ensure the film looked rich and vibrant, and the final output reflects that.”
Speaking about industry appreciation, he said,
“Everyone from the film industry who has watched the movie has praised it. Special appreciation came from SKN, Sundeep Kishan, Bellamkonda Suresh, and Dil Raju.”
On the challenges of securing theatres during the Christmas season, Praneeth shared,
“I thought completing the film was the toughest part, but promotion and release are equally challenging. Despite strong word-of-mouth, limited theatres and show timings have affected reach. However, wherever the film is running, theatres are going house-full.”
Talking about Gautham Vasudev Menon’s role in the film, he said,
“Initially, we approached Sandeep Reddy Vanga, Dil Raju, S. J. Suryah, and Nag Ashwin for that role, but due to date issues, it didn’t work out. Gautham Menon felt perfect for the character. After hearing the script, he immediately agreed and thoroughly enjoyed the dialogues.”
On not securing enough screens initially, he admitted,
“I was disappointed on the first day. But as positive word-of-mouth spread, the support from the industry and audiences grew stronger.”
Reflecting on his journey, he said,
“These three years have taught me many lessons. More than filmmaking, I learned how crucial marketing is.”
Praneeth credited producer Nani Bandreddy as the driving force behind the project.
“He is the reason Patang happened. He brought the other producers on board and guided the film at every step. His contribution is invaluable.”
Explaining why the film featured newcomers, he said,
“We felt fresh faces suited the story best. I wrote the story and dialogues myself.”
Patang is set for a wide overseas release on January 1.
“We are planning a strong overseas release, and I believe international audiences will also connect with the film,” he said.
Speaking about his taste in cinema and future plans, Praneeth added,
“I enjoy commercial entertainers. The comedy in my next film will be ten times more than in Patang.”
Responding to comparisons with director Sekhar Kammula, he said,
“Yes, even my friends say that. I’m happy and honoured to be compared with such a great filmmaker.”
Clarifying criticism about the heroine’s character appearing confused, he concluded,
“That character is actually inspired by me. I’m very focused at work, but otherwise, I tend to be confused. I’ve seen many people like that in real life.”
Read Also: Akhanda 2 Review : Big Hype, Weak Impact