‘Mahendragiri Varahi’ Will Deliver a Grand Theatrical Experience: Sumanth
Sumanth and Aishwarya Rajesh play the lead roles in the upcoming devotional action thriller ‘Mahendragiri Varahi’. Star Boy Siddhu Jonnalagadda will be seen in a special role in the film. Directed by Santosh Jagarlapudi, the movie is jointly produced by Kalipu Madhu and Lakshman under the banners of Rajashyamala Entertainment and Bridge Films.
The promotional content released so far has generated considerable interest among audiences. The film is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on September 11.
Ahead of the release, Sumanth interacted with the media and spoke about the film, his character, Siddhu Jonnalagadda’s role, the mythology backdrop, action sequences, music, and his upcoming projects.
The promotions for ‘Mahendragiri Varahi’ have been quite aggressive. How do you feel about the response?
Yes. This is one of the biggest-budget films I have done in recent times. The producers have made it on a very grand scale, and they are also promoting the film very aggressively.
The film is releasing in Hindi and Tamil as well. We are seeing interest from audiences in the North too. The response to the teaser and trailer has been very encouraging, and that has made us extremely happy. We are very confident about the film.
Your comments about ‘Chinna Manavadu’ and ‘Pedda Manavadu’ at the pre-release event went viral. What was the context?
I was just joking about Akhil. Apparently, people call him ‘Ayyagaru’. Among all the grandchildren, I am the eldest. So, I jokingly said that if I am the eldest, being called ‘Ayyagaru’ would also be nice. It was said purely in a light-hearted manner.
What connected you to the story when you first heard it?
I liked the entire story. The interval, pre-climax and climax episodes are particularly exciting and will give the audience a great high.
Santosh narrated the entire story to me in a single sitting, and I liked it immediately. He has a very good understanding of the Vedas and Puranas, so this subject is a perfect fit for him. He has executed the story exactly the way he envisioned it.
When we initially planned the film, we did not expect it to be made on such a huge scale. But everything came together beautifully — from the VFX and theatrical experience to the casting. All these elements have worked in favour of the film.
Tell us about your character in the film.
I play a character who exposes superstitions through YouTube. I shouldn’t reveal much more about the character at this point.
‘Mahendragiri Varahi’ is a devotional action thriller, but it also has a strong family drama and several commercial elements. There is a good blend of all these aspects in the film.
What can you tell us about Siddhu Jonnalagadda’s character?
Siddhu has played a very serious character in the film. There is a particular scene between the two of us that will be one of the highlights of the movie.
Everyone who has seen that scene has said that it has come out exceptionally well. His character will add a lot of value to the film. I would like to thank Siddhu for accepting this role and being part of the project.
There is currently a trend of mythology-based films. Was ‘Mahendragiri Varahi’ conceived as part of that trend?
Not at all. Films like ‘Karthikeya’ and ‘Kantara’ brought renewed attention to mythology-based stories. Such films existed even before that, but following the success of these movies, more films with mythological elements started coming in.
However, we had finalised this story almost three years ago. At that time, we could not find the right producers. About a year later, Madhu garu came on board, followed by Lakshman garu.
Lakshman garu saw some footage from our film, liked what he saw and decided to come on board. He has worked on several films with Dil Raju garu, so having someone with that experience become part of our film is very satisfying.
Your choice of roles has always been quite diverse. What kind of roles do you enjoy doing the most?
I enjoy doing all kinds of roles. I don’t want to restrict myself to one particular genre or type of character. I am always interested in doing different kinds of stories and characters.
Some viewers feel that the trailer reminds them of ‘Murari’. What do you say about that?
The point shown in the trailer — that people in a particular lineage die after crossing the age of 33 — may remind viewers of ‘Murari’. But that is where the similarity ends.
The story and screenplay of ‘Mahendragiri Varahi’ are completely different. It is an entirely different subject. Once audiences watch the film, they will understand that.
How would you describe Anup Rubens’ music?
Anup Rubens’ background score is going to be one of the major highlights of the film. His re-recording gives several scenes a goosebumps-inducing experience.
Music plays an important role in the movie and will enhance the overall theatrical experience.
Varahi Devi is considered very powerful. With Pawan Kalyan garu wearing the Varahi Mala and undertaking the Varahi Yatra, the name gained even more popularity. Did that help your film’s title?
We registered the title ‘Mahendragiri Varahi’ when we conceived the story itself. Varahi has brought a lot of positivity to Pawan Kalyan garu, so we hope that the same positive energy continues with our film as well.
What can audiences expect from the action sequences?
There are around three major action episodes in the film, along with several other action blocks.
I have always enjoyed doing action. I have done several action-oriented films in the past as well. If a good action story comes my way, I will definitely do it.
You have also said that you are open to playing villain roles. Is that something you are seriously considering?
I have been ready to play villain roles for a long time. Along with playing heroes, I am also open to doing strong villain characters and powerful supporting roles.
For me, the character and the importance it has within the story are what matter. If I come across a strong character, I will definitely consider it.
After ‘Newton’s Third Law’ and ‘Mahendragiri Varahi’, what can we expect from you next?
I have listened to a few scripts, but I haven’t finalised anything yet. I am waiting for the right story and the right character.
Read Also: Romanchakam Review: A Few Laughs, But Little Else