Okariki Okaru Daily Serial – E296 – 21st April

On the eve of its release, the team behind “Gangs of Godavari” held a press meet, offering insights into the highly anticipated Telugu film. Lead actor Vishwak Sen and producer Suryadevara Naga Vamsi addressed the gathering, brimming with confidence about the movie’s potential.

Sen emphasized his commitment to portraying his character authentically. He meticulously honed the Godavari slang to ensure a believable performance, stating, “I didn’t want anyone to point a finger at my performance and I think I did justice to the role and won’t disappoint you.” The actor further expressed his desire to break free from being typecast as a Telangana actor, revealing a nuanced perspective on his character Lankala Rathna. “I learnt a lot from Lankala Rathna,” Sen said. “He comes across as an unpredictable character, but he is someone with his own set of morals. I related with that side.”

With immense enthusiasm, Sen declared, “Gangs of Godavari will be a milestone moment in Telugu cinema. I’m saying this after a screening yesterday.” He hinted at the possibility of a sequel, elaborating, “Gangs of Godavari will most likely have a sequel, but unlike Hit, I will be playing the lead role in it too.”

Discussing a pivotal action scene, Sen commented on the evolving landscape of Telugu cinema. “There’s a lot of talk about Telugu cinema going global lately,” he said. “We too have a taste for films like The Godfather, Scarface and shows like Game of Thrones. It is because they are a product of honest, no-holds-barred filmmaking. Gangs of Godavari too has a fight before intermission without slow motion and background score that’ll blow everyone’s minds. It’s a risk but filmmaking is evolving with time and we must respect that.”

Producer Naga Vamsi praised Sen’s performance, asserting, “Gangs of Godavari is Vishwak Sen’s finest performance to date. What you’ve seen from him in the last five years is a mere trailer. Audiences will be surprised that a young actor has pulled off such a challenging role.” He further highlighted the film’s other strengths, including the music by Yuvan Shankar Raja and the enduring character of Lankala Rathna.

Vamsi addressed concerns regarding the trailer’s tone, explaining, “If people are finding a few moments in the trailer too direct, they need to understand the rags-to-riches story revolves around the highs and lows in the life of a slum dweller and the tone is decided by his trajectory.”

He advocated for open-mindedness, citing positive feedback from respected figures in the industry. “Supriya garu (of Annapurna Studios) called to tell me that she really liked the trailer. I presume she understood it too. We can make better films if we’re more open-minded.” The press meet concluded with details about the film’s cast, including Neha Shetty as the female lead and Anjali in a key role.