It is learnt that the filmmaker discussed the political movie's plot with the chief minister over lunch on Wednesday, 26 October.
Published Oct 27, 2022 | 4:36 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 27, 2022 | 6:15 PM
Ram Gopal Varma (Supplied)
Maverick filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has not delivered a box-office hit for more than a decade. Will his next, Vyuham, rake in the moolah — or votes for the ruling YSRCP?
Varma, or RGV, announced his new movie in two parts on Twitter on Thursday, 27 October. His tweet in Telugu said the movie’s plot will be “the struggle between ego and ambition”, which “is filled with the poison of political intrigue”.
His meeting with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy a day ago, meanwhile, sparked speculation that the movie will be a spoof, targeting the Opposition TDP.
RGV had made earlier made satirical movies poking fun at TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu, his son Nara Lokesh, and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan.
The RGV-Jagan meeting came amid indications that Naidu and Pawan Kalyan might join hands to take on the ruling YSRCP in the 2024 Assembly polls.
The Jana Sena now has a tie-up the BJP.
The TDP is known for its connections with Tollywood ever since its inception. NT Rama Rao, himself an iconic figure in Tollywood, had founded the party in March 1982.
His son, actor Nandamuri Balakrishna, is a TDP MLA representing Hindpur in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Balakrishna’s brother, actor-producer Nandamuri Harikrishna, too, had dabbled in politics.
The YSRCP, however, does not enjoy such patronage from the Telugu movie industry.
The Chief Minister’s Office was unusually quiet about the filmmaker’s luncheon meeting with Jagan. YSRCP sources termed it a private one.
It is learnt that RGV discussed the plot of his planned movie with the chief minister. Indications are that a group of enthusiastic YSRCP supporters is planning to make a movie on Jagan’s rise in politics — from launching his party to the 341-day, 3,648-kilometre Praja Sankalpa Yatra to his ascent to the office of the chief minister.
RGV announced his new movie, Vyuham, on Twitter (Twitter/Ram Gopal Varma)
It is, however, not immediately known if RGV’s movie will be the same. His earlier movies had created an impression that his target was Jagan’s political opponents.
RGV’s Lakshmi’s NTR, released on 29 March, 2019, just days ahead of the 11 April, 2019, general elections, boosted YSRCP’s “backstabbing NTR” allegation against Naidu.
Though the movie was made on a shoestring budget and did not bother the box office, some of the scenes are still used by YSRCP activists to take potshots at Naidu on social media.
After the 2019 polls, RGV made two more movies: Amma Rajyam lo Kadapa Biddalu and Powerstar, both satires on Naidu, Lokesh, and Pawan Kalyan.
Though the movies did not set the cash registers ringing, they helped YSRCP in mocking its political opponents.
Yatra, released in February 2019, months before the general elections, had helped Jagan’s prospects.
The movie was about the Praja Prasthanam Padayatra that Jagan’s father, YS Rajasekhara Reddy had undertaken in 2003, which eventually dethroned the then N Chandrababu Naidu government in the combined Andhra Pradesh.
Interestingly, Yatra makers launched the movie’s trailer on 8 January 2019, coinciding with the culmination of Jagan’s iconic Praja Sankalpa Yatra.
Malayalam superstar Mammootty essayed the role of Rajasekhara Reddy. Incidentally, Mammootty himself dubbed for the movie.
Rajasekhara Reddy had traversed 1,475 kilometres, covering all areas in the combined Andhra Pradesh. Yatra depicted the circumstances that had prompted Rajasekhara Reddy to take out the padayatra. The late chief minister later acknowledged several times that the padayatra had changed him as a person.
The movie showed various incidents that Rajasekhara Reddy had come across during the march and the experiences that later prompted him to launch many welfare schemes.
The Opposition TDP, meanwhile, remained unperturbed over the luncheon meeting and RGV’s announcement of his new movie.
“RGV lacks credibility, and he has also lost that streak. It’s been ages since he delivered a decent hit. We need not bother or worry about his films,” the former mayor of Vijayawada and TDP general secretary, Panchumarthy Anuradha, told South First.
“People won’t believe RGV repeating the same lies YSRCP has been peddling daily. His movies will not have any impact,” she added.
