Director Mahi V Raghav said the motion poster of 'Yatra-2; , will be released on 8 July, the 74th birth anniversary of Jagan’s father YS Rajasekhar Reddy.
The Jagan Mohan government has assured the people that there is no misuse of their data. (Twitter)
In Andhra Pradesh, politics and cinema are intrinsically intertwined.
While the Opposition TDP has always enjoyed the patronage of Tollywood personalities, and Jana Sena Party founder, Pawan Kalyan, is himself a big star in Telugu cinema, the ruling YSRCP is the only party that does not boast of the support of a megastar.
Barring a few actors from the Telugu film industry, the YSRCP never had the patronage of the A-listers.
However, maverick filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma (RGV) and another director, Mahi V Raghav, have often batted for YSRCP supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Come 8 July, Raghav will release the motion poster of his upcoming movie, Yatra-2. The date coincides with the 74th birth anniversary of Jagan’s father and former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, popularly known as YSR.
https://twitter.com/MahiVraghav/status/1676920157212401664
Production house Three Autumn Movies announced that Yatra-2 will be released in February 2024, months before the general elections. Incidentally, its prequel, Yatra — also marketed as YSR Yatra — was released ahead of the 2019 general elections.
Yatra was released ahead of the 2019 elections. (Wikimedia Commons)
Made with a budget of ₹12 crore, biopic Yatra chronicled YSR’s foot march, his ascent to the office of the chief minister, and his death in a helicopter crash in the Nallamala forest area on 2 September, 2009.
Yatra-2 is said to be on the rise of Jagan in Andhra politics, his struggle after he had left Congress, the loss in 2014 polls by a whisker, the foot march between 2017 and 2019, and finally romping home winning 151 of 175 Assembly seats in the 2019 polls.
Yatra was about the Praja Prasthanam Padayatra that YSR undertook in 2003, which eventually ousted the N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP government in the combined Andhra Pradesh.
Interestingly, Yatra‘s makers launched the movie’s trailer on 8 January 2019, coinciding with the culmination of Jagan’s Praja Sankalpa Yatra.
Malayalam megastar Mammootty essayed the role of YSR. Incidentally, the actor himself dubbed for the movie.
YSR had traversed 1,475 km, covering all areas in the combined Andhra Pradesh. Yatra depicted the circumstances that prompted him 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 YSR had come across during the march, and the experiences that later prompted him to launch several welfare schemes.
YSRCP workers and Jagan’s followers are excitedly awaiting Yatra-2. However, its makers have kept the details about the cast a secret. It is learnt that Tamil actor Jiva may essay the role of Jagan.
There are also reports that Mammootty has been offered a huge sum to once again apprise the role of YSR.
Jagan’s followers always admit that while movie actors are reel heroes, the chief minister is a real hero. They point to his struggle after his father’s untimely death, the insults he had to face, and his rise in Andhra politics despite having an experienced adversary in Naidu and the powerful community he represents.
Going by the announcement Raghav made on Thursday, 6 July, the movie would begin with the promise Jagan made at Nalla Kaluva in Kurnool where he announced the Odarpu Yatra, to visit the families of those who had died of shock on hearing about his father’s sudden demise.
Step into the shoes of a torchbearer as we bring his extraordinary journey to life! #Yatra2 in cinemas from Feb 2024 👣#LegacyLivesOn @ShivaMeka @MahiVraghav @vcelluloidsoffl @Music_Santhosh @madhie1 #SelvaKumar @3alproduction pic.twitter.com/biCaoXraBh
— Three Autumn Leaves (@3alproduction) July 1, 2023
He continued the successful yatra despite the Congress’s high command asking him to wind up. He parted ways with the Congress to script history in Andhra Pradesh politics.
RGV’s Vyuham, the first of a two-part franchise, is also ready for release.
RGV had made earlier made satirical movies poking fun at TDP supremo Naidu, his son Nara Lokesh, and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan.
July 8, 2023
— Mahi Vraghav (@MahiVraghav) June 28, 2023
RGV’s Lakshmi’s NTR, released on 29 March, 2019, just days ahead of the 11 April, 2019, general elections, boosted YSRCP’s accusation of Naidu “backstabbing NTR”.
Though the movie was made on a shoestring budget and did not bother the box office, some of the scenes are still being 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.
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.
Megastar Chiranjeevi (right) with brother and Jana Sena supremo Pawan Kalyan (Supplied)
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.
Movies and the fans of actors are important in Andhra politics. Pawan Kalyan, himself a matinee idol, had to invoke the names of a few actors during his recent Varahi Yatra in the Godavari delta region.
At a political rally held on 21 June in Mummidivaram, he appealed to the fans of other actors like Prabhas, Mahesh Babu, Jr NTR, and Ram Charan to admire any hero, but believe in him when it comes to politics.
He said that he adores Prabhas, Mahesh Babu, Jr NTR, Ram Charan, Chiranjeevi, Allu Arjun, and Balakrishna.
“Mahesh Babu and Prabhas are bigger stars than me. Their stardoms haven’t boosted their egos. They earn more than me and they are pan-Indian stars. Ram Charan and Jr NTR have become global stars. I may not be known in other states and countries, but they do. I have no ego to admit this truth. I want everyone to do well,” he said.
However, political analyst and Navyandhra Intellectuals Forum Founder and Chairman Dr DAR Subramanyam has a different take about the movie industry and politics.
Talking to South First, he said that neither Yatra-2 nor RGV’s Vyuham will not have any political impact, except for providing entertainment or, maybe, have some “additional information value”.
On the coming Assembly and Parliamentary elections, he is quite clear.
“This time, the voting will be based on his (Jagan’s) performance and the willingness/unwillingness of people to have one more time under his rule,” said Dr Subramanyam.
Contending that the cinema industry does not influence electoral outcome, he added: “Superstar Krishna, who won in 1989, lost in 1991 as Congress candidate. Vijaya Nirmala lost. Posani Krishna Murali lost in 2009. We know the bitter experiences of Kamal Haasan and Vijaya Kanth in Tamil Nadu. Cine glamor would be an added factor if there is already some favorable wind politically.”
He said that, in the coming elections, no actor had the wherewithal to influence the outcome.
“Pawan Kalyan now is almost a politician. His case is different. If Junior NTR canvasses for TDP, it would help. If the same Junior NTR canvasses for the BJP, there wouldn’t be any impact,” added Dr Subramanyam.
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