The filmmaker, who is intrigued by the concepts of rebirth and soul, is coming up with 'Ooru Peru Bhairavakona' starring Sandeep Kishan.
Director Vi Anand's next is a mystic thriller titled 'Ooru Peru Bhairavakona'. (Supplied)
Mysticism seems to have become the favourite genre of filmmakers in the Telugu industry these days. After Sai Dharam Tej’s Virupaksha, yet another supernatural thriller titled Ooru Peru Bhairavakona (The Name of the Village is Bhairavakona) is bracing up for release in the near future.
Director Vi Anand has always been intrigued by the concepts of rebirth and soul; most of his films have had unique storylines.
“True, I want to direct stories that excite me. I get attracted to unique story points. I take the concept and try to narrate it entertainingly and engagingly. I want to enjoy the process of writing. My upcoming film is about the mystery surrounding a village called Bhairavakona,” he told South First.
Vi Anand monitors a shot. (Supplied)
While Tiger (2015) is about friendship and horror killing in the background, Ekkadiki Pothavu Chinnavada (2016) has a fresh concept — a dead body losing weight and the soul gaining a few grams.
Someone dies, and still, the someone doesn’t want to leave someone. Okka Kshanam (2017) was about parallel life. It had two similar love stories and examined if someone can change destiny.
Disco Raja (2020) dealt with bringing dead people alive through a process called Anime where dead bodies are stored in a cryogenic chamber. If anyone survives, they can bring back the person to life.
After Tiger, Vi Anand once again teamed up with Sandeep Kishan for Ooru Peru Bhairavakona.
“Post Tiger, Sandeep and I became friends. We wanted to get back together but I had other commitments. We were sure we wanted to do something special,” he recalled.
The director added, “During the Covid-19 pandemic, we discussed the plot of Ooru Peru Bhairavakona. It is a supernatural fantasy. It tells the journey of Aatma (soul) and what happens between death and the next birth.”
A poster of the film ‘Ooru Peru Bhairavakona’. (Vi Anand/ Instagram)
Vi Anand explained, “I was inspired by what was written in Garuda Puranam and wrote something fictional.”
The filmmaker believes that Garuda Puranam shows people the way to a just life. It also deals with happenings post-death, the punishments and redemptions the soul has to go through and the cycles thereafter.
Anand pointed out, “It isn’t as if we go to hell or heaven soon after death, there is a big journey. We were inspired by the concept and linked it to the story of Ooru Peru Bhairavakona.”
When asked if he was influenced by Virupaksha and Kantara (2022), the director quipped, “When Sandeep Kishan and I spoke, both the films mentioned were in the making. We had no clue about their plot lines.”
He hastened to add, “Even during Ekkadiki Pothavu Chinnavada, we spoke in detail about the soul. This film has an element of takeaway; it has a deeper meaning. I want a conversation rolling, it should trigger thoughts or debate within oneself or others. Any art should do that.”
Vi Anand sheds more light on Ooru Peru Bhairavakona. “The hero is on a journey to achieve something. He gets stuck in a place and is unable to come out of it. The place has so many mysteries and he solves them.”
He added, “Was his journey destined or accidental? Is there a larger picture? So we had a huge set for Bhairavakona at the aluminium factory and matched it with some scenes from forests. We used a lot of VFX in the movie.”
OTT influence
Director Vi Anand on the sets. (Vi Anand/ Instagram)
Vi Anand believes that OTT challenged the quality of Telugu films and also gained international recognition.
“Movies released decades ago are being re-released and they are drawing crowds back to the theatres. Theatre viewing is being celebrated. It isn’t pressure but the directors are not compromising on the writing anymore. This apart, there is a need to maintain quality to drive people to the theatres,” he noted.
He also observed that Star power, the timing of release, and comedy work only on a certain level but not always.
“I’m in talks with a couple of OTT platforms for a couple of web series. I’m excited; nothing is less than anything. We should always be open-minded.”
About small films like Balagam (2023), Samajavaragamana (2023) and Baby (2023) turning out to be blockbusters, Vi Anand sounded positive.
“When director Bala directed a film with Vikram, posters were of A4 size. There was only one theatre for screening. Next, we hear that it was released all over Tamil Nadu,” he recollected.
The filmmaker further added, “Films released without expectations are making big money. But these movies are introducing good technicians and artistes which needs to be appreciated.”
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