INTERVIEW: Producer Karthik Sabareesh opens up about the connection between ‘Gaami’ and ‘Game of Thrones’ and how he reduced costs

Since its worldwide release on March 8 under V Celluloid, Gaami has garnered a positive response from various sections.

Producer Karthik Sabareesh recently shared his insights into the struggle that went into the making.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q. How do you feel regarding the tremendous response Gaami is receiving?

A. I felt incredibly grateful for the praise Gami received. For newcomers like us, releasing a film is a significant achievement.

The overwhelming appreciation the movie garnered gave us immense strength. Its success and recognition boosted my confidence to pursue more quality projects in future. I am grateful to the audience for their support in our journey.

Q. How did the journey of Gaami begin?

A. The journey of Gaami began when I previously used to work as a show producer at Tamada Media. Numerous NRIs would produce short films to gain recognition. Inspired by this, I conceived the idea of bringing these individuals together to create a film.

My previous collaboration with director Vidyadhar for the film Manu helped me realise this vision.

I did a few short films with him, and we had a good understanding. Building on this experience, director Vidyadhar and I collaborated to make Gaami.

Related: Vishwak Sen’s ‘Gaami’ collects ₹20.3 crore gross worldwide

Q. Did Gaami collaborate with the VFX team that worked for Game of Thrones?

Vishwak Sen’s ‘Gaami’ grossed over ₹22 crore worldwide in four days. (X)

A. Director Vidyadhar took special care when working on visual effects, he has good expertise in the field. We have done extensive VFX work in the movie, aimed at maximising the audience experience in the theatre.

We collaborated with a renowned team for the lion sequence while handling additional elements with our in-house team. This strategy enabled us to significantly reduce costs by around 40 percent compared to initial quotations.

With no deadline, we dedicated ample time to ensure a high-quality output was delivered.

Q. Have you started projects with crowdfunding funds?

A. The funds raised through crowdfunding were initially not sufficient. However, waiting for the full budget would have stalled the project midway.

We steadfastly kickstarted the first schedule in our hometown of Nellore, where acquiring location permissions was easier for us. We managed to stay within our budget for this phase of shooting. I felt the real challenge was yet to come.

Fortunately, director Nag Ashwin took notice after watching our promotional video. His endorsement attracted investors and facilitated smoother progress from there onwards.

Q. Did the budget increase after V Celluloid came into the picture?

A. With Vishwak Sen’s rising popularity, we have decided to increase the budget. His consecutive hits in Tollywood have boosted our confidence.

The backing of V Celluloid for Gaami has provided a sense of security for everyone in the team. This allowed us to pursue our vision without any compromises.

I have observed comparisons between Gami and a few other films, but it’s worth noting that we began production on Gaami before those films were even conceived.

The climax, in particular, has a distinct appeal connected with us all when the director proposed it. We aimed to create a film that would truly resonate with audiences and offer something fresh and appealing.

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