Patriotism is the undercurrent theme in ‘Devil’, says actor Kalyan Ram

Producer Abhishek Nama, who bankrolled the film, made use of Artificial Intelligence for a few portions.

Kalyan Ram asserts that Devil is a work of pure fiction. However, writer Srikanth Vissa and director-producer Abhishek Nama skillfully intertwined elements of real-life references into the murder mystery.

With the theatrical release scheduled for 29 December, Kalyan Ram expresses confidence in the merits of the story to entertain audiences.

The actor says he occasionally missed out on the commercial elements. “In the case of Amigos (2023), the absence of these elements was a deliberate choice, as the film explored the intriguing concept of doppelgangers. In hindsight, I should acknowledge that it was a misfire on my part.”

He adds, “For Devil, I’ve ensured that commercial elements are included. I find it unique to blend such elements into an investigative thriller, creating a purely fictional cinematic experience for audiences.”

A trailer of our mission. #DevilTrailer – https://t.co/FZWLAXhFuB

Join us in theaters on December 29th#DevilTheMovie #DevilonDec29th

— Kalyanram Nandamuri (@NANDAMURIKALYAN) December 12, 2023

On characters & being a producer

Kalyan Ram has no grey shades in Devil.

“The team dedicated meticulous attention to every detail. Tomorrow, when you witness it on the big screen, the experience will be truly enjoyable. The characters portrayed by Samyukta Menon and Malavika Nair are exceptional,” the actor-producer explains.

He points out, “Every character holds significance in the narrative. Samyuktha’s role is equally crucial to that of the hero. Malavika Nair, on the other hand, takes on a distinct shade and her performance was truly phenomenal.”

Striking a balance between being an actor and a producer is indeed a formidable task, Kalyan Ram says.

“The responsibilities in production demand even more diligence than that we witness in acting. I had to learn a lesson during the making of the movie Om (2013).”

He quips, “Subsequently, I actively engage in hearing stories related to the films produced under our banner. The remaining aspects are handled by my brother Hari.”

Sequel on cards

A poster of the film ‘Devil’. (X)

Now that Devil is releasing on Friday, there have been discussions about the sequel to Devil with 40-50 percent of the script already in progress.

“At one stage, we considered commencing the shoot of the sequel, but we decided against rushing the process. The announcement of the sequel will be made after seeing the response of audiences for Devil on 29 December,” Kalyan Ram says.

The actor believes that the public is not going to get enticed by what he says in the interviews. “It is the teaser and trailer that determine whether the audience would want to watch a film or not.”

The actor says he has no intention of becoming a writer or a director. He feels that he would work with the existing talented set of writers in the industry.

Spilling beans on his brother NTR’s forthcoming film Devara Part 1, he said that nearly 80 percent of the shoot got completed.

“The release of the first glimpse will be announced once we are satisfied with the overall output. My brother NTR and I adhere to a policy of not responding to speculations in the media regarding the release date of glimpses. We believe that unfounded rumours naturally fade away over time,” he points out.

About his forthcoming projects, Kalyan Ram said he has a current project which is already underway. Following its completion, he will embark on Bimbisara 2 — the sequel to the 2022-released superhit period film Bimbisara.

Also Read: Jr NTR-Koratala Siva’s ‘Devara’ to release in two parts