Young heroes Prince and Naresh Agastya star in the movie Kali, produced by Rudra Creations and presented by renowned story writer K. Raghavendra Reddy and directed by Siva Sashu. Leela Gautam Varma is the producer. This psychological thriller is gearing up for a grand theatrical release on October 4. In a recent media interaction, Director Siva Sashu discussed the film’s features.
“I have had a habit of reading and writing literature since childhood, which has helped me craft the script well. My desire to become a director led me back to the film industry after a brief stint in business. I have worked as a ghostwriter for several films and collaborated with directors like Ashok, known for Bhaagamathie, and Arun Pawar, director of Saptagiri Express.
I developed the script for Kali during the lockdown. I believed that if I pitched it to Prince, we would do very well. Gautham Varma agreed to produce it under Rudra Creations, which is how the film began. We faced some initial difficulties; we initially considered casting Jagapathi Babu, but that did not materialize. I then shared the concept with Naresh Agastya, who was very enthusiastic and agreed to be part of the film.
Once Kali story was ready, it took a year and a half for pre-production and casting. The film is set in a single location, filmed at Ramoji Film city. Our cast and crew are all from a young generation, and we worked with clear ideas, which made the process smooth. Thanks to teamwork, we completed the film happily. K. Raghavendra Reddy acted as the presenter and provided us with great support.
In our movie, we aim to convey that suicide is not the solution to life’s problems. According to a survey, 70 percent of people consider suicide at some point. Prince plays the character Shivaram, a genuinely nice person who faces numerous difficulties due to his kindness. The society he lives in treats him harshly, pushing him to contemplate suicide. At that critical moment, a stranger, played by Naresh Agastya, arrives at his home. The plot revolves around the events that unfold in Shivaram’s life after this encounter.
Although the story focuses on two characters, the script and dialogues are gripping, making the entire movie engaging. Both Prince and Naresh Agastya delivered outstanding performances. Neha Krishnan plays the female lead, and Kali also features a compelling love story. Priyadarshi provides the voice for the character Bali, while Mahesh Vitta and Ayyappa P. Sharma also contribute voiceovers.
VFX has a significant focus in Kali, and we have ensured high-quality visual effects. The residence of Kali has been grandly visualized using VFX, which you will see at the end of the trailer. The film has received a clean U certificate from the censor board. Kali is not related to the film Kalki 2898AD; we chose the title Kali independently, while Kalki 2898AD had its title designated as First Project K.
I drew inspiration for Kali from the character of Kali Purush in our Puranas. The film releasing in theaters on October 4, and don’t miss it in theatres which explores themes of time and soul that resonate with the current age.
