In his directorial debut, Pradeep NR is steering clear of the conventional entry route. Instead of following the well-trodden path, he has opted for a bold approach—reviving the iconic villain Vajramuni with a twist. Using Vajramuni's signature dialogue Yala Kunni as the film’s title and the tagline Mera Naam Vajramuni, Pradeep introduces the character in a completely fresh avatar. This ambitious portrayal is brought to life by Komal Kumar, who takes on the challenge of embodying the legendary villain.

In his conversation, Pradeep reveals the story behind this bold choice. “I wanted one actor to portray two contrasting characters—a father and son, KD Nagappa and Sathya Harishchandra. As I developed the roles, it became evident that Komal was the only actor capable of embodying both, particularly the father’s persona, which was inspired by Vajramuni. I knew it was a big challenge, but I felt that no one else could do justice to it."

Pradeep explains that the look and feel of Vajramuni were meticulously designed. "From the moment I began working on the storyboard, I knew I wanted a retro feel. While working on Komal's dual characters, I kept thinking about making the father's role distinctive. After months of thought, it hit me—Vajramuni was the perfect fit."

Pradeep didn’t stop at just the visual resemblance. He went above and beyond, researching Komal’s old photos and working with the makeup team to recreate Vajramuni’s look. "I had to convince Komal initially because he wasn’t sure if he could pull off Vajramuni’s look. But after seeing the edited photos and our thorough preparation, he agreed. We even brought in the renowned makeup artist troupe from Kerala, Kalamandalam Vyshakh, to perfect the look. They didn’t know Vajramuni or speak Kannada, so I had to explain everything—from his signature moustache to the tiniest facial details like his pimples."

Taking things a step further, Pradeep and his team recreated Vajramuni’s voice using AI technology. "We wanted everything to feel authentic," Pradeep shares. "The fans loved Vajramuni’s voice and his iconic dialogues. We made sure to incorporate those through AI, and the audience will hear it in the most genuine way possible."

Pradeep shares that Komal, who is also one of the film’s producers, had unwavering faith in the project. “We shot all the scenes involving Vajramuni’s character at the very end of the film,” Pradeep recalls. “Komal and his wife, as producers, never compromised. They trusted me completely, and that trust made all the difference.”

Pradeep adds, "Only when you truly love and understand your actors can you bring their characters to life. As a fan of Komal's work and Vajramuni's legacy, I put my heart into this. Komal has been underutilised as an actor for too long, and I believe this role will show his range in a way audiences haven’t seen before."

With Nisarga Appanna and Amrita (Gicchi Gili Gili) playing the female leads, the film also marks the debut of Vajramuni’s grandson, Akarsh, along with a big cast including Dattanna, Suchendra Prasad, Yathiraj Jaggesh, Sadhu Kokila, Manasi Sudhir, Mayur Patel, Tabla Nani, Manju Pavagada, and Suman Nagarkar, among many others.

Yala Kunni is set in the fictional place of Dharani Mandala. The film revolves around a zamindar named KD Nagappa and his son, Sathya Harishchandra. "The film is a revenge drama. It’s about a son seeking justice for his father. KD Nagappa is a complex character—he's both good and bad, which adds layers to the narrative."

With music composed by Dharma Vish, Yala Kunni has cinematography by Halesh Bhadravathi and editing by Deepu S Kumar. "I’ve made sure every aspect of the film, from the score to the visuals, complements the story. One of the highlights will be an introduction song for Vajramuni," Pradeep shares.

Lastly, Pradeep signs off by saying, "We’ve put our soul into this film. It’s not just a project—it’s a tribute to an icon, a chance to show a different side of Komal and a story that I believe will resonate deeply with viewers."