National Award-winning director Manoj Kumar is back with his second feature, Premada Oorali, following his critically acclaimed debut, Akshi. Produced by Vanilla Entertainments, Janakamma Productions, and Mukul Gowda Productions, the film stars Rangayana Raghu, Shree Raam, Thapaswini Poonacha, and Ramika Shivu, with music by Sunaad Gowtham, cinematography by Rajkanth SK, and editing by Harshith Prabhu. In a candid conversation Manoj Kumar, ahead of its release on September 25, breaks down his shift from award-winning social realism to grassroots commercial storytelling.
Excerpts:
After bagging a National Award for Akshi, why pivot to a commercial family love story?
To be very honest, though Akshi gave me huge recognition, I felt I failed to get the message across to the general public. An award feels good, but cinema must reach common people. With Akshi, I gave the audience bitter medicine directly. This time, I mixed the medicine with honey. I wanted to make a film that families actually sit together and watch in theatres.
What does the title Premada Oorali signify?
For me, any home with love and family is a 'Premada Ooru'. This isn't the story of an entire village; it's about a single household. It follows four characters: Naganna, Santhu, Vasantha, and Rukmini. At the centre is a deeply emotional bond between a father and son. The father raises his boy alone so lovingly that the kid never misses a mother's presence. When two young women enter their lives, a musical love triangle develops. Beyond romance, it focuses heavily on women's emotions, their strength, and how society ought to treat them.
Is commercial cinema an experiment for you?
Not at all. I worked with director Om Prakash Rao for six years on major commercial films starring big names like Shivarajkumar and Darshan. Commercial cinema was always my real goal. Akshi was the real experiment: a tight-budget project made with 23 lakhs over 55 days to test myself and prove my directorial craft. Now that I know my footing, Premada Oorali is pure entertainment with soul, and is made to connect with every type of audience.