The team behind Deadly Killer celebrated the film's successful 25-day theatrical run with a special event in Bengaluru. Directed by Thriller Manju and starring Abhay Veer and Lokendra Surya, the suspense thriller has found a steady audience, especially in North Karnataka. The film has completed 25 days in more than 17 theatres and is still playing at Bhoomika Theatre in Bengaluru.
The event featured a video showcasing the making of the film and its theatrical run, after which mementos were presented to the cast and crew. Actor Ragini Dwivedi and Aravind Reddy of AVR Group attended as chief guests and felicitated the team.
Director Thriller Manju said watching the presentation brought back memories of the effort that went into making the film.
"Watching the AV made me emotional. It reminded me of the hard work behind this film. We spent a lot of time on post-production, and the final result was worth it. Audiences have embraced the film. We expected it to do well, but we never imagined this kind of response," he said.
He also thanked Upendra, Jaggesh, Doddanna, Ganesh and Pratham for extending their support during the film's release.
Lead actor Abhay Veer turned emotional as he spoke about actor Darshan, whom he considers his mentor.
"The film is a success, but I'm only 50 per cent happy. When I started my first film, I promised the person who gave me the name 'Abhay' that I would return after becoming successful. It pains me to see him going through a difficult time," he said.
Abhay recalled the struggles he had faced over the last 14 years and thanked producer Prashanth T Tambrallimath for trusting him. "I still have a lot to learn. Thriller Manju has been with me in most of my films, and Ragini has also stood by us throughout. I'm thankful to everyone who believed in me," he added.
Ragini Dwivedi congratulated the team and said their success was built on persistence. "I'm proud of everyone on this stage because each of them has worked hard to reach here. I was once a newcomer too. Abhay has come this far without anyone backing him. If you stay committed and keep believing in yourself, success will come," she said.
Producer Prashanth T Tambrallimath said the film had given him the confidence to back more projects.
"Making this film was a dream, and today it feels rewarding. We now want to produce more films. We're also happy that AVR Cinemax OTT has acquired the digital rights for a good price," he said.
Produced under the Keerthi Silver Screen and Vedic Cosmos banners, Deadly Killer also features Thriller Manju in a negative role. Music director Vinu Manasu, cinematographer Mallikarjun, actors Lokendra Surya, Sunil Balder, Puneeth, Abhi, and other members of the team were honoured during the celebration.