Venky Kudumula, who made his directorial debut with Chalo and went on to helm Nithiin's Bheeshma and Robinhood, has now ventured into production with Itlu Arjuna, starring debutant Aniesh and Malayalam actor Anaswara Rajan. Interestingly, Nagarjuna has come onboard as the presenter of the film.
"Everyone is asking me what is next, so I decided to start my own banner, What Next Entertainments," says Venky Kudumula. He adds that he had wanted to produce a film for a long time. "I wanted to make my debut as a producer with a good story. When Mahesh narrated the story of Itlu Arjuna, I decided to produce it because I found it very interesting," he says.
Talking about how the project took shape, Venky says Aniesh was a regular visitor to his office, and they often discussed cinema. "Before Itlu Arjuna, Aniesh used to visit me and discuss various aspects of cinema. When Mahesh narrated the story, I felt Aniesh was the perfect choice for the lead role. We then narrated the story to Anaswara, who liked it and agreed to be part of the film," he reveals.
Speaking about Aniesh, Venky describes him as a hardworking actor who is willing to put in the effort to improve his skills. "He spends a lot of time practicing dance, action, and performance. When I heard the story, I realised that the lead character was mute. So, I felt it would be better to cast a fresh face rather than a known actor. That was another reason we chose Aniesh," he says.
Venky also reveals that Aniesh performed all the action sequences in the film without using a body double. "I want to direct a film with Aniesh in the near future," says Venky, adding, "I am new to production, Mahesh is making his directorial debut, and this is also Aniesh's first film. So, we all worked as a team," he says.
While directing films has always been a comfortable experience for him, production has given him a completely different perspective. "I always feel happy when I direct a film, but producing one is a completely different experience. Direction is my comfort zone. However, I appeal to every director to produce at least one film. Only then will they understand where money is being spent, where there is wastage, and where they can work more efficiently. A producer gets to know how much a unit can actually work on a film," he says.
Talking about director Mahesh Uppala, Venky reveals that getting an opportunity to direct a feature film was not easy for him. "He had worked in a software company before leaving his job to pursue his passion for cinema. After the web series, he did not get many opportunities, so he worked as a Rapido driver to earn a living. He is a genuine and talented person, and I wanted to support him. When he narrated this story, I liked it and decided to produce the film," says Venky.
He adds that giving opportunities to new talent is one of the main reasons behind starting his production house. "Someone gave me an opportunity to become a director, and I know how important that chance is for someone who wants to make films. Now, I want to do the same for others by encouraging new talent. If anyone approaches me with a good story and I like it, I will definitely come forward to produce the film and give them an opportunity," he says.
Having a big star like Nagarjuna on board as a presenter has also helped the team. Venky admits that while he was confident about selecting good content and producing it, releasing and distributing the film was a major concern. "I had an idea about choosing good content and producing films, but I was under pressure about the release and distribution. After Nagarjuna garu came on board, things became much easier for us. He helped us a lot," he says.
Venky reveals that the team initially approached Nagarjuna with a few glimpses from the film. "We actually asked if he would be interested in giving a voice-over. He liked what he saw and agreed. He liked the content so much that he also roped in the same cinematographer for his film King100," he says.
Later, after the film was completed, Nagarjuna watched it and appreciated the entire team. "He appreciated everyone who worked on the film. We were very happy that a senior actor like Nagarjuna garu appreciated my first film as a producer," Venky adds.
Talking about the music, Venky says he has always liked Thaman's work, particularly his compositions for Tholi Prema. "Thaman liked the story very much and delivered fantastic music for this film. All the songs have come out really well, and the background score is also superb," he says. He is confident that the film will offer audiences a new experience.
On the directing front, Venky reveals that he has already completed writing his next script. "I have written a comedy entertainer, and the script has come out very well. I will announce the details soon," he concludes.