Dialogue writer Kraanthi Kumar says director Prem insisted on deep research before writing for KD: The Devil even began. “When Prem chose me as a dialogue writer, he asked me to first refer to books from the 1970s period. He gave me a few reference lines at the start, and he felt I could carry the role because of my background,” says Kraanthi.
He adds that the writing process was rooted in research and observation rather than modern language patterns. “I mostly read books authored by Ravi Belagere. I learnt that every gangster has a wavelength of his own, and they cannot sound normal. That became an important base for writing.”
Kranthi says Prem’s inputs were equally crucial in shaping the tone and world. “He shared several incidents from that era. Unlike now, there were no clear borders then. People spoke different languages and still felt united. There was a mix of Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada influences, and references to books like Paapigalla Lokadalli and D Company, along with interviews and films from that time, helped build the texture.”
He adds that Prem’s storytelling added depth to the writing process. “Prem has abundant stories from the underworld space he is drawing from. It is very interesting to hear those stories directly from him because they feel raw and real.”
According to Kranthi, the dialogue writing came together through books, films, and oral accounts, all filtered through Prem’s vision of the 1970s underworld world.
