'Akhanda, KGF inspired me to make a film with mass appeal'

Filmmaker Srikanth N Reddy's debut film, which stars Panja Vaisshnav Tej and Sree Leela, was launched on Wednesday with an official pooja ceremony. Tentatively titled PVT 04, the film is backed by Naga Vamsi and Sai Sounjanya.

Talking about his debut film, Srikanth, an erstwhile associate of director Sudheer Varma, says, "It will be an action entertainer with mass elements. While the first half of the film is set in Hyderabad, the second half happens in Rayalseema. The story will revolve around Vaisshnav Tej's character who becomes the saviour of the village. The first half will have comical and romantic portions, and the second half has action and mass segments.”

The film, which is scheduled to release on Sankranti 2023, also stars Joju George as the antagonist. 

Srikanth, who has also written the script and dialogues of the film, says that he has been working on the script since 2012, but the production house accepted the script in January this year. “Whenever I heard events relating to violence against women, it further prompted me to work on this script. When I saw the visual of a Syrian refugee boy washed ashore, it had created an impact on me. My protagonist is a person who stands for children and women and against the crime committed on them,” Srikanth mentions.

On making his directorial debut with PVT 04, Srikanth says, “I wrote a political story initially, but after seeing films like Akhanda and KGF being celebrated by audience, I decided to make a film with mass appeal.”

PVT04, which is set to go on floors from the third week of July, will be shot in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. While the technical crew of the film is yet to be revealed, the director hints that a cinematographer who worked in notable Hindi films, and a National Award-winning editor will also be part of the crew.