The motion poster of the upcoming VN Aditya directorial, titled Phani, was launched at a special ceremony on Wednesday. Among others, K Raghavendra Rao was present on the occasion as the special guest, unveiling the poster.
VN Aditya has previously made films like Manasantha Nuvve, Boss, and Aata, among many others. At the event, legendary director K. Raghavendra Rao said, “ Although we have never worked together, Aditya is one of my favorites. He has the ability to make films with new faces as well as with stars.”
Starring Catherine Tresa in the lead role, Phani promises to tell a fantastical story with a social message about nature preservation. The film’s writer, Padmavathi Malladi, who recently made her directorial debut with Gandhi Tatha Chettu, stated, “When VN Aditya called me for the movie , I thought he was going to tell me a rom-com or a love story. But instead, he shared the story of a snake. There is a beautiful intention in this story, where we convey a meaningful point — this earth belongs not only to us but also to nature.”
Talking about her working experience, Catherine said, “VN Aditya is someone who constantly changes genres and tries something new. I’ve never done a film like this before. However, I am also afraid of snakes. So when Aditya gaaru approached me for the film, I requested that all my scenes involving snakes be done with CGI. However, at the end of the shoot, he made me do a scene with a real snake.” Phani is produced by Dr Meenakshi Anipindi under the OMG Productions banner. AU & I Studio is on board as the presenter. Meenakshi, who has also composed music for the film, said at the event, “I believe Catherine will receive a National Award for her performance in Phani. This is the feeling we have while watching every scene she has done.”
The ensemble cast of the film includes Mahesh Sriram, Neha Krishna, Tanikella Bharani, Kashi Vishwanath, Ranjitha, and Yogita, among others. Phani has been tentatively slated for a release in May. The makers are planning to release the film in Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, and Malayalam as well.