MS Raju, once known as a hit-maker as a producer with several blockbuster films, especially during the Sankranthi season, has now established himself as a director. After directing a few films, he is now coming up with another project, Agadha, a horror thriller. At the trailer launch event, he thanked producers Ajay and Kashi Visalakshi for supporting him throughout the journey.
"Agadha is not an easy film to make because it required extensive VFX and graphics. Still, we managed to complete the film within a year. We started shooting in August last year, and now we are ready to release it on August 14," said MS Raju.
He also praised music director Rakesh for his contribution to the film. "Rakesh has delivered a phenomenal background score and music. Making a devotional film itself is a challenge, so we carefully blended spiritual elements with entertainment that will appeal to today's youth and Gen Z audiences," he said.
With Suriya's Vishwanath & Sons also releasing on August 14, MS Raju was asked about the box-office competition. "Whenever there are long holidays, it is common for two or three films to be released together. If the content is good, every film will find its audience. I hope all the films perform well, including Agadha," he said.
MS Raju, who earlier produced films with several top stars, has been directing films featuring newcomers in recent years. When asked about it, he said he would certainly direct a star-studded film in the future. "I will definitely direct a film with stars in the coming days," he said. The veteran filmmaker also made it clear that retirement is nowhere on his mind.
"I have never thought about retirement. I will continue making films as long as I can. I always cast actors based on what the story demands. Just as Mahesh Babu suited Okkadu, Prabhas was perfect for Varsham, Siddharth fit Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana, and Uday Kiran was ideal for Manasantha Nuvve, every actor in Agadha has been chosen because they perfectly suit their respective roles," said MS Raju. He added that Shravan, Kamakshi, Jovika and Ulka have all delivered excellent performances in the film.
"At this stage of my career, I want to explore stories that I haven't attempted before. As a child, I suffered from a severe respiratory illness and had to stay away from school for several days. That experience remained deeply etched in my memory and became one of the inspirations behind Agadha," he revealed.
Although the makers have completed dubbed versions in other South Indian languages, they have decided to prioritise the Telugu release. "We are planning a wide release and are confident of a strong opening. We have already completed dubbing in multiple languages, but many well-wishers advised us to focus on Telugu first rather than spreading ourselves thin with promotions in every market. So, our immediate priority is the Telugu release," he said.
MS Raju also shared an interesting anecdote about the film's overseas release. "Initially, our overseas distributor planned to release the film on only a limited number of screens. But after watching the complete film, he was so impressed that he decided to increase the screen count significantly," said MS Raju.
