“Deewana” collections are growing day by day. Positive word-of-mouth is spreading – Producer Vasudev Koppineni

“Deewana” has given us creative satisfaction, and we believe it will also deliver financial satisfaction this weekend – Producer Sridevi Karyampudi

The new film Deewana stars young and talented actor Harshith Reddy in the lead role. The movie has been produced by Vasudev Koppineni and Sridevi Karyampudi under the Arha Media and V Studios banners. With this beautiful love story, actress Smeha Manimegalai and director Srikanth Sangishetty have made their debut. Released in theatres on June 20, Deewana is enjoying a successful run with appreciation from audiences across all sections. Speaking about the film’s success at an interview held today, producers Sridevi Karyampudi and Vasudev Koppineni shared their thoughts.

Producer Sridevi Karyampudi said:

– Deewana is receiving a very good response from audiences. The story really takes off in the second half. We started this project because the interval and second half were highly impressive. The transformation of the carefree hero and several key developments are showcased in the latter half. Unfortunately, because of the ‘A’ certification, family audiences have not been able to come in large numbers. We are disappointed that a good film is not reaching everyone.

– We were busy with promotions and marketing when we faced these issues with the censor process. We did not even have enough time to approach the Revising Committee. Along with one visual cut, we were asked to make several audio cuts. Even before those changes were made, we were told what certificate we would receive if we complied. It felt as though the certification decision had already been made in advance.

– Audiences and reviewers who watched the film have not revealed the interval twist. We were initially worried that the twist might be disclosed. Some films depend entirely on a single twist, but our film continues with an even stronger narrative after the interval reveal. Harshith has been deeply involved in the film’s promotions. Today, he has booked a special show for his fans. Over the next few days, he will be visiting colleges and theatres as part of the promotional campaign.

– We did not stop at simply investing money in the film. Since we come from a creative background, we sat with the director and discussed every aspect of the project. From the hero’s costumes to his hairstyle and makeover, we were involved in every detail. Although we have worked on multiple projects in the past, we dedicated our complete focus to this one film.

– Deewana has given us immense creative satisfaction. We believe it will also provide financial satisfaction in the coming week. Above all, we are happy that we made a good film.

Producer Vasudev Koppineni said:

– Before the release, we had planned everything carefully. We arranged premieres in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Hyderabad. However, because the censor certification was delayed, we could not execute those plans. As you know, changing a release date is extremely difficult for a small film.

– Initially, audiences got the impression that our film was a youth-oriented movie. In reality, it is a wholesome family entertainer. Along with romance, it features friendship, family emotions, and meaningful dialogues with depth. We thank viewers for not revealing the interval twist, because it is a crucial element of the film. Due to the film being marked as 18+ on online booking platforms, many people could not attend. However, those who have watched it are saying it is a film that can be enjoyed with the entire family.

– Our challenge was that we did not have enough time to explain our case to the censor authorities or seek a revision. We respect the censor board. We are not aware of what happened with other films, but in our case, even after implementing the cuts they suggested, we still received the same certification. Everyone who has watched the film says it is good and that they did not find anything objectionable. While audience feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, the censor board reached a different conclusion.

– There is a communication gap between filmmakers and the censor authorities. Because of that gap, information is not reaching people on time. In my opinion, the Telugu film industry should have a representative connected with the censor board. That would help us receive information more quickly and resolve issues efficiently. This would benefit all films, regardless of whether they are small or big-budget projects.

– We may not have achieved the opening results we expected, but the collections are increasing day by day. Everyone who watches the film is speaking positively about it. This positive word-of-mouth is spreading, and shows are filling up faster. We expect the film to gain even stronger momentum next week. The scenes we believed audiences would enjoy are receiving exactly the response we anticipated. From the premiere shows onward, we noticed viewers connecting with the key moments we had identified. Aravind garu also thoroughly enjoyed the film when he watched it.

– We have reduced ticket prices to make the film more accessible. Tickets are priced at ₹100 in single-screen theatres and ₹105 in PVR cinemas. We hope this encourages more audiences to watch the film. We are currently working on two new projects. One is an exciting superhero film that will present a fresh kind of superhero story in Telugu cinema. It will be a complete entertainer, and script work is currently underway. The other project is an interesting love story that we will be announcing soon.