WE'RE NOT BANKING ON HYPE, THE STORY HAS TO WIN: SHRI RAJ

The writer-director of Kothalavadi opens up on his upcoming rural action drama rooted in village politics, emotion, and choosing Pruthvi Ambaar for the film, which is backed by producer Pushpa Arun Kumar

- ASHARADHAA

HRI Raj, the director of Kothalavadi, believes that rural commercial stories are getting attention today, and his film starring Pruthvi Ambaar and Kavya Shaiva, in her debut, aims to make a difference. The film will be released on August 1, and the trailer, which was released recently, showcases a gritty village-style action and emotional drama rooted in local politics.

Shri Raj, who wrote the film, acknowledges that he wanted to highlight themes that are often ignored. "There's still innocence in villages. While we sit in Bengaluru talking about change, real politics, power struggles, and strong emotions remain part of rural life," he says. "That's what Kothalavadi focuses on; when someone is given power, they have to bear its weight. But when that power is taken away, it creates a storm. This cycle continues in our villages today."

The director mentions that the film combines family drama, village politics, action, sentiment, and human greed. "We've blended all these elements to make it vibrant. It's based on something real. I didn't want to polish or sugar-coat anything. Cinema should reflect life," he explains.