I HAVE RECEIVED MORE ACCLAIM THAN I DESERVE'

Writer-director Raj R talks exclusively to CE about what inspired him to make 23, why he felt he had set up his lead actors for failure and why he feels content as a filmmaker

- BH HARSH

AFTER making much-acclaimed films like Mallesham and 8 AM Metro, Raj R is back with his next feature, titled 23 (Iravai Moodu). As opposed to his previous two directorials, which were far gentler in their themes, 23 promises to be a riveting social-drama based on true events, telling a story about the complicated nature of justice and its relationship with class hierarchy.

Ahead of the film's release, the writer-director talks exclusively to CE about the many aspects of 23 and his other projects.

Excerpts

What inspired you to write the script for 23 (Iravai Moodu)?

After 8 AM Metro, which was for a niche audience, I thought I will probably not make a film again, and go back to my programming work. Just then, I met Bharadwaj Rangavajjula, a journalist friend who told me about the 1993 Chilakaluripet bus burning incident. Of course, I knew about the incident during my college years, but I also looked at things in binary back then. Now I can see how flawed I was. If you look at the stories of Valmiki and Angulimala, there is acceptance, repentance, guilt, reform, and redemption. While the Chilakaluripet incident had a humane element, I wasn't sure if I could redeem the accused.

Coincidentally, another friend told me about the 1991 Tsunduru mass killings, where the accused had the intent to kill. While it didn't fit in the screenplay structure by itself, I thought, 'why not mix the two events?' Then we had a story.

So the film will focus on other events as well?

Let's say, there is 10% of the narrative, which forms the backstory. It is interspersed with the Chilakaluripet incident, only to provide a contrast to the present timeline.

The trailer strongly hints at the film touching upon caste-based discrimination...