Malli Pelli, the upcoming romantic entertainer starring rumored lovebirds Naresh and Pavitra Lokesh, is all set to hit the screens on May 26. Malli Pelli marks Naresh’s golden jubilee film and he is producing this landmark project under the banner of Vijaya Krishna Movies. The film is directed by veteran producer-director MS Raju. Malli Pelli has created a lot of buzz in the past few days with its mind-blowing promotions. Director MS Raju interacted with the media and spoke in detail about the film. Here are the excerpts:
How was your trip with Malli Pelli?
Ever since we released Naresh-Pavitra’s kiss on December 30 last year, there has been a lot of buzz surrounding their personal lives. It definitely helped our film gain attention. And then the teaser and trailer made Malli Pelli a much talked about film. However, I assure you that Malli Pelli will not be a sneak peek into anyone’s personal life. I will not cheat the audience when they see the movie in theaters. The audience will know whether Malli Pelli is a story written by me or belongs to Naresh and Pavitra when they watch the film.
How do you define Malli Pelli?
Even I think about it all the time. Even I am not sure if I should call Mali Pelly a multi-star or a family entertainer. This is a mature love story. I put in a lot of hard work for this film and made it based on Naresh’s 50-year career on a banner named after Krishna and Vijaya Nirmala garu. Malli Pelli has several sensational elements.
Did you write the Mali Peli script with Naresh and Pavitra in mind?
Even when I planned Okadu, I never had Mahesh Babu in mind while writing the script. It was only after the script work was completed that I thought Mahesh would fit the role perfectly. I applied the same for Malli Pelli.
How Much of Mali Pelley’s Story Is Fiction?
The teaser and trailer give a clear hint as to how much of the story will be fictional. You will have a clear idea about these fictional elements after watching the movie.
Do you think Malli Pelli will become a high profile controversial film?
Naresh is a Telugu actor while like Pavitra Lokesh is a Kannada actress. Both are middle aged. Naturally, there will be a lot of talk when rumors of their marriage are floating around. Today’s generation strives to live independently. Malli Pelli will cater to this generation as they will be able to relate to the story. You will find some unexpected story elements in the film. They will transport the audience to a new world.
How are Naresh and Pavitra’s performances going?
They are both great actors. I could have managed to bring out 50 percent of their acting potential in Malli Pelli. Naresh is usually a cheerful guy on the sets. But once the camera rolls, he’s a completely different person. We all applauded his performance in the emotional scenes during the shoot. He was very patient whenever I asked for a repeat.
Are you expecting Malli Pelli to be a sensational film?
In older times, elders married their children without them even seeing each other. Things improved later and the marriages were finalized after the groom and the bride saw each other’s pictures. Now everything happens through WhatsApp messages. Situations and attitudes change over time. My film reflects the same. Malli Pelli conveys the message that people should live their lives on their own terms, but it never crosses boundaries.
Are you doing any modern films lately?
Even Okkadu and Nuvvosthanante were quite modern. So was Dirty Harry. I had actually approached a young director for Dirty Harry but he turned down the offer as the content was quite bold. Then I decided to direct the film. I became a director to show something new to the audience. Otherwise, I would be sitting at home.
What was the idea behind using the title of Krishna’s old film ‘Malli Pelli’?
I didn’t know that was the title of the movie Krishna gari until Naresh told me. We thought the title was appropriate for our story and used it without a second thought.
How honest is Mali Pelli?
We honestly portrayed loneliness in the film. In the past, some of the Krishna and Vijaya Nirmala gari films were very bold. However, Malli Pelli will not be as bold as their films.