Director Neelakanta on Circle: I don’t chase awards and I relish commercial acceptance more

The filmmaker behind Show, Missamma, is back with a new-age thriller Circle this weekend

Neelakanta on Circle

National-award-winning director Neelakanta’s next, Circle, headlined by Sai Ronak, Baba Bhaskar, Arshin Mehta, Richa Panai and Naina is releasing in theatres this Friday. The film is a suspense thriller jointly produced by MVS Sharath Chandra, T Sumalatha Annith Reddy and A Venu Babu. Ahead of its release, the director interacted with the media recently.

“I’m returning to Telugu cinema after a nine-year-long sabbatical and it’s great to be back in action. The film has a new concept, where destiny invites several people into the lives of the protagonist and wreaks havoc on his life.The film isn’t merely a romance/crime thriller - it is packed with a lot of emotions. Sai Ronak will be seen as a photographer who’s dragged into an inhuman circle,” he said.

“There’s a romance angle to the film too and all the three female leads have crucial roles to play in the story, just like my earlier films. Their characterisation is different but they essay parts where they take charge of their destiny. Choreographer Baba Bhaskar’s character will be one of the major highlights in the film with his humour and villainy. He’s fit the role aptly though he had apprehensions initially,” Neelakanta shared.

Neelakanta reiterated all his films have enjoyed critical acclaim and he believes in the concept more than a star. “I hope to make a film with stars soon. I was to do a couple of projects after Maaya which couldn’t take off. Maaya was to be made in Hindi too but the plan was called off later and I directed a Malayalam film too,” he discussed the reason behind distancing himself from Telugu cinema.

Circle is a completely fictional story and revolves around fate - more than the romance, the film is about life, he insisted. Neelakanta doesn’t want to chase awards and believes that commercial acceptance of a film is his biggest reward and said that the high given by audience response is unmatched. “Audiences are appreciating unique scripts. I want to direct a web show soon and have a couple of ideas ready too.”

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