Director Vikram K Kumar: Naga Chaitanya and I conveyed our gratitude to many people in our lives before Thank You began

Vikram K Kumar, the director behind pathbreaking films like 13B, Manam, 24 and Ishq, is back in Telugu cinema with a coming-of-age tale Thank You. Headlined by Naga Chaitanya, Avika Gor, Raashii Khanna, Malvika Nair, the film, produced by Dil Raju and Shirish under Sri Venkateswara Creations, hits theatres on July 22. Ahead of the film's release next week, the filmmaker interacted with the media and shared his 'Thank You' experiences.

Elaborating on the essence of Thank You as a title, the director shares, "We use the phrase 'thank you' regularly in our lives but don't actually say it when the need arises. It's a powerful phrase but we don't take it seriously at all. I owe my success in the industry to my father and I've never said 'thank you' to him. He's no longer alive. Honestly, parents don't expect us to thank them and even if we do so, they don't like it. However, it's important to be grateful to them." 

He's reportedly been planning to do a film with Naga Chaitanya since three or four years and the duo has been discussing it regularly. "The script knocked on our door at the right time. He'll be seen in three different looks in the film - as a 16 year old, as a 20s something man and a middle-aged man in his 40s. He worked very hard to get the look for teenage years right and was on a strict diet for about 40-50 days. He deserves full credit for it," the filmmaker lavishes praise on his male lead.

Talking of the film's similarities with Premam and Autograph, the director opines, "They are among the finest films I've watched and if you're comparing Thank You with it, I feel honoured. The film is the journey of an individual. Though this is a romance, it's not similar to the aforementioned films. Thank You has a magical quality to it. After the script discussion, I and Naga Chaitanya felt the need to convey our gratitude to many people in our lives. We began the film only after we did that."

Right when BVS Ravi narrated him the story, he felt it was soulful and it struck a chord with him immediately. "I thought telling the story through my eyes would be necessary and we went ahead. Only when I identify with a story or feel for it, I can direct it. Such stories can come alive only when there's great music and Thaman did a splendid job for the film. He has given it everything for the film's background score."

What compelled him to make the film? What does the story try to tell? "All of us think we've come a long way in our careers but it's a result of many efforts from several corners. Not many recognise the contributions of those around us in our success. We're so full of ourselves always. There's a great amount of satisfaction we experience when we thank the deserving. We're not only shaped by the people around us but also our experiences," he responds.

On the female leads in Thank You, he states, "Raashii Khanna plays a crucial character in the journey of Abhiram in the film. Her performance in a scene in the film left me teary eyed while I was looking at the monitor. Mavlika Nair is a fine talent and she's yet to get her due as a performer. I am confident that her performance in Thank You will change the way people perceive her as an actress. Avika Gor needs no introduction at all, she is continuing to impress us since her childhood years."

Thank You is also Vikram K Kumar's first film with producer Dil Raju. "We've been thinking to collaborate from a long time now and we couldn't have thought of a better movie for it. Thank You was initially planned as a Tamil-Telugu bilingual but ended up making it first in Telugu. The film has a universal appeal." The film has cinematography by PC Sreeram.

Next up his sleeve is Dhootha, Amazon Prime Video's web show with Naga Chaitanya again, which is nearing completion. "Naga Chaitanya has already wrapped his portions. The entire show will be complete in the next 15 days. I want to do a sequel to 24 and have a few ideas for it, though I don't have a bound script eyet. I'm currently thinking about how to integrate Athreya's character into the story. I will be working with Mythri Movie Makers for a project and doing an action film in Hindi as well."