Annapurna Photo Studio pays a fond homage to life in the 80s and mirrors Telugu culture, say the makers

The best way to market a film is to show the product to the audiences in advance and let them spread the word about it. It takes immense courage from the part of the producer to host previews ahead of a film’s release, but that can only come if one is quite sure about their effort. Team Annapurna Photo Studio, taking a cue from Writer Padmabhushan, Samajavaragamana, has tread that route.

Annapurna Photo Studio is one among the many films that are releasing in theatres this weekend. Chaitanya Rao, Lavannya Sahukara are playing the lead roles in the film produced by Yash Rangineni of Big Ben Films, the man behind films like Pelli Choopulu, Dear Comrade. Chendu Muddu, who impressed with O Pitta Katha earlier, has helmed the film.

The thriller comedy is among the rare small-budget films to have been picked by an OTT platform - ETV Win - months prior to its release. After multiple previews in Andhra Pradesh, the team organised a show for media and select crowds in Hyderabad today and interacted with scribes during a press meet. The cast, crew fielded several questions on their intent behind making the comedy.

Yash Rangineni reached out to Chendu Muddu after watching O Pitta Katha and expressed his liking for Annapurna Photo Studio, which he felt was a throwback to simpler, innocent times in an Andhra village in the 80s. “It has a compact screenplay, mirrors life in Telugu households and the comedy is neat, watchable by audiences of all age groups.”

Many advised the producer against the idea to produce a small-budget film, but he found it refreshing to associate with a young team that was keen to prove its worth to audiences. The director Chendu said he intentionally placed the film in the 80s, to rekindle nostalgia, relive his younger years and most importantly, help the product stand out in the market.

The lead actor Chaitanya Rao, who hails from Telangana, spoke of his efforts to interact with the locals in the heartland of AP to understand the slang and considered himself blessed to have played a full-length comedy role at an early stage in his career. He added that the similarity in the characterisation of 30s something man in 30 Weds 21 and Annapurna.. was a mere coincidence.

Lavannya Sahukara, who makes her acting debut with the entertainer, opined the film was an opportunity to understand the younger days of current generation parents and their relationships. Lalith Aditya, another actor in the film, thanked the producer, director for the opportunity and discussed how audiences were roaring in laughter during the earlier previews.

Other actors in the film include Yash Rangineni, Vasu Inturi, Uttara Reddy, Mihirah, Viva Raghav, Krishna Mohan, Ramana, Shiva. Prince Henry scored the music for the film while Pankaj Tottada and D Venkata Prabhu are the cinematographer and the editor respectively. T Series has acquired the audio rights. Suresh Productions is releasing the film in Telugu states.