Director Mahi V Raghav: Yatra 2 focuses on YS Jagan’s rise till 2019 and will have fictionalised elements too

Mahi V Raghav, who debuted as a director with Paathshaala many years ago, made a mark as a versatile storyteller with films like Anando Brahma, Yatra and web shows Save The Tigers. While he’s wrapped up the shoot of his social satire Sidda Lokam Ela Undhi, starring Shraddha Srinath, his next is Yatra 2, a biopic of AP CM YS Jaganmohan Reddy. At the motion poster launch of Yatra 2, the director discussed the many challenges of making a political drama based on a true personality.

“I don’t want to explain my films honestly. The reception to Yatra, Yatra 2 will be quite different from my other films. Whenever we set out to tell the story of a politician, people or media will have diverse views - some will like it and some won’t. The biopics of an actor, sportsperson, for instance, are received quite differently. With politics, the response is clearly divisive,” he shared.

As a filmmaker, Mahi V Raghav said that he was aware that there will some who’ll trash and love the film no matter what and a section that won’t even care about it. “I don’t feel it’s necessary to explain my motives behind Yatra 2, the release timing et al. When I make a film, I think of it from the creative and commercial aspects. It’s important for the film to make money for me to get another project.”

Yatra was more of a road film about how a politician rediscovered himself as he interacted with the masses, Yatra 2 will focus on YS Jaganmohan Reddy between 2009 and 2019 and his rise to prominence, he added. “The film is a proper political drama but it’ll be fictionalised to an extent to engage audiences. A final announcement on the cast will be made in a couple of weeks.”

“I and Yatra 2’s producer Shiva Meka worked on Yatra before and another film titled Kudirithe Kappu Coffee (as a producer) too. I’m thankful to him for the opportunity. If all goes well, the film will release in February 2024,” the filmmaker stated. Madhie cranks the camera for the film, Santhosh Narayanan scores the music and Selva Kumar is the art director.