Rakshit Shetty: I’m aware that Sapta Sagaralu Dhaati will work only for a section of audiences

Tomorrow, Sapta Sagaralu Dhaati Side A, the Telugu-dubbed version of Rakshit Shetty’s Sapta Sagaradaache Ello Side A, will release in the Andhra/Telangana market, three weeks after the Kannada original came to theatres. The Kannada version had a limited release in Hyderabad, where it was well received, which gave Rakshit and director Hemanth M Rao the confidence to bring the Telugu version to audiences. In Hyderabad for the promotions of the same, Rakshit was, of course, asked about whether an intense and tragic love story as Sapta Sagaralu Dhaati would work for regular Telugu audiences who fancy hardcore commercial entertainers.

Rakshit, who has also produced the film, admitted candidly that he was aware that a very niche audience would be the one interested in Sapta Sagaralu Dhaati, which is also why, he is not doing a massive release for it in the region. In fact, even for the Kannada original, Rakshit and co did not go on a promotional overdrive, opting for a small-scale release as well. Even the publicity material was two lyrical videos and the trailer only. The plan, said Rakshit, was to take the film to audiences and have it grow and travel organically.

Sapta Sagaralu Dhaati Side A is being presented by People Media Factory in Andhra and Telangana on September 22. The second part, Side B, will release in its Kannada version on October 20, with the Telugu-dubbed one set to be in theatres a week later on October 27. The film, which has music by Charan Raj, also stars Rukmini Vasanth, Achyuth Kumar, Pavitra Lokesh, Avinash, Yamuna Srinidhi, Gopalkrishna Deshpande and Sharath Lohithashwa, among others. Side B will introduce Chaithra J Achar into the narrative and takes off 10 years after the events of Side A.

Following the Telugu release, Rakshit and co will head to Kerala for the Malayalam version release, which is happening on September 28. They will then return home in time to begin the promotions for Side B. The Dasara release will have stiff competition at the box office with Shivarajkumar’s Ghost, Vijay’s Leo, Nandamuri Balakrishna’s Bhagavanth Kesari, Ravi Teja’s Tiger Nageshwara Rao, Tiger Shroff’s Ganpath, among others.