Vamsidhar Bhogaraju about Aachar & Co: As the oldest of 10 siblings in the film, I have responsibilities, but do I want that?

A few days ago, almost out of the blue, PRK Productions dropped the teaser of its latest venture, Aachar & Co. Directed by Sindhu Sreenivasa Murthy, who also plays the lead in the film, based on a script she co-wrote with stand-up comic Kanan Gill, Aachar & Co is coming to theatres on July 28. Vamsidhar Bhogaraju, whose directorial One Cut Two Cut was the last PRK Productions film, is also a part of the ensemble cast, so we caught up with him for a quick chat.

“I started my career saying I want to be in front of the camera, but when I wasn’t getting too many roles, the only way I could make it happen then was to write myself into it and that’s how the whole writing and directing process started. But then, some people have been kind enough to give me roles and the one in Aachar & Co is one such,” says Vamsidhar.

The film, which is set in the 60s and 70s, took off almost immediately after One Cut Two Cut, he says. “To give you an overview of what the film is about, well, it focuses on a couple back in the 60s, who had 10 children, which was quite common then. When you have that many people in a house, there is not much privacy, or scope to be an individual and you have to conform to what is told or expected of you. The film explores if, back in the day, people could actually take a stance and question what is being told to them and do what they thought is right for themselves. That is the period and the setting, but it’s also a sweet film that looks at family dynamics,” he explains.

Vamsidhar adds that the beauty of Aachar & Co is that it is made by a completely women-led team, starting with producer Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar, director Sindhu and music by Bindhu Malini, among others. “The teaser hints at the topics addressed, as in if and how women could break out of the mould that was set for them,” he says. But how does a period film like this become relevant for audiences today? “There are two ways that I look at it – first, is that children have a greater affinity towards their grandparents; they’d listen to that generation far more than their parents. Second, if people back then could do certain things, there is nothing that stops you from following suit now. With all the access and privileges we have today, it is way more easier for us to do things than it was a few decades ago. Films like Aachar & Co show you how people achieved things with so few resources, which can be inspirational, if you are seeking it,” Vamsidhar says.

As for his role in the film, the actor-filmmaker is the oldest of the 10 siblings. “There are certain responsibilities and expectations that come with being the eldest. Do I really want that or am I seeking something else is my arc in the story. What also happens is that sometimes you are given a little more than you want, when what you prefer is actually some escape – that’s the zone that my character is in,” he says.

What else has Vamsidhar been up to since One Cut Two Cut? “I’ve been doing some writing. There’s a feature film script and one for a web series that I am currently developing and should be ready by the end of the month. The web series, for instance, is not comedy. I am writing a very rooted drama about a younger generation, 16-17 year olds, from a small town. The story touches upon slightly darker elements like childhood abuse and closet homosexuality, among others. I am trying to be as honest as possible to the story, without falling for tropes,” he says.