Director Krish: Konda Polam wouldn't have happened without Pawan Kalyan, AM Rathnam's support

Filmmaker Krish, who last directed the two part NTR biopic, NTR Kathanayakudu and NTR Mahanayakudu in Telugu, is back with an action adventure, Konda Polam, that's gearing up for a theatrical release on October 8. Starring Panja Vaisshnav Tej, Rakul Preet Singh, Sai Chand, Kota Srinivas Rao, Nasser, Annapurna, Hema, Anthony, Ravi Prakash, Mahesh Vitta, Racha Ravi and Anand Vihari in lead roles, Konda Polam marks the revival of the novel adaptation trend in Telugu cinema after ages. 

Krish had shot Konda Polam during the lockdown in 2020, taking time off from a schedule break from his other directorial Harihara Veera Mallu starring Pawan Kalyan. He spoke about the film at an event in Kurnool the previous weekend.

"When the shoot of Harihara Veera Mallu was halted in between the pandemic and I wanted to do the adaptation of Konda Polam over a 40-day stretch, Pawan Kalyan didn't even ask the name of the hero in the film and asked me to go ahead. It's also not easy for a producer like AM Rathnam to give me his approval to do another project in between a high-budget film. If not for the help from directors Sukumar, Mohana Krishna Indraganti, Vemuri Satyanarayana, Jampala Chowdary, Vasireddy Naveen and the story writer Sannapureddy Venkatarami Reddy, Konda Polam wouldn't have been possible," Krish said.

Showering praise on his friend, co-producer, Y Rajeev Reddy, he added,"Rajeev and I left our comfortable jobs in the US to make a career in films. We've stood by each other through our highs, lows and bounced back. When I told him I wanted to do Konda Polam, he didn't ask me a single question and just told 'let's do it'. I owe my career in films and life to him. Keeping my contribution, those of the actors aside, it's MM Keeravaani who filled with the belief that we're going to make an extraordinary film. He has elevated a good film into a great film. Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry's lyrics summarised the film's essence perfectly."

"Konda Polam is a story of a youngster with an inferiority complex overcoming his limitations and inhibitions and progressing ahead in life. We've hopefully made a good film out of the novel. While I learnt about submitting oneself to a project with discipline and utmost dedication from Rakul, it's through Vaisshnav Tej that I have inculcated the art of listening and the ability to absorb inputs from others. He's a wonderful actor and a great human being and I hope he does 100s of films in the years to come," he signed off.

Also read: Shwaasalo from Konda Polam: Vaisshnav Tej and Rakul's intimate dance in the lap of nature