Saakini Daakini preview: Here’s everything you need to know about Nivetha Thomas and Regina Cassandra’s action-comedy

Oh Baby producers, Kross Pictures, Suresh Productions and Guru Films, are joining forces for Saakini Daakini, the Telugu remake of the Korean actioner Midnight Runners. Directed by Sudheer Varma, the film starring Nivetha Thomas, Regina Cassandra in the lead, is set to hit theatres on September 16. Bhanuchander, Sudarshan, Mirchi Hemanth and Prudhvi Raj too play key roles.

It’s very rare for a full-on action film to be headlined by two popular mainstream actresses in the hands of a capable director. Thankfully, Saakini Daakini has an immensely talented team bursting with young energy under director Sudheer Varma’s vision. Akshay Poolla has adapted the Korean film in the Telugu version. The film’s shoot commenced early last year.

In the theatrical trailer released earlier this week, it’s suggested that Saakini Daakini is the story of two women - Shalini and Damini - who share an awkward equation who undergo training at the police academy. One night, they find a woman kidnapped and realise her life is in danger. How far will the budding cops go to rescue the woman? What is in store for the duo?

Interestingly, the Korean version of Saakini Daakini was told through the eyes of two men but the Telugu team believed that the subject would possess an edge if it told the story of a woman standing up for another woman. While the film was initially meant to be a direct-to-OTT release on Netflix, the makes revised the deal and felt that the film deserved a theatrical audience.

The film has all the trappings of an ideal popcorn entertainer and promises to be an interesting potpourri of various ingredients - action, thrills, humour with an underlying message about sisterhood. The promos indicate that viewers are in for a good time at the theatres. Sudheer Varma, with his experience in handling crime and action stories, is a perfect bet for a wacky premise like Saakini Daakini.

Renowned cinematographer Richard Prasad has cranked the camera for the film while Mikey McCleary and Naresh Kumaran have scored the music for the same.

Viplav Nyshadam has edited the actioner with Gandhi Nadikudikar in charge for art direction. Vijay Shankar Donkada is the line producer. Suresh Babu, Sunitha Tati and Hyunwoo Thomas Kim are the producers.