The trailer for Ram Pothineni's new flick 'Andhra King Taluka' has finally dropped, and its got me stoked that it nails all the key bits for a high-octane emotional drama that really gets into the weirdly wonderful world of South Indian film industry fan culture. Directed by Mahesh Babu P, who previously worked on Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty, and produced by the mighty Mythri Movie Makers, this film promises to be a genuine heartfelt exploration of the crazy, all-consuming bond between a fan and their idol.
Here are the key bits that have got peoples tongues wagging:
Ram Pothineni as the Fanatic
The trailer launches straight into Ram Pothineni as Sagar, a complete nutcase of a fan whose lives got totally turned upside down by his hero-worship of superstar Surya Kumar, played by the one & only Upendra. Ram's bringing his trademark energy in bucketloads, showcasing Sagar as that super-hardcore fan who breathes, eats & sleeps his star's every move ( or not moves – depending on how well the film is going to satirize those long waits between star appearances).
The Fan in the Mirror: The trailer makes it clear that Sagar's antics – from wild street bashes to screaming matches with his fellow fans – are a spot on representation of the fanbase that we've all sometimes been part of (lets be honest).
The Emotional Core: The trailer hints at much more to Ram's character than just the high-octane bits - he's got an emotional journey, his whole life's got some serious questions attached to it, and his relationship with his idol is set to be one of those 'crucial, game-changing' confrontations that will make you go 'oh wow'. So, its not just another baddie-bashing-a-goodguy flick.
Upendra as the 'Andhra King'
What got me most excited about this trailer is Upendra as the on-screen superstar 'Surya Kumar'. Even though he's not in it that much, his presence takes the film to another level - the whole thing gets that much more interesting with him around.
As Surya Kumar, he's portrayed as this ' masses' superstar, a guy that this fan - & a zillion others - look up to, and the trailer makes it clear that this whole thing's going to come crashing down when the fan's world collides with the star's world. Ram has talked about Upendra's potential & depth in interviews, saying he's one of the most respected stars out there, and I think that says a lot about what's going on here.
Reality Check & Romance
The trailer's not all about the action & drama. Bhagyashri Borse as the female lead Maha Laxmi seems to be the voice of reason, trying to pull Sagar back down to earth & remind him he's got his own life to live too.
The love story appears to be the real deal, another key part of the plot. Bhagyashri's already gotten some great praise, early reviews & I've got a feeling she's really going to bring some balance to Ram's wild high-octane antics. The whole 'admiration vs. personal life' debate is where this film is at, what is the fine line between loving someone so much that it borders on obsession?
A Top-Notch Technical Team
The film has clearly gone big on the scale and presentation front - and it shows - thanks to the efforts of Mythri Movie Makers.
Music: The Telugu debut from Vivek–Mervin is generating plenty of talk before the film has even hit the screens yet, and let's be honest, that BGM in the trailer just nails the high-energy bits - and not just that, it's perfectly in sync with all the big action moments.
Visuals: You can tell from the cinematography and of course the production design just how much effort has gone into giving this film a proper feel for the early 2000s setting, and it's really brought to life that rural backdrop in a way that looks both vibrant and very detailed.
This One's Got a Lot Going For It
The Andhra King Taluka trailer does a great job of firmly putting this film in the box marked "emotional fan-idol saga" - with its fair share of dramatic moments, heart-pumping action and a love story to boot. With Ram Pothineni playing such a key role and the subject matter being as unique as it is - and one that really seems to speak to the Telugu audience - this film is looking pretty well positioned to make some real connections. And what it's promising to do is give fans a big ol' message: that they've got their own lives to live.
It's set for a release around the world on the 27th of November, and this trailer has really blown the lid off what looks to be one of the most emotionally engaging films of the season.