Director Chaitanya Moturi about Gedela Raju

  Interview with Director Chaitanya Moturi about “Gedela Raju”

Q: Tell us about your background and how you entered the film industry.

Chaitanya Moturi:

I am from Amalapuram. My family wanted me to become a doctor, so after intermediate, I studied physiotherapy and even started a clinic. I was good in studies, but I always had a strong interest in cinema and literature. Since childhood, I used to write stories and poems.

While running my clinic, I started a short film club and gathered people who were interested in filmmaking. Slowly, I built a team with artists and technicians. During that time, I approached Dear Comrade director Bharat Kamma. He asked me to shoot some visuals from Amalapuram and Kakinada. I captured good drone shots and showed him. He liked my work and took me as an assistant director. That’s how my journey in cinema began.

I learned a lot during Dear Comrade and later worked on Ambajipeta Marriage Band. I kept pitching stories to producers, but most of them wanted me to do a second film instead of giving me my first opportunity. Finally, I decided to make my own film with a low budget and spoke to my father. He supported me, and that’s how Gedela Raju started.

Q: How did the project evolve from a small film to a bigger one?

Chaitanya Moturi:

Initially, we planned it as a small-budget film. But as the story expanded and the script became more interesting, the budget gradually increased. We wanted to shoot everything locally and used ARRI cameras.

For the role of Gedela Raju, directors Bharat Kamma and Dushyant suggested casting a known actor. That’s when we approached Raghu Kunche. After discussing the story with him, I really liked his simplicity. I had seen his work in films like Palasa, and I felt he was perfect for the role of a rowdy-sheeter like Gedela Raju. That’s how he joined our film.

Q: What inspired the story of “Gedela Raju”?

Chaitanya Moturi:

The story is inspired by real incidents and people I’ve observed around Kakinada. It’s not about one specific person, but a mix of many real-life elements. Since I’m a new director, I wanted to make a film with a strong villain as the central character.

We see many crime stories on social media and YouTube interviews of criminals. Those also influenced me. The story is about a rowdy-sheeter named Gedela Raju who runs a dairy farm.

Also, my grandfather used to narrate the Mahabharata to me. I was particularly inspired by the character Kanika, who believed in striking enemies at the right time, even if they were close to him. This “Kanika Niti” became an important element in our film, and it’s something rarely explored in movies.

Q: How important is music in this film?

Chaitanya Moturi:

Music is one of the biggest highlights of our film. Raghu Kunche has given an excellent background score without compromising on quality despite our budget limitations. The film is mixed in Dolby Atmos.

We have three songs a melody, a celebration song, and a satirical song that comes after Gedela Raju’s death. In that song, people who were cheated by him both criticize and praise him, which adds an interesting layer. Raghu Kunche also delivered a very realistic performance as Gedela Raju.

Q: What can audiences expect from the film’s storytelling?

Chaitanya Moturi:

It’s a non-linear murder mystery. The story moves between past and present, keeping the audience engaged. There are also two beautiful love stories in the film.

Overall, five different stories revolve around Gedela Raju. Our caption says: if you watch, there is one truth. If you don’t, there are a hundred doubts.That perfectly defines the film.

Even those who watched the film couldn’t predict the twist. We avoided cinematic liberties and kept everything as natural as possible. The characters feel very real like people you’ve seen or heard about. Even the costumes were bought from second-hand markets to maintain authenticity.

Q: Final thoughts why should audiences watch “Gedela Raju”?

Chaitanya Moturi:

We made this film with complete honesty and realism. Because of that, I strongly believe the audience will connect with it and enjoy the experience.