Gedela Raju Is Very Close to My Heart – Raghu Kunche Opens Up
Actor and music director Raghu Kunche is gearing up for the release of Gedela Raju, a film he describes as deeply personal and special. Carrying the tagline Kakinada Taluka Cinema,” the movie features Raghu in the title role alongside Ramachandram Punyamurtula, Vikas, Tina Shwavy, Mounika, and Ravi Chinnibilli. Directed by Chaitanya Moturi and produced by Vani Ravikumar Moturi under Moturi Talkies, the film is all set for release on the 24th.
In a candid conversation, Raghu Kunche shared his journey and experiences working on the film:
This Film Feels Personal to Me
I’ve worked as both an actor and a music director before, but Gedela Raju is something very special. Since I’m present throughout the film, I had a deeper understanding of the character, which really helped me while composing the music.
These days, background scores in many films tend to overpower the characters. But if you look at classics like Shiva or Geethanjali, the music subtly supports the emotion—it never dominates. I wanted to follow that approach. In our film, the BGM complements the story without becoming noise.
We have three songs, all placed naturally within the narrative. I sang one, while Babekka and Mangadevi rendered the other two. I spent about 45 days working on the background score. Also, Harish who has worked under Rajarathnam of KGF and Kalki fame handled sound design. Watching the film in Dolby will definitely be a great experience.”
I Transformed Myself for This Role
My character needed a strong, intimidating presence, so I gained around 12 kilos. Interestingly, Mythri Sasi told me he expected me to be soft based on my earlier television appearances, but was surprised to see how intense I looked on screen.
Everyone who has watched the film says the character has a solid mass appeal. Initially, we planned to release on the 17th, but due to theater issues, we postponed. Madhura Sridhar Reddy suggested the change, and it worked out well.
Now, the film is getting a big release—over 200 screens across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, more than 100 theaters in Nizam alone, and around 60 overseas locations. For a small film, this is huge.
Passion Drove This Film Forward
This project didn’t have big financial backing, but it has strong content. Director Chaitanya Moturi put in incredible effort, taking care of every department. The team struggled for nearly a year to make this happen.
Their dedication moved me, and that’s why I stepped in not just as an actor but also as a presenter. I always give my best, but for this film, I felt I had to give even more.
A Raw and Real Filmmaking Experience
My character speaks in the Godavari dialect, which was natural for me since I’m from that region. Earlier, I did a Telangana dialect role, which was quite challenging. This time, it felt more organic.
We shot in real locations, especially in fish markets, where actual vendors continued their work while we filmed. That authenticity reflects on screen.
The interval fight will be a major highlight. In fact, we had to use real knives during that sequence due to a lack of props it was genuinely scary. We even spent an entire night shooting in a fish market. Moments like these remind you that acting isn’t always comfortableit comes with real challenges.
I’m Curious About Audience Reactions
The character of Gedela Raju is written in such a way that even I felt anger toward him while performing. I’m really curious to see how audiences respond.
Those who have already watched the film appreciated my work both as an actor and a music director but personally, I’d take slightly more credit as an actor this time.
Ultimately, it’s the audience that decides a film’s fate. I strongly believe that movie lovers will connect with Gedela Raju.
I’m Open to All Kinds of Roles
I’m not restricting myself to villain roles. I choose what comes my way and what excites me.
Currently, I’m working on a film titled Payanam, another project with Akhanda 2 writer Kalyan Chakravarthy, and I’m also playing an important role in a film starring Allari Naresh.
With strong content, rooted storytelling, and Raghu Kunche’s intense transformation, Gedela Raju is shaping up to be a film that aims to leave a mark.
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