‘EPIC – FIRST SEMESTER’ Will Strike an Emotional Chord Like ‘90s’: Director Aditya Hasan
Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya are coming together once again to entertain audiences with the upcoming youthful drama ‘EPIC – FIRST SEMESTER’. The film marks director Aditya Hasan’s debut on the big screen following the success of his acclaimed web series ‘90s’.
Presented by Srikara Studios and produced by Suryadevara Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya under Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas, the film is slated for a theatrical release on September 11.
Ahead of the release, Aditya Hasan interacted with the media and discussed his filmmaking journey, the inspiration behind the film, his experience working with Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya, and his plans for the ‘EPIC’ franchise.
From Wanaparthy to the World of Cinema
Aditya Hasan comes from Wanaparthy and does not belong to a film family. His father worked as a school teacher before retirement, while his mother is a homemaker. After completing his graduation in Hyderabad, Aditya pursued his Master’s in the UK.
Unlike many filmmakers, he did not begin his career by working under established directors.
“I never worked as an assistant director. I had already experimented with short films. After returning from the UK, I wanted to make feature films. I made ‘Teacher’ with Colors Swathi, but the project could not be completed due to unforeseen circumstances,” he recalled.
The Real Story Behind ‘90s’
Aditya’s breakthrough came with ‘90s’, a series that connected strongly with audiences because of its nostalgic and realistic portrayal of middle-class family life.
According to the director, the roots of the series were deeply personal.
“‘90s’ was inspired by my father’s experiences. I wrote the story based on things from his life. An OTT platform initially showed interest but eventually stepped away. Later, Sai garu and Nithin garu from ETV Win supported the project, and that is how ‘90s’ finally came together.”
His screen name also reflects his admiration for one of Indian cinema’s biggest legends.
“My name is actually Aditya. I am a huge fan of Kamal Haasan garu. I chose the name Aditya Hasan because of that admiration,” he revealed.
‘EPIC’ Expands the World Introduced in ‘90s’
Although ‘EPIC’ draws from real experiences, Aditya made it clear that the film should not be viewed as a direct representation of his life.
“There are elements inspired by reality, but my life is not as beautiful as what we have shown in the film,” he joked. “We have taken cinematic liberties. ‘EPIC’ takes forward the world of ‘90s’ and focuses on the younger brother and an important phase of his life.”
The filmmaker also indicated that the universe could expand further, with potential stories around other characters in future installments.
A Love Story Set Against the UK Student Experience
Aditya describes ‘EPIC’ as a simple story driven by emotions rather than an elaborate plot.
“At its heart, it is about a young man who travels from Hyderabad to the UK for studies and falls in love with a girl there. What happens to their relationship and whether they finally come together is what the film explores.”
He believes the overseas student setting gives the film a distinct identity.
“We have seen many love stories, but there are not too many films that genuinely explore the experiences of students who move abroad for education and the relationships they build there. Since I personally studied in the UK, I could bring those experiences into the film. I believe audiences will find that world interesting and relatable.”
The Story Doesn't End With ‘First Semester’
Aditya has already envisioned the next chapter of the story.
“‘EPIC – FIRST SEMESTER’ is not the end. There will be ‘EPIC – FINAL SEMESTER’. The first film has its own conclusion, and I wrote the climax according to what the story demanded. The continuation will take the narrative forward in a different way.”
Why Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya?
Working with the popular ‘Baby’ combination was initially a source of pressure for Aditya, but the casting eventually became one of the film’s major talking points.
“I personally wanted Anand as the hero. Naga Vamsi garu suggested Vaishnavi’s name. He felt that bringing the ‘Baby’ combination together would give the film a strong commercial advantage. At first, I didn't completely understand the scale of that combination. Later, seeing the response and hype around the film, I realised how right his suggestion was.”
Naga Vamsi’s Confidence Meant a Lot
Aditya credits producer Suryadevara Naga Vamsi for giving him the opportunity to make the transition from OTT to the big screen.
“Naga Vamsi garu watched ‘90s’ and placed his trust in me. He gave me the opportunity to make this film and was personally involved in several aspects of the production. Even the decision to bring Hesham Abdul Wahab on board as the music director came from him.”
A Childhood Admiration Led to ‘Sanchaarame’
The film’s promotional journey began with the song ‘Sanchaarame’, which has a special place in Aditya’s heart.
“I have admired Gorati Venkanna garu since my childhood. Even when I was studying in London, I would regularly listen to his songs. I always dreamed of having a Gorati Venkanna song in my first film. That wish came true with ‘Sanchaarame’. He wrote and sang the song, and we felt it was the perfect way to begin our promotions.”
No Boundaries When It Comes to Genres
Looking ahead, Aditya Hasan says he does not want to restrict himself to one particular kind of cinema.
“I want to explore different genres and make different kinds of films. Entertainment is important, but I also want my films to have values. I don't want to hurt anyone or promote any particular agenda through my cinema. I simply want to tell stories that entertain people while leaving something meaningful behind.”
With a youthful cast, a UK backdrop, an emotional love story and the connection to the much-loved world of ‘90s’, ‘EPIC – FIRST SEMESTER’ is set to arrive in theatres on September 11.
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