KilleR Will Surprise Audiences with Its Unique Storytelling and Innovative Approach, Says Director, Producer and Actor Poorvaaj
The upcoming sci-fi thriller KilleR, featuring Jyoti Poorvaj and Poorvaaj in lead roles, promises to offer a distinctive cinematic experience by blending artificial intelligence, suspense, action and mass elements. Directed by Poorvaaj, the film is produced by Poorvaaj and Padmanabha Reddy A. under the banners of Think Cinema and AU & I Studios, with Urvish Poorvaj presenting it. Manish Gilada, Chandrakanth Kollu, Ayyinabathina Dasarath Madhav, Vishal Raj, Archana Ananth and Gautham Chakradhar Koppishetti play pivotal roles.
With its worldwide theatrical release scheduled for October 30, KilleR has already generated curiosity through its trailer and the makers’ announcement of a ₹1 crore prize for correctly predicting the film’s second-half twist. OMG Pictures is handling the overseas distribution.
In an exclusive interaction, filmmaker Poorvaaj discussed the film’s concept, technical aspects, casting, production journey and his expectations ahead of its release.
Q: What can audiences expect from KilleR, and how has the film fared with the censor board?
Poorvaaj: KilleR is a content-driven film, and we have completed the censor formalities with a U certificate. We were happy with the response from the censor board members after they watched the film. Although the story contains elements of violence, we have chosen not to rely on graphic bloodshed or disturbing torture sequences. I personally feel uncomfortable even looking at blood, so I prefer communicating the intensity of a situation through the characters and their experiences. We have also designed the vampire character in a way that makes the film suitable for a wider audience. Certain characters, including the terrorist and spy, appear only briefly and serve specific purposes in the narrative.
Q: Your team has drawn comparisons between KilleR and Christopher Nolan’s films. What makes your story different?
Poorvaaj: Some members of our team have compared KilleR with Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. I understand that such a comparison might sound exaggerated, but audiences may understand why people have made that observation after watching our film. At the same time, making comparisons before the release could reveal too much about the story.
A few years ago, I developed a script around a concept called Screwed. However, I did not have the resources required to bring it to the screen at that time. I revisited the script, adapted it to suit contemporary audiences and developed it into KilleR. For me, visual quality is extremely important. Once the complete script is ready, I concentrate on bringing every aspect of it to life effectively. KilleR is also a female-centric film.
Q: The film features several characters whose names begin with the letter R. Is there a particular reason behind this choice?
Poorvaaj: The letter R has a specific connection to the world we have created. The story revolves around an artificial intelligence system called Project Root, and the characters have been named accordingly. Jyoti Poorvaj appears in multiple roles, including Raktika, Ranaina and Riya. Their names are part of the larger design of the narrative.
Q: You have taken on three major responsibilities as director, producer and actor. How challenging was it to manage them simultaneously?
Poorvaaj: I approached each responsibility with complete concentration. When I was directing, I focused on direction; when I was producing, I concentrated on the production requirements; and when I was acting, I gave my attention to my performance. My experience in the film industry helped me balance these responsibilities. Filmmaking is something I am deeply passionate about, and I would be willing to take on six or seven additional departments if a project demanded it.
Q: You have introduced newcomers in your earlier films. What prompted you to act in KilleR?
Poorvaaj: In my earlier films, including Masterpiece, Matarani Mounamidi and Shukra, I provided opportunities to newcomers. This time, I felt there was a character that I wanted to portray myself. I have been interested in acting since childhood and participated in cultural programmes during my school days. I also felt that my involvement could bring positive energy to the project. Interestingly, my character has the highest number of dialogues in the film.
Q: The ₹1 crore reward for predicting KilleR’s second-half twist has attracted considerable attention. How did this idea come about?
Poorvaaj: We wanted to communicate our confidence in the story in an unconventional way. Some people may regard the announcement as a promotional strategy, but trust takes years to build, and we take that responsibility seriously.
We are organising a press meet regarding the initiative, with High Court lawyers also expected to attend. The film’s premieres will begin at 10 PM on October 29, and participants must submit their predictions about the second-half twist through WhatsApp by 11 PM. The first person to submit the correct answer will be identified, and their name will be displayed on the LED screen at the film’s success meet. The clues are not easy to decipher, although many people have already been sharing their theories on Instagram.
I earlier mentioned that the film was made on a budget of ₹5 crore. One could quote a higher figure, such as ₹10–15 crore, when looking at the richness of the visuals and VFX, but we have spoken about the budget transparently. We even spent a few lakhs more than initially planned to achieve the desired output.
Q: What gives you confidence that KilleR will stand out among the films releasing on October 30?
Poorvaaj: We believe KilleR offers something different in terms of content and presentation. Even after the trailer was released, viewers were unable to predict the complete storyline. Many people have recognised that we are attempting something new, and I hope that curiosity encourages them to watch the film.
Sometimes, films with different approaches can find their audiences around the same time. We have seen examples such as Shankar Dada MBBS and Anand achieving success around the same period. We are also holding premieres on the night before the theatrical release. Ultimately, a film must be experienced by audiences before it can be judged. The primary reason for the postponement of KilleR was the time required to complete the VFX work to our satisfaction.
Q: How involved were you in the screenplay and editing process?
Poorvaaj: I prepare a bound script for every film I make. While writing each scene, I also estimate how long it should run on screen. For KilleR, I handled the complete screenplay editing, with two other editors also contributing to the film’s editing process.
My original script was designed for a runtime of approximately two hours and ten minutes. The final version runs for two hours. I believe that planning at the writing stage helps maintain the pace and clarity of the narrative.
Q: The film explores artificial intelligence and technology. What inspired this subject?
Poorvaaj: Elon Musk’s Neuralink research explores the connection between technology and the human brain. Our film takes inspiration from the broader possibilities of such technological developments and imagines how they could affect a human being within the world of our story. We have presented the concept through an entertaining narrative so that audiences can understand what is happening without feeling overwhelmed by the technical aspects.
Despite the film’s ambitious visual requirements, we completed the shoot in just 25 days. Careful planning and preparation played a major role in achieving that schedule.
Q: Your line producer, Ayyinabathina Dasarath Madhav, has also acted in the film. Tell us about your association with him.
Poorvaaj: Dasarath has been associated with my films for nearly six years, beginning with Masterpiece. He is extremely hardworking and has always stood by our projects. I consider him a brother, and I am very fond of him. I was happy to learn that he extended financial assistance of ₹50,000 to comedian Ramachandra.
In KilleR, Dasarath plays a friend. I asked him to take up the role first, telling him that we could discuss other opportunities later. He delivered a very good performance. In my next film, he will have a full-length role, and audiences will see him in a completely different look. His character will be a surprise.
Q: Your previous releases have faced challenging circumstances. Are you concerned about the situation ahead of KilleR’s release?
Poorvaaj: Whenever one of my films is about to release, something unexpected seems to happen. Theatres were shut down around the release of Shukra, but the film later performed well on OTT. Matarani Mounamidi also received a good response. Now, with KilleR approaching its release, there are concerns surrounding Cyclone Arnab. Nevertheless, we have decided to release the film on October 30.
I also feel that ticket-price increases should be considered carefully. Higher prices may be understandable in the case of certain big-budget productions, but increasing ticket prices for every film is not necessarily appropriate. The interests of audiences should also be taken into account.
Q: What are your thoughts on Telugu cinema’s potential to explore more experimental subjects?
Poorvaaj: Sukumar is a great director with tremendous talent. I sometimes wonder what kind of cinema we might have seen if he had explored concepts along the lines of Inception and Interstellar. Perhaps we would have witnessed another dimension of his filmmaking. However, commercial considerations often influence the direction of the films we make. I believe there is considerable scope for Telugu cinema to experiment with ideas that challenge audiences while remaining entertaining.
Q: How does KilleR balance its thriller elements with commercial entertainment?
Poorvaaj: Thrillers generally maintain suspense until the pre-climax, after which the major twists begin to unfold. KilleR follows a similar structure while combining artificial intelligence with elements designed to appeal to mass audiences. We have tried to make the concept engaging and convincing without losing its entertainment value.
Audiences can expect suspenseful moments alongside lighter sequences that bring a smile. Most importantly, the central idea of the story is something that could leave viewers astonished. They may wonder how a filmmaker conceived such a different approach and brought it to the screen.
Q: Jyoti Poorvaj appears in multiple roles. What can audiences expect from her performance?
Poorvaaj: Jyoti Poorvaj will be seen in a completely new avatar in KilleR. She portrays multiple characters, and each one has a distinct appearance and personality. She underwent different makeovers for these roles and performed action sequences in single takes. Her transformations are an important part of the film, and I believe audiences will be thrilled to see her versatility on screen.
With its distinctive premise, ambitious VFX, multiple character arcs and a mystery that the makers have carefully guarded, KilleR aims to offer audiences a different kind of theatrical experience when it releases worldwide on October 30.
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