M.S. Raju says Agadha took him across several states for research

Veteran filmmaker M. S. Raju says his upcoming thriller “Agadha” is one of the most challenging films of his career, revealing that he travelled across several states to research the story and its characters.

Produced under the banner of Sri Adi Varaha Productions, “Agadha” stars Kamakshi Bhaskarla, Shravan Reddy, Ulka Gupta, Jovika Vijaykumar, Bhanu Chander, Sijju, Vanitha Vijaykumar, Roshan Basheer, Shreya Rani Reddy, Viva Raghava, Robert Master, Arna Muller, and Kanakavva in key roles. The film is slated for a theatrical release on August 14.

Speaking about the project, M.S. Raju said that despite producing and directing numerous successful films, every new project still feels like a fresh challenge.

He noted that films such as Devi, Manasantha Nuvve, Okkadu, Varsham, and Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana had tested him creatively, and Agadha proved to be another demanding experience.

According to the filmmaker, he wanted to create situations and episodes that audiences had never seen before. As part of his research, he travelled through several states, visited remote villages where age-old superstitions are still prevalent, and interacted with people who continue to live by such beliefs.

One such encounter, where he witnessed a woman performing rituals believed to drive away evil spirits, inspired the character of Mahadevi. To complement her powerful screen presence, he created the character of Simha, eventually casting Shravan Reddy in the role.

Actress Kamakshi Bhaskarla said working with M.S. Raju was a memorable experience and described him as a filmmaker who has made a significant contribution to Telugu cinema.