Pawan Kalyan despite his several political speeches is a man of few words when it comes to his films. What made him deviate and speak at the press meet for Hari Hara Veera Mallu?
Power star and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan rarely makes media appearances for his films. But with the highly anticipated period action drama Hari Hara Veera Mallu set to release on July 24, PK showed up — and spoke from the heart.
Originally envisioned as a single film back in 2010, Hari Hara Veera Mallu marks a long journey from concept to completion. Director Krish Jagarlamudi had approached Pawan Kalyan, who was semi-retired and more involved in politics at the time. “Krish came with the idea and I immediately liked it,” PK shared during the press meet. “This film went through many ups and downs — two waves of COVID, and creative hurdles. But I saw Ratnam garu’s passion throughout. Even when I moved into politics, he approached me and asked me to do this film. I gave it my best.”
Due to his political responsibilities, Pawan couldn’t dedicate much time on set. But the team came up with an innovative solution. “The team worked hard to create a location — a shed that was a stone’s throw away from my office. You would be surprised to see how it looks in the movie. I shot for 57 days in peak summer to finish the climax,” he revealed.
PK Turns Action Choreographer for the Climax
The film’s climax is said to be a major highlight — not just for the visuals, but also because Pawan took the reins as action choreographer. “I worked closely with the choreographers and specially designed the climax. It’s the soul of the film. The scene will leave you energised,” he promised. Drawing from his extensive martial arts training, PK added, “All my training came into play when I was helping with the scene.”
Why Pawan Kalyan Chose to Speak Out
Pawan Kalyan’s rare presence at the media interaction is rooted in his admiration and respect for the legendary producer A.M. Ratnam. “His deep respect for the producer of Hari Hara Veera Mallu – AM Ratnam – and all the effort that he put in ensuring the film is complete prompted him to do his bit,” the actor-politician said.
“There’s a dialogue from Agnyaathavaasi written by Trivikram garu: ‘Sometimes, you must fight an entire war for a small comfort.’ That’s what making a movie feels like — financial battles, creative challenges…”
Reflecting on Ratnam garu’s journey, he said, “Before I entered the industry, I used to dream about working with someone like A.M. Ratnam garu. He was the one who brought regional cinema to national recognition. He distributed Tamil films in Telugu and made them perform like straight films. He elevated the creative potential of the film industry. He is quite generous and well-planned — during Kushi, we had pre-production completed a month in advance all thanks to him.”
He added, “He started as a makeup man, became a screenplay writer, director, and then a producer. He has much patience and endurance. I am inspired by him. At one point, he had distributors, directors, and stars chasing after him. Seeing such a great man struggle was painful. And I had to give my best to him.”
“I Don’t Believe in Promotions”
Known for staying away from promotions, Pawan Kalyan opened up on why he chose to make an exception this time. “In fact, I don’t believe in promotions. I feel that my job is to work and put my best forward. It is for the audience to decide whether the film will work or not. If the film is not good, then how much ever you spend on publicity will not help you. I am an accidental actor. I still do not know how to speak about my film. But now I must be here to talk about the film.”
“I took this film on my shoulders because I didn’t want Ratnam garu to suffer. Ratnam garu, director Jyothi Krishna garu, and Manoj Paramahamsa garu, the choreographer, sacrificed their sleep for this film. Keeravani garu has put his life into the songs. So did Nidhhi Agerwal. She took on the promotion responsibilities.”
“I’m here to say this film is not abandoned. I am here. If I can stand up for millions of people and react to national issues, why wouldn’t I stand up for my own film?”
“This isn’t about money or success. It’s about standing by your people and your industry,” he added.
From Krish to Jyothi Krishna: A Team Effort
While Krish Jagarlamudi laid the foundation for Hari Hara Veera Mallu, it was A.M. Jyothi Krishna who took over the directorial mantle when Krish had to step away due to prior commitments.
Produced by A. Dayakar Rao and presented by A.M. Ratnam under Mega Surya Productions, the film also stars Nidhhi Agerwal and Bobby Deol in pivotal roles. Co-directed by A.M. Jyothi Krishna and Krish, this period action drama promises to be a grand spectacle. With massive expectations riding on it, the trailer has already garnered a tremendous response online.
As July 24 approaches, all eyes are on Hari Hara Veera Mallu — not just for the scale and star power, but also because this time, Pawan Kalyan himself has shown up to say, “I am here.”
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