Prasanth continues to be a risk-taker

Several young filmmakers in Tollywood take risks in terms of their subject choices, but also make it a point to balance their experiments with an out-and-out commercial film so that they play safe. Very rarely do you find the conviction from a director to venture into unexplored territories every time they wield the megaphone. While Chandrasekhar Yeleti is one such director from the earlier generation, Awe, Kalki-fame filmmaker Prasanth Varma is proving to be that norm breaker among the current crop of directors. His third film Zombie Reddy released today in theatres.

Prasanth’s very first film Awe tackled depression in an entirely new light using elements of German expressionism. The fact that he could convince an ensemble cast comprising Nithya Menen, Eesha Rebba, Kajal Aggarwal, Regina Cassandra for his first film and bring someone like Nani on board as a producer was a true testimony to his capabilities. When everyone thought he would rope in bigger actors/stars for his second film, he surprised one and all by taking Rajasekhar for Kalki. The crime thriller may not have worked wonders at the box office but it did make for an interesting watch.

For his third film, Zombie Reddy, that was meant to be child-actor Teja Sajja’s launchpad as a male lead, he has now dabbled with a zombie comedy amid a Rayalaseema backdrop. Yet again, like his earlier films, the opinions may have been mixed, but it tells us that Prasanth Varma is never afraid to take risks. The director has used dark humour quite interestingly in the film though it hasn’t worked for everyone. Prasanth Varma’s decisions tell us that he’s more committed to creating a path for himself than going by the tried and tested route. Will it bear fruit in the long run?