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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: ‘It wasn’t just a pan-Indian success but pan-Indian casting also', says Nikhil Siddhartha on Karthikeya 2 winning National Award
In an exclusive chat with Pinkvilla, Nikhil Siddhartha of the National Award-winning film Karthikeya 2 talks about the movie getting immense recognition and his future as an actor.
Nikhil Siddhartha, who starred in the National Award-winning movie Karthikeya 2, spoke openly in an exclusive interview with Pinkvilla following the movie's accolades.
The film, starring Nikhil, is a Telugu mystery action-adventure drama. It is a sequel to the 2014 movie Karthikeya, directed by Chandoo Mondeti. The movie featured the story of Dr. Karthikeya, who embarks on a quest to find Lord Krishna's lost anklet.
Besides Nikhil, the film also had actors Anupama Parameswaran, Anupam Kher, Adithya Menon, Srinivasa Reddy, Satya, and more in key roles. Here’s what the actor has to say about his film and his future as an actor.
Nikhil Siddhartha shares his reaction to Karthikeya 2 winning National Award
Q. How do you think Karthikeya 2 stands out from other films in the same genre, and what do you believe contributed to its success?
Ans. I do believe that the kind of detailing we went into and the research that we did brought in a lot of believability. We were talking about mythology being our history and science being already there in Indian culture, all these things were very well-researched.
I think that’s the reason why when people went back home and googled some of the instances and did their own research, they realized that most of what was shown in the film was very true. It was also shown in a genuine and honest manner and I think the mixture of culture, mythology, history, adventure, and comedy made it a beautiful family film that everyone could watch together which everyone could watch.
It was also pretty entertaining because sometimes, when you take this genre, the films aren’t that entertaining, but we made it a big-screen experience that people could enjoy in theaters.
Q. In what ways do you believe your film winning the National Award will impact your future projects and career as an actor?
Ans. I think a National Award is an award that makes everyone across the country aware of the film. First of all, it ran very well in different languages too. It did very well at the Hindi and South Indian box offices. The film also went to North-East and South-West…I traveled across the country promoting the film, and I received Housefull shows wherever I visited.
I think this award, along with its awareness, has given us the motivation to do better for the third part. The expectations are also very high because everywhere I go, people keep asking about the next part, and I think the National Award helps. My films Swayambhu and The India House are coming up. Now that we have tasted them, we will try harder to make a good film.
Q. What was your vision for Karthikeya 2, and how did you aim to elevate the storytelling from the first film?
Ans. We always had a nice point in the film. It is a universal point. The first part was a Telugu-based film, but for this one, we had to make sure that audiences across the country would be able to connect.
This is why we took meticulous care in the dubbing of the film. We also took a scare to ensure that we had actors from all parts. We had Anupam Kher sir, we had Anupama from Malayalam, it wasn’t just a pan-Indian success but a pan-Indian casting also. So I think, the storytelling…we made it a universal point, and other points to reach a larger audience were taken care of.
Q. The film has a strong mythological element. What do you think about movies nowadays taking the approach of balance between entertainment and cultural representation?
Ans. I think it has to be done in the right way. I mean if you just want to encash on the genre just because there’s a mode of Indic films happening right now and making money. I think that would not be a good approach because there are films like that that are coming out and their tanking at the box office.
I think money shouldn’t be the driving force when you’re doing something creative. There should be a very organic way if the script demands it. I’m doing a love story in between, so I cannot do this, but my movie Swayambhu might have elements that will reach everybody. It has mythological elements, Indian culture…we are talking about Dharma and everything.
The film’s script should demand it, have it organically, and convey it in an entertaining and enjoyable way that people from all walks of life could enjoy. I know Karthikeya 2 was watched by people of all religions…all walks of life, no one was left behind, and made every Indian proud. That is what we try to do and that is what we will try to do in the future too.
Watch the trailer for Karthikeya 2:
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