'FIR', directed by Manu Anand, stars Vishnu Vishal in the lead. Also featuring Gautham Vasudev Menon, Manjima Mohan, Reba Monica John, Raiza Wilson, the action thriller will be released in theatres on February 11 in both Telugu and Tamil. Mass Maharaja Ravi Teja is presenting the Telugu version.
In this interview, actor Vishnu Vishal talks about the film, what makes it unique, Ravi Teja's collaboration, and more.
I got in touch with director Manu Anand through common friends in Kollywood. He has previously worked under Gautham Menon. When he first met me, he narrated an action story. I asked him for some other line. He then narrated 'FIR' as a line. It has a sensitive element. The director didn't expect that I will okay it. A friend of mine was supposed to produce the project. But I ended up producing it myself.
I had a brief career in cricket. My father is a police officer. He would get transferred from one place to another. I have a friend named Syed Mohammad because of cricket. I learned about some negative incidents in his life, things that he had to go through because of his name. I am not conscious about identities like caste, region and religion. But prejudice is a reality and I was reminded of some real incidents when I listened to the script of 'FIR'. This film doesn't hurt or offend any religious community. All it says is that humanity is above all religion.
Manu Anand had to do a lot of research for this film. The film draws some of its elements from a real-life Muslim's journey. The CBFC has not cut out any scenes. A couple of words have been muted.
I like Gautham Menon sir a lot. I like the way he extracts performances, especially how he projected Suriya sir in 'Surya S/o Krishnan'. I am glad that a director I look up to has acted in my movie.
It was my wife Jwala Gutta's suggestion that I release 'FIR' in Telugu as well. A friend of hers is associated with Ravi Teja sir. That's how we got to show him the movie and he really liked it. He likes my choices. When I told him that I want to do mass movies like him, he told me that he wants to do content-driven films like me. After watching the rough cut of 'FIR', Ravi Teja sir said that the movie will become a sure-shot hit. He made some suggestions. 'FIR' has done the highest amount of pre-release business in my career.
I am fond of remakes. Originals are always original. That's why I stay away from remakes.
A film shouldn't be made like a documentary. A good story has to be told in a commercial way. The dialogues in 'FIR' are going to touch your hearts. Every dialogue, every character is important.
More than the songs, it's BGM that is crucial for a film like 'FIR'. The second half is packed with action scenes. The BGM becomes crucial in that case. Every character in the story exists for a reason.
I did have hits before 'Ratsasan' (remade as 'Rakshasudu' in Telugu). But 'Ratsasan' increased my market like no other. After that movie, I received a number of interesting offers. They didn't fructify for different reasons. I then decided to become a producer myself. Due to the second wave, 'FIR' got delayed. At one point, I started asking myself if I should sell off the movie to some OTT platform. But I was advised against doing so.
