"The title Funky is punchy, modern, and aligns perfectly with today’s sensibilities. It’s a natural fit for a film director played by Vishwak Sen," says director Anudeep KV, days ahead of the theatrical release of this movie. Set to be released in theatres on February 13, Funky's trailer was unveiled recently.
In this interview, Anudeep refuses to believe that his films are illogical. They have more to them than the comedy, he argues.
When I was developing the role, I realized that Vishwak was the only actor who could truly do it justice. Given his comedic timing in Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi, he brings exactly the kind of energy and authenticity this character demands.
Funky has no similarities with Jathi Ratnalu. First and last, it is a full-on romantic comedy and a family entertainer. I say the latter because there are solid moments that the family audience will love to watch. While the male lead is a filmmaker, the situations he encounters in realizing his dream are universally relatable. The circumstances Komal (Vishwak's name) finds himself in are true to life. The film industry backdrop doesn't take away from the relatability factor. The common man will see in Funky so many everyday situations.
You can also expect a beautiful love story in Funky. Don't go just by the trailer, which was essentially designed to showcase the movie as an all-out comedy entertainer. Besides love and family-friendly emotions, we have also stuffed the film with a few surprises.
Since Tollywood is where my male lead works, real-life film personalities had to be a part of the narrative in guest roles. From Dil Raju garu to our producer Naga Vamsi himself, from Harish Shankar to my friend Kalyan Shankar (MAD director), they have all got well-integrated cameos. Trivikram garu has watched our movie and came out with some useful suggestions. Inputs came from China Babu garu (S Radhakrishna) too.
The character of VK Naresh in Funky was written with only him in mind; his unique screen presence is irreplaceable. Having admired his work since childhood and previously collaborated on Jathi Ratnalu, it is a privilege to work with him once again. The film, which has a crisp runtime of 2 hours and 5 minutes, recently received a U/A certificate from the Censor Board, along with their positive commendations.
I try to learn from past mistakes. Prince (Sivakarthikeyan's movie, released in 2022) failed because its scripting was rushed. In the case of Funky, I gave the scripting enough time and mental space.
I am in talks with three banners at the moment. A story with a female protagonist at its centre is in an advantaged stage. I plan to collaborate with Victory Venkatesh garu in the near future.
It is true that quite a few comedies that are inspired from Jathi Ratnalu have failed to make the cut. Stories and characters thrive when they are grounded in reality. By ensuring comedy arises naturally from the human experience, we create a deeper, more genuine connection with the audience.
