“After watching KilleR, audiences will be thrilled to see how a film can be written and made with such a diverse approach” – Director, Producer and Actor Poorvaaj

The sensational sci-fi thriller Killer stars Jyoti Poorvaj and Poorvaaj in lead roles. Manish Gilada, Chandrakanth Kollu, Ayyinabathina Dasarath Madhav, Vishal Raj, Archana Ananth and Gautham Chakradhar Koppishetti play other important roles. Produced by Poorvaaj and Padmanabha Reddy A. under the banners of Think Cinema and AU & I Studios, with the blessings of Dhyanam Nannagaru, the film is presented by Urvish Poorvaj and directed by Poorvaaj. Killer is set for a grand worldwide theatrical release on October 30. OMG Pictures is distributing the film overseas. In a recent interview, director, producer and actor Poorvaaj shared several highlights about the film.
– KilleR is a film with rich content, and its censor formalities have been completed. The film has received a U certificate. After watching it, the members of the censor board appeared pleased, which made us feel that they liked our film. There is no bloodshed in Killer. I feel dizzy even at the sight of blood. Even if a story involves violence, I believe it should be conveyed through what the characters experience rather than showing them being subjected to torture. We have treated the vampire character in a way that makes the film accessible to everyone. The terrorist character appears for just ten minutes and does not return. The spy and vampire characters are also presented in a similar manner, without appearing again elsewhere in the film.
– Some members of our team have compared Killer to Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey. That might sound like an exaggeration, but after watching our film, audiences may find themselves making that comparison. However, comparing Killer to Odyssey itself could be a spoiler. A few years ago, I wrote a story based on a concept called Screwed, but I could not make it with the resources available to me at the time. I have now adapted that script to suit the tastes of today’s audiences and developed it into Killer. As a filmmaker, I believe everything audiences see on screen should have high visual quality. I only think about other aspects once the complete script is ready. Killer is a female-centric film.
– Every character in Killer has a name beginning with the letter R. The film is set against the backdrop of an artificial intelligence system called Project Root. The characters played by Jyoti Poorvaj, including Raktika, Ranaina and Riya, all have names beginning with R. I have taken on three responsibilities for this film: director, producer and actor. Whenever I worked on a particular aspect, I focused entirely on that responsibility. My experience in the film industry helped me handle all three roles. I would even be willing to take on six or seven additional departments if needed. That is how passionate I am about filmmaking.
– In my earlier films, including Masterpiece, Matarani Mounamidi and Shukra, I gave opportunities to newcomers. This time, I felt that there was a character I wanted to play myself. I have been interested in acting since childhood and used to perform in cultural events at school. I also believe that my participation brings a certain positive energy, and I hope that works in favour of this film. Interestingly, my character has the most dialogue in Killer.
– We announced a prize of Rs. 1 crore for anyone who correctly guesses the second-half twist in Killer. Some people may think it is just a promotional stunt, but earning someone’s trust takes years. We are organising a press meet about this initiative, which will also be attended by High Court lawyers. The film’s premieres will begin at 10 PM on October 29, and participants must send their answers about the twist via WhatsApp by 11 PM. The name of the person who submits the correct answer first will be displayed on the LED screen at our film’s success meet. I previously stated that the film was made on a budget of Rs. 5 crore, but I could also say Rs. 10–15 crore. The visuals and VFX are that rich, and we have actually spent a few lakhs more than the amount we initially mentioned. The announcement of the Rs. 1 crore prize has reached a wide audience. People are even posting on Instagram with their guesses about our story. However, the clues are not easy to figure out.
– Among the films releasing on October 30, we believe Killer offers rich content. Even after the trailer’s release, nobody has been able to figure out the story. Audiences who have seen the trailer feel that we have attempted something new. I believe they will give us a chance, if only to discover why we are so confident about our film. We have seen examples such as Shankar Dada MBBS and Anand achieving success around the same time. We are holding premieres on the previous night itself. If a film does not work, it is easy for people to criticise it. The delay in completing the VFX is the main reason Killer’s release was postponed.
– I prepare a bound script for every film I make. Whenever I write a scene, I also note how many minutes it should last. I handled the complete screenplay editing for Killer, although two other editors also worked on the film. The script I wrote was designed for a runtime of two hours and ten minutes, while the final output is two hours. Elon Musk is conducting research on Neuralink, but his work focuses on machines. Our film explores what it might be like if such technology were applied to a human being. Since we present the concept in an entertaining manner, every scene will be easy for audiences to understand. We completed the film’s shoot in just 25 days.
– I am happy that our line producer, Ayyinabathina Dasarath, extended financial assistance of Rs. 50,000 to comedian Ramachandra. Dasarath is very close to me and has been working with me for nearly six years, since Masterpiece. He works tirelessly, day and night, for our films and is like a brother to me. I am very fond of him. He plays a friend in Killer, and I told him to take up the role first, saying we would discuss other opportunities later. He performed very well. Dasarath will play a full-length role in my next film, and his character will be surprising. Audiences will see him in a completely different look.
– Whenever my films are released, some natural disaster seems to occur. Theatres were shut down around the release of Shukra, but the film performed well on OTT. Matarani Mounamidi also received a good response. Now, as Killer is set to release, Cyclone Arnab is approaching. Whatever happens, we have decided to release the film on October 30. Increasing ticket prices may be acceptable for big-budget films, but raising them for every film is not appropriate. Audiences should think about this issue. Sukumar is a great director. Had he explored films along the lines of Inception and Interstellar, we might have witnessed a different kind of cinema from him. However, moving towards a commercial path meant that we missed out on that possibility.
– Thrillers usually keep audiences hooked until the pre-climax, after which the twists begin to unfold and deliver surprises. Killer follows a similar pattern. It combines the concept of artificial intelligence with mass-oriented elements and presents them in a convincing, entertaining way. While watching the film, audiences will experience thrills along with moments that bring a slight smile. The central idea of the story will come as a shock, leaving viewers wondering how a film could be made with such a different approach.
– Audiences will see Jyoti Poorvaj in a completely new avatar in Killer. She impresses in multiple roles and performed action sequences in single takes. She underwent a different makeover for each character, and audiences will be thrilled by her transformations on screen.