The YSR biopic Yatra hit theatres earlier this month and is doing well at the box office. While the followers of the late leader are raving about the film, critics have pointed out the usage of some real life footage featuring YS Rajasekhara Reddy. There is widespread criticism that the footage has been used to gain political mileage.
Reacting to it, Yatra’s director Mahi V Raghav wrote on Facebook: “Usage of real footage in Yatra & politics behind it. I never defend or justify any criticism towards my stories. But I felt I had to share my thoughts as a set of audience felt or wanted to know the need for real visuals of YSR garu and Jagan Mohan Reddy. Yatra movie ends with Mammooty taking oath as Chief Minister. We used real visuals to tell the rest of YSR garu’s life as the story is based and inspired by his life. If that content was part of the story we would have shot it with our characters. The roles of Raja Reddy and Mr YS Jagan Mohan Reddy are very essential to tell the tale of YSR. It will be incomplete without both of them. If I intended to give Jagan Mohan Reddy a political benefit through the movie, I would have created a character with most likely a star playing it in the movie and made sure there is enough meat in the father & son relationship to drive or milk the emotions to benefit Mr Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.”
Yatra is a biopic on the legendary politician and Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Rajasekhara Reddy, who died in an air crash. The film traced his life and more importantly the Padayatra he undertook throughout the state which led him to the CM’s chair.
Directed by Mahi V Raghav, the film starred Malayalam mega star Mammootty as YSR. It also had a bevy of stars in the cast including Jagapathi Babu, Rao Ramesh, Suhasini Mani Ratnam, Anasuya Bharadwaj, Posani Krishna Murali, Vinod Kumar and Sachin Khedekar in supporting roles. The film is produced by Vijay Chilla and Shashi Devireddy under the banner 70 MM Pictures and its technical crew includes K for music, Sathyan Sooryan for cinematography and A Sreekar Prasad for editing.
(Content provided by Digital Native)