When Titans Talk: Vijayendra Prasad’s Candid Call to Puri Jagannadh

Puri Jagannadh is one of the star directors in Tollywood. There was a time when a movie from Puri meant theaters were bustling with mass audiences and his signature dialogues would electrify the youth. However, the frenzy for Puri’s films has waned recently. Blockbusters like ‘Pokiri‘, ‘Businessman‘, and ‘Temper‘ have not been forthcoming. His latest film ‘Liger‘ was a significant failure, drawing widespread criticism. Fans are longing for the return of the old Puri. In this context, it’s reported that Vijayendra Prasad, a prominent writer and father of Rajamouli, has scolded Puri. Director Puri himself shared this incident.

“Tell me before you make a movie”

In the upcoming movie directed by Puri Jagannadh, starring Ram Pothineni, titled ‘Double iSmart‘, an exciting event occurred during the pre-release event held in Hanamkonda on Sunday, August 11. The film is set to meet audiences on August 15. At the event, Puri shared an intriguing detail, “When a movie is a hit, many call to congratulate. I also received a call for a flop movie. It wasn’t just anybody; it was Vijayendra Prasad. He asked if he could help me. His son Rajamouli is a top director, so I wondered how I could possibly help. He then asked, ‘When is your next film? Will you tell me the story whenever you make it?’ I understood why he was saying this. He couldn’t bear to see directors like me fail. You all make small mistakes. So, tell me before you make a film,” he said. Puri was moved by his words and said he could never forget that call made out of affection for him. However, he did not share the story with him. “I wanted to be cautious and only show him the movie,” Puri said.

The story must be told!

Director Vijayendra Prasad, father of S.S. Rajamouli, has a profound admiration for director Puri Jagannadh. He has expressed his preference for Puri among directors in a past interview and even showcased using Puri’s photo as his mobile wallpaper. Despite this esteem, Puri recently revealed that he declined to narrate a story to Vijayendra Prasad, which has sparked intense reactions online. Netizens are questioning why Puri would not engage with the writer who provided stories for blockbuster films like ‘Baahubali’ and ‘RRR’. They argue that Vijayendra Prasad could have identified errors in the ‘Double iSmart’ script, suggesting it would have been prudent for Puri to have shared the story with him to avoid risk.

We need some clarity!

During the ‘Double iSmart’ pre-release event, hero Ram Pothineni made some compelling remarks for those who stop going to theaters after seeing negative reviews. “Many of us don’t respect our own opinions. If we like the biryani at a restaurant, we shouldn’t doubt our taste just because others didn’t like it. I enjoyed it, so I think it’s good. The same goes for movies and your career. Don’t change your opinion because of others. If we always compare ourselves to others’ opinions, we can’t accomplish anything. I’m telling all this because you are my people,” Ram said. These energetic star’s comments have been widely endorsed by the majority of netizens.