Tollywood will get its very own funny detective with Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya

'Sai Srinivasa Athreya’ sounds more like the name of your regular Telugu boy next door, than that of a private agent. But then Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya isn’t your average detective drama filled with larger-than-life characters pulling off unbelivable stunts. “I was very clear that I wanted both my story and the characters to be as real as possible. That makes it so much easier for people to connect with the character. There’ll be no fancy gadgets, high-speed chases, high-octane sequences, et al. Our guy is a smart detective who uses good old techniques to solve a gristly case,” says director Swaroop RSJ, who is making his debut with this film.

Admittedly, he’s “a big fan” of Chiranjeevi’s 1986 blockbuster Chantabbai, and it was his dream to bring back that genre into Telugu cinema. “It has been so long since we have seen a full-blown detective film in Telugu, especially one that can also make you laugh. there have been spy films, but none like Chantabbai, where the detective happens to be a small town guy. It’s such a lovable genre — a perfect mix of comedy and drama. I wanted to make my debut with a film like this,” says the director, who’s thrilled to have found the perfect partner in his hero, Naveen Polishetty. “I’d seen Naveen’s hugely popular AIB videos and loved his comic timing. He’s such a talented actor. I had no doubt that he was the one I wanted as my hero,” says, Swaroop, who teamed up with Naveen even before the character was fully developed. “Naveen and I worked together for eight months just so I could understand his body language and mannerisms, so that I could incorporate them into the
character seamlessly,” he adds.

The toughest part was ensuring that his ‘detective with a sense of humour’ doesn’t end up looking like a caricature, says Swaroop. “I was very careful while writing the character of Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya, because I know a comparison will be drawn with other amusing detectives, be it Inspector Jacques Clouseau of Pink Panther or Sherlock Holmes. I’ve done my best to incorporate a sense of humour in the story, without making it seem like a parody. The entire cast and crew of the film is new and every day on the set was a challenge. But at the end of it all, we have an amazing film at hand. I can’t wait for people to watch it.”

Produced by Rahul Yadav Nakka under Swadharm Entertainment, Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya is releasing tomorrow.
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