Releasing a film in theatres at any time of the year is a gamble: Vamshi Krishna

Vamshi Krishna is gearing up for the release of Firefly, which marks his debut as both actor and director. During a chat with Bangalore Times, the actor tells us what inspired him to write Firefly, working with senior actors like Shivarajkumar and Sudharani, his vision for the industry, and more. Excerpts:

‘BROKE SEVERAL CINEMA GRAMMAR RULES FOR FIREFLY’
Firefly will be a very refreshing film for the Kannada audience. It’s purely entertaining, and it has a ‘new-age’ feel. The theatre experience as well as storytelling will be fresh and one-of-a-kind. It’s a bright film, and we have broken several cinema grammar rules for the film with songs and visuals. We have broken the pattern for Firefly too! Besides these, there is a strong emotional core content that audience can connect to! Firefly is not just a film but an experience.

‘SENIOR ACTORS ARE EASIEST TO WORK WITH; THEY MADE MY JOB EASIER’
On the sets of Firefly, I had a great team to support me. From technicians to actors to producers, they made me very comfortable handling both roles with ease. Initially, once we finalised the cast, I always wondered if the senior actors would listen to me, a newbie. We had Achyut Kumar sir, Sudharani ma’am and even Shivarajkumar anna on the sets. Within a few days, I realised that the senior actors are the easiest to work with! They know the production value. They come on time, finish the scenes quickly because they understand what the director wants, which made my job easier!

‘FIREFLY IS A SCRIPT THAT IS VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART’
I was a bit mathematical and practical while writing the script of Firefly. A certain aura is necessary for commercial films. Unless you’re already a known face or come from a filmi family, audiences might not watch your commercial film. Frankly, I wouldn’t watch it as an audience member. So keeping that in mind, I worked on Firefly. As a debutant, my aim is to introduce myself to the industry, and how do I do it? By writing a story which is relatable to everyone, especially youngsters. It’s a feel-good film where the audience can digest and register my face first, then we can think about delving into commercial space!

‘WE’VE TO KEEP EXPLORING AND EXPERIMENTING’
By consistently delivering strong narratives, we can gradually build momentum and draw audiences to our content. Take Malayalam cinema, for instance. About 20 years ago, Malayalam films’ reputation was completely different. But, over the years, the entire industry worked hard, telling native stories in their own style. They didn’t pick up the ‘mass concept’ but instead focused on telling unconventional stories. As an industry, we should have a long-term plan for growth rather than just looking at ‘one hit film’.



‘SMALL FILMS HAVE TO TAKE RISKS’
The past few months have not been favourable for the Kannada Film Industry. Sure, people are likely engrossed in the peak cricket season, which naturally draws viewership away from films. But beyond that, the beginning and end of the year are typically dominated by “star film releases” from all industries, creating a competitive landscape that’s difficult to navigate. We’re not just competing with our own past successes, but with major releases in multiple languages. Even announcing a release date requires careful consideration of these big films. Furthermore, there’s no guarantee that audiences will embrace a newcomer during any particular season, making theatrical releases a constant risk, especially for smaller films that often have no other choice but to take that leap.