‘EPIC – FIRST SEMESTER’ Will Win Hearts Just Like ‘90s’: Director Aditya Hasan
“Like ‘90s’, ‘EPIC’ will also feel natural and relatable to audiences”
Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya are coming together for the much-awaited youthful entertainer ‘EPIC – FIRST SEMESTER’. Interestingly, young filmmaker Aditya Hasan, who won the hearts of Telugu audiences with his popular web series ‘90s’, is making his silver-screen directorial debut with this film.
Presented by Srikara Studios and produced by Suryadevara Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya under the banners of Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas, ‘EPIC – FIRST SEMESTER’ has already generated strong expectations among youngsters. The film is set to hit theatres on 11th September.
Ahead of the release, director Aditya Hasan interacted with the media and shared several interesting insights about his journey, the film and his vision.
On His Family Background and Entry into Cinema
“I am from Wanaparthy and studied there until my 10th standard. My father retired as a school teacher, while my mother is a homemaker. My brother and sister-in-law work in the banking sector. After 10th, I developed a strong interest in cinema.
“I never worked as an assistant director. I completed my degree in Hyderabad and later went to the UK for my Master’s. I had already made a few short films, and after returning from the UK, I started trying to make films. After about six months, I made a film titled ‘Teacher’ with Colors Swathi. It was produced by Naveen Medaram and Abhishek Nama, but unfortunately, the film was stalled due to certain reasons.
“Naveen garu was a senior at the university where I studied in the UK. Since we shared an interest in cinema, I approached him and got introduced to him.”
How Did ‘90s’ Happen?
“I wrote the story of ‘90s’ based on my father’s real-life experiences. Initially, an OTT platform liked the story and came forward to produce it. However, they backed out after six months.
“ETV Win’s Sai garu and Nithin garu already knew about the story and later called me. That’s how ‘90s’ eventually came to life.”
How Did You Get the Name Aditya Hasan?
“My original name is Aditya. I am a huge fan of Kamal Haasan garu. Out of that admiration, I changed my name to Aditya Hasan.”
Is ‘EPIC’ Your Biopic?
“There is definitely inspiration from real-life incidents, but my life isn’t that beautiful,” he says with a laugh. “We have taken some cinematic liberties.
“Even in ‘90s’, the name of our hometown and the names of my family members are used, but not every incident shown in the series actually happened in our lives. We took incidents from different lives and crafted them into a story.”
What Can Audiences Expect from ‘EPIC’?
“‘EPIC’ will connect with everyone. The story is inspired by some beautiful incidents from real life.
“‘EPIC’ is actually a continuation of the world created in ‘90s’. It explores a phase in the younger brother’s life from that story. I also have an idea of telling the elder brother’s story and the sister’s story as separate chapters in the future.”
Why ‘EPIC – FIRST SEMESTER’?
“‘EPIC – FIRST SEMESTER’ has a continuation. The story will continue with ‘EPIC – FINAL SEMESTER’.
“The first part has a different kind of ending. I didn’t write the climax from the perspective of the audience or the director. I wrote the ending that I felt the story itself required.”
Was There Pressure Working with the ‘Baby’ Pair?
“I initially felt some pressure. But ‘EPIC’ gives audiences a completely different experience and breaks away from the expectations surrounding that combination.
“I personally selected Anand as the hero. Producer Naga Vamsi garu suggested Vaishnavi’s name for the heroine. He told me that the ‘Baby’ combination would help the film commercially. At that time, I didn’t fully understand what he meant, but after seeing the hype generated around the film, I realised that he was absolutely right.”
What Would You Like to Tell Audiences About ‘EPIC’?
“I wouldn’t say that this is a great or extraordinary story. A young man travels from Hyderabad to the UK and falls in love with a girl there. Whether they eventually end up together or not forms the story.
“Just like ‘90s’ feels natural, ‘EPIC’ will also be very natural. There are certain moments that audiences will remember.
“There haven’t been many films that explore the lives of students who go abroad for education and the relationships they develop there. Since I studied in the UK myself, I know what that experience is like. I felt that this perspective would be fresh and wanted to tell this story to audiences.”
On Producer Naga Vamsi
“Naga Vamsi garu watched ‘90s’, believed in me and gave me this opportunity. He personally supervised every aspect of the film. Even the selection of music director Hesham Abdul Wahab was his decision.”
How Did Gorati Venkanna Come on Board?
“I have been a huge admirer of Gorati Venkanna garu since childhood. Even when I was studying in London, I used to listen to his songs.
“I always wanted to have a Gorati Venkanna song in my first film. That’s why I approached him for ‘EPIC’. He wrote and sang ‘Sanchaarame’ for the film, and we began the promotions with that song.”
What Kind of Films Do You Want to Make?
“I want to explore all kinds of films. I want to make films across different genres while entertaining audiences. My goal is to create films with values, without hurting anyone and without pushing any kind of agenda.”
‘EPIC – FIRST SEMESTER’ is gearing up for a grand theatrical release on September 11, promising a fresh, youthful and relatable experience for audiences.