A film based on real-life incidents

Director Karuna Kumar’s Palasa 1978 is all set for release on March 6. Talking about the action thriller, Karuna states that the film is based on real-life incidents that happened during the 1970s, which then moves to 2018. “The film revolves around the lives of folklore artiste from Palasa and tries to portray how their lives were suppressed and whether they found any salvation,” explains Karuna Kumar. “I needed a small town to narrate my story in, so I chose Palasa because it’s the place I hail from, and I shot in real locations to make it visually more appealing.”

The director, who believes the story — which has a burning social point and is told in a commercial manner — has a universal appeal, reveals that although the film is based out of Srikakulam (Palasa) backdrop, he tried to maintain neutrality in dialogues. “I wanted people from all regions to understand the slang and so ensured that the dialogues, though they have Srikakulam slang in them, remain neutral,” he explains adding that the film Palasa 1978 also touches upon the cashew business, which is the main income of the people from that region. “But I can assure that the film is not preachy. It is told in an entertaining manner, with dances, fights and all the elements that will appeal to the mainstream audience,” says the director who is inspired by RGV-kind of filmmaking.

Starring Rakshit Atluri and Nakshatra, the film is produced by Dhyan Atluri.