Spy thriller G2 launched in Mumbai, with Telugu superstar Adivi Sesh

In a significant move, a Telugu unit has launched a film in Mumbai, on January 9, 2022, at the PVR Multiplex, Citi Mall, Andheri. It is a spy thriller, starring Adivi Sesh, in continuation of the first instalment of the highly successful G series, Goodhachari (2018, co-written by Sesh), produced by T.G. Vishwa Prasad and Abhishek Agarwal and directed by Vinay Kumar Sirigineedi, who were all present on the occasion. No more details were announced, but a teaser lasting less than a minute was screened, exuding a slick, European, snow-laden Alps terrain and a bullet in ultra-slow motion. This, too, must be a first.

Adivi, who speaks fluent Hindi, revealed that the G series idea was inspired by Goodhachari 116, a film made in the 60s, in the spy genre, starring Telugu giant actor Krishna. Goodhachari, in old Telugu, means spy. 116 was his identity code number. The film was remade in Hindi as Farz (1969), starring Jeetendra, and was a super-hit. A sequel was made in 1973, starring Dharmendra, called Keemat. Adivi is a great fan of Krishna, and found that Krishna had an office in the very building in which he stays. He went and touched Krishna’s feet, and asked him to make a guest appearance in Goodhachari, but Krishna declined, citing his poor health and old age. Ghattamaneni Siva Rama Krishna Murthy was Krishna’s real name. He passed away on 15 November 2022, aged 79. Popular Telugu actor Mahesh Babu, referred to as the Prince of Tollywood, is his son.

Asked whether a Hindi film actress will play the lead opposite him, Adivi smiled and averred, “Hindi actresses acting in Telugu films is quite the norm, so what purpose will be served by making such an announcement here? In fact, the media back home, in Telangana, will target me for coming all the way to Mumbai to announce the name of a Hindi actress as my lead.” Adivi is a staunch proponent of the belief that all Indian films are Indian, and that there is no north-south divide.

This writer asked Vinay whether being an editor is a big asset for a film director, and whether it was his editing skill that got him this assignment, just as the editors of ionic James Bond films were promoted to the ranks of directors, like John Glen and Peter Hunt. Vinay was a bit embarrassed and confessed, “You know, I was an assistant director. Adivi felt that I had a sense of editing, so he made me an editor. Yes, definitely, being an editor-director gives you that advantage. You know exactly what you want and do not waste time canning unnecessary footage.” Asked to name a film he felt was very well edited, he thought for a while and then named Top Gun. When asked his age, he remained mum. I said, “You look quite young, like 27.” Vinay was amused, “If I look like 27, that’s very good.”

Riding a wave of six Telugu (one was a bilingual, called Major, written by Adivi) hits in a row, Adivi Sesh hopes to continue the run with G2. The team behind G2 is the same that gave us Major and Karthikeya 2. While ‘Goodachari’ was a massive hit down south, G2 (Goodachari 2) will be made for a Pan-India audience. The sequel will be shot internationally, on an elaborate scale, including 3 countries in Europe, one in the Middle East, and on home-turf, in Delhi, Hyderabad and Puducherry. The film will pick up where it left off, in the Alps, with a slew of new characters joining the existing star cast.

Pre-vision video-link: https://youtu.be/snx398zoixA