Report by Priya Saravana, Photos by Dani Charles
It’s unusual for a press meet to be held on a Sunday. But, Maanagaram revolves around Chennai and how it receives people. Last Sunday happened to be the day before Madras Day (August 22) and the Maanagram team felt it would be fitting to hold their press meet on that day, in Prasad Labs, Vadapalani.
Producers Potential Studios, of Maya fame, were so impressed with Lokesh Kanagaraj’s short films and narrations, that they insisted he work with his usual team. Thus, Maanagaram has Lokesh’s short music composer Javed Riaz (also making his debut), and lyricist Anthony.
The lead cast includes Sundeep Kishan, Sree, and Regina Cassandra. Maanagaram is an urban-thriller about four characters (Sundeep Kishan, Sree, Charlie, and Munish Khan) who move to Chennai for a livelihood, and how their lives are impacted by the city. Sundeep and Shree work in the IT industry, while Charlie plays a cab driver, and Munish Khan is looking for jobs.
Sundeep Kishan, last seen in Yaruda Mahesh (2013), called the film his “relife”. Full of praise for the technical and production team, he said it would definitely mark his comeback. Sree was his usual sober self. He said he was so impressed when he saw the script, that he wanted to work as an assistant director on the film. But the director had other plans.
Also at the press meet were lyricists Lalit Anand and Antony, art director Satish Kumar, producer S Prabhu, actors Charlie, Munish Khan, Shree, Sundeep Kishan, and editor Philomin Raj.
