Another myth in the making

Virat Karrna in the film; (right) A still from ‘Kantara’. Pic/By Special Arrangement

There is an eager audience for films rooted in ancient traditions and local folklore. That was producer Nishitha Nagireddy's takeaway from the wild success of Rishab Shetty's Kantara franchise. That learning has resulted in the making of Nagabandham - The Secret Treasure, a multi-lingual mythological adventure movie starring Virat Karrna, Rishabh Sawhney, and Nabha Natesh.

Telling the story of an ancient Vishnu temple that guards a legendary relic known as the Brahma Kamalam and a secret treasure, Nagabandham focuses on the fight between the good and the evil after a greedy force emerges to claim the treasure. Nagireddy shared, "Films like Kantara and Kalki 2898 AD prove that culturally rooted Indian stories can resonate nationally. They have increased the industry's confidence to make more such movies. The vision was to tell a new mythological story with pan-India appeal. We wanted to create a story that combines mythology, history, adventure, and spirituality in a way that feels fresh."

Mounted on a grand canvas, the movie was shot in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. What drew Karrna, who plays the protagonist, to the project was Nagireddy and director Abhishek Nama's vision of bringing the ancient rituals to the big screen. "While the narrative introduces fantasy elements, the emotions and backdrops are treated with authenticity," said the actor.