As far as director Arjun Kola is concerned, Tatvam is more than just a murder mystery. It's about the psychology of its very many characters, and how each mystery can lead to a series of beliefs, assumptions (both right and wrong), and eventual conclusions. Ahead of the movie's theatrical release on October 2, Kola talks about what ticks for Tattvam, led by actors Dinesh Tej and Dashwika K.
Producers Vamsi Seemakurthi and Swetha Pashupulate (of Trayathi Ishani Creations and S.K. Productions) have mounted it on slick production values.
Murder, mystery and courtroom drama are woven into the story of Tatvam, which unfolds in a village. I took into consideration limitations like costs and other aspects even while penning the story. The density of the thrills soars in the second hour.
The title Tatvam reflects the core theme of the film: navigating truth versus deception in a murder mystery. As the characters unravel what is real and what is false, their true psychology and inner natures are exposed. In turn, they drive the protagonist's ultimate transformation. We are all influenced by what others believe in and do in our social environment. At the same time, we hold onto our own perspective. That's our 'tattvam'.
Chetan Bharadwaj's background score and sound design are major highlights, elevating the film's suspense and making the mystery elements in the second half especially thrilling for the audience.
Despite facing severe challenges, including a serious car accident involving the lead actors that halted promotions, we remained committed to Tattvam. Driven by willpower and faith in our story, we overcame these hurdles and are confidently releasing the film on October 2, even amidst competition from nearly a dozen other releases. Whenever my confidence was shaken, remembering my responsibility and relying on team support kept me moving forward. Interested in filmmaking since childhood, I achieved financial stability before pursuing my passion, gaining the confidence to direct a feature after making a demo film, Kaivalya. I bypassed working as an assistant director. I relied instead on a supportive technical team to deliver a strong final output.
Many go gaga over the kind of thrillers the Malayalam film industry makes. In my personal opinion, I am more a fan of the diversity Tollywood has always been known for. We love drama, emotion and action. We have made more web series than Malayalis.
The drama in Tatvam will involve you thoroughly. The narration is racy. It engages you throughout, and you will be surprised at how fast the story is wrapped up. This is the kind of film that should be watched in theatres. The RR is so effective that it will generate goosebumps. It has blended with the suspense factor.
I want to turn my script titled Dwarapudi Days into an emotional feature film. Its story is set against the backdrop of the Godavari region, and will come laced with the nostalgic quality of RK Laxman's Malgudi Days.
Tatvam will head to theatres on October 2.
