Athadu is all set for a theatrical re-release on August 9th. Ahead of its release, producer Murali Mohan of Jayabheri Arts interacted with the media, revealing that the movie has been upgraded by Prasads Corporation to Super 4K resolution with Dolby Atmos sound.
Murali Mohan spoke of how the project took shape in 2004. He spoke of how Trivikram's 3-hour narration was full of detailing. The second-time director narrated shot by shot and frame by frame. However, Murali Mohan expressed a reservation. Pardhu (the protagonist's name in the movie) had grey shades. "In our times, the hero was the ideal type. The cinema hero had to be like Sri Rama Chandrudu. Trivikram's hero had anti-hero shades. Trivikram convinced me that heroes with anti-hero shades was the emerging trend at that time. His explanation convinced me and I changed my mind," Murali Mohan said.
Murali Mohan also praised Mahesh Babu for extending the fullest cooperation during the shoot. "We shot the climax over 28 days on a specially erected set using cameras imported from the UK. While the theatrical run was moderate financially, the film gained cult status after television premieres. No matter how many times Athadu has been telecast on TV week after week, people watch it. Many have watched Athadu multiple times and they say they are not bored," Murali Mohan added.
Recalling his involvement during the film's production, Murali Mohan explained that while his banner was involved, they offered full support to Trivikram Srinivas, encouraging him to bring his "new-age vision" while they provided an "old-school" foundation. He dispelled the rumor that Pawan Kalyan was initially approached for the lead role, stating it was merely a baseless rumor. Finally, the veteran clarified that Trivikram first narrated the story, and it was a collective decision to cast Mahesh Babu, whose "unconditional support during the shoot" was invaluable.
When questioned about a potential sequel, Murali Mohan stated unequivocally that if Athadu Part 2 were ever to be made, it would only be with the original duo of Trivikram and Mahesh Babu. Addressing concerns about re-releases clashing with new films, he dismissed it as a rare occurrence, stating such clashes happen "once in a blue moon." He voiced strong support for small films, believing they are crucial for the industry's improvement. However, he identified high ticket prices as the real deterrent for middle-class families. He confirmed plans to release Athadu primarily in multiplexes to ensure a quality viewing experience, reiterating that the "magic of theatre viewing cannot be matched by TV."
Priyanka Duggirala has overseen the re-release endeavour at Jayabheri Arts. She spoke of what went into making the tech upgrade for the re-release. "We scanned the raw film in 8K resolution and restored it with the latest post-production technology. Although 8K projectors are not available in India, the film will be presented in Super 4K with Dolby Atmos. The first 15 minutes and the climax scenes will be a treat to experience in theatres," she said.
