The movie Bhairadevi, starring Ramesh Aravind, Radhika Kumaraswamy, and Anu Prabhakar, is releasing on October 3, in celebration of the Dasara festival. Prior to that, the trailer was launched on Saturday night at Mantri Mall. During the event, the film’s team discussed various aspects of the movie. Ramesh Aravind, in particular, spoke not just about Bhairadevi, but also about horror films, the city of Kashi, and the film Apthamitra, among other topics.
“I play a tough police officer in this film. He arrests rowdies, dons, and anyone he wants. He can control any enemy. However, the enemy in this film is not from this state or this country but from another world. He must fight against a power that comes from another realm. The story is about what this police officer does in such a situation. When I watched the trailer, it reminded me of another film I acted in. In Apthamitra, we face a problem in our home, and Avinash’s character arrives and says there’s an issue. Similarly, in this film, I face another challenge. Whether Bhairadevi comes to resolve it or not is something you’ll have to watch in the movie,” he said.
Ramesh Aravind added that watching the trailer brought back memories of Apthamitra for him. “When I saw Radhika in her Kaali makeup, I told her, ‘Madam, please remove the makeup and come.’ I had said the same to Soundarya during the climax shoot of Apthamitra, when she appeared in the Naga Valli character—it was terrifying to look at her. I had asked her to take off the makeup so we could talk. Some characters have that kind of power. In the poster, Radhika’s eyes look even more intense than usual. She plays a dual role in this movie—one as a heroine and the other as a producer. As a heroine, her dance and acting are commendable. And as a producer, she has done an excellent job in making the film,” he said.
Speaking about horror movies as a viewer, Ramesh Aravind said, “There’s a different thrill in watching horror movies. When I was younger, I watched The Exorcist. I must’ve been in seventh grade at the time. Five of us boys went to watch it together. There’s a scene where a character’s head suddenly turns backward. That terrified me. Some friends left halfway through the movie, but I was the only one who stayed till the end. Walking back home at night, with no electricity, it was a heart-pounding experience. That’s the magic of horror movies. With love or action films, you often forget about them after leaving the theater. But horror movies stick with you. Movies like Bhairadevi should be watched in theaters for the full sound experience,” he added.
Ramesh also mentioned that everyone should visit Kashi at least once. “The city holds the title of the world’s oldest city. If you haven’t had the chance to visit, watch this movie instead. Kashi has been beautifully captured. The shots they’ve taken are fantastic. You’ll see the temples there, and every step tells a story. They cremate bodies there. The director would tell us to go even closer. The entire movie has been shot in such locations. We shot in a cemetery in Bangalore for 20 days. The film deals with life after death—what happens if something returns after death? So, we filmed in such places. In Shanthinagar cemetery, we shot at night. One night, a female constable approached me and asked for a selfie. She said, ‘I’ve worked here for three years, but I’ve never come here at night.’ When even the police say that, these people have been shooting here for ten days. The movie contrasts life and death, heroes and villains, divine power and evil forces, exploring what happens when they challenge each other. That’s what Bhairadevi is about,” explained Ramesh.
Congratulating Anu Prabhakar on completing 25 years in the film industry, Ramesh said, “Anu’s first film featured both me and Shivarajkumar. I’ve acted with her in about eight or nine movies. It’s been a wonderful experience acting alongside her. In that film too, we played husband and wife. We’ve acted together in this film as well. It’s not just a horror film; it’s also a family movie. The film is releasing on October 3, so don’t miss it,” he concluded.
