“Mantrika” is a Kannada movie produced under the banner of Krishna Sankula Branding Pictures. Vanavarn Jammula wrote the story, screenplay, and dialogues, directed, produced, and also starred in the lead role.
VJ has completed all his work and is ready for release. This intellectual suspense thriller revolves around a ghost hunter and explores the question of whether ghosts exist or if they are merely illusions. Radhika Mali Patil and Maithili Nayak are the two heroines of the film.
Director cum hero Vanavarna said, “I am from an IT background. For the first time, I have ventured into directing a movie. Initially, I contemplated making it a web series with Puneeth Rajkumar, but that plan didn’t materialize. I decided to make it a movie based on the advice of my friends. Humans believe in ghosts. Do ghosts exist? What do they look like? Or is it merely a psychological phenomenon?” The concept of the film revolves around the hero, Krishna CTR (Come to Reality), who leads an organization dedicated to investigating ghosts, advising those who seek answers about ghosts, and proving their non-existence.
“We shot the film for 30 to 40 days in Bengaluru and Mangaluru. While shooting at the mall, the crew experienced numerous strange occurrences. The initial cameraman was frightened and left, reducing our crew from 40 to 50 people to just 20 by the end.”
“All the post-production work has been completed, and the film has received a U/A certificate from the censors. We aim to dispel superstitions by showcasing that strange sounds can often be explained by rational means. We encourage viewers to judge for themselves after watching the film.”
“Ayana, the director’s wife, has been involved in many of his projects. In our film, we depict the importance of not relying on superstitions.”
Heroine Radhika Mali Patil stated, “I portray the role of a journalist named Katyayini in the film.” Dushyant, Jagdish, and others highlighted the film’s special features. The film was edited by the director himself, with music composed by Stalin, cinematography by Anil Antony and Ramesh Marripalli, and action choreography by Lion G. Gangaraju.
