In his career spanning more than three decades, Mass Maharaja Ravi Teja has worked with a number of debutant directors. Bhanu Bhogavarapu, the director of Mass Jathara, is one such. "What I like about Bhanu is that he is flexible. If the feedback for a scene is that it's not up to the mark, he immediately comes up with a new version of the scene," the actor says, complimenting his director. Bhanu is the story Writer for movies like Samajavaragamana, Geethanjali Malli Vachindi, and Nari Nari Naduma Murari (upcoming). He also wrote dialogues for Sree Vishnu's Single.
Ravi Teja plays a Railway Protection Force officer in Mass Jathara, for which Bheems Ceciroleo has tuned the songs. So, while he is a cop, there might be a difference in the feel of the backdrop and even the nature of his confrontation with antagonists. Rajendra Prasad has a prominent role.
Sreeleela, who is an MBBS in real life, is playing a Science teacher in the movie. She is fond of Ravi Teja, who she describes as the easiest person to work with. "When it comes to chit-chatting, he has no match. I had lots of fun working with him once again after Dhamaka. By the time Bhanu narrated the story to me, I had watched Samajavaragamana, something I enjoyed a lot. He offered me the role of a teacher at a time when I had had enough of playing CEO-type roles. Also, I enjoyed picking up new slang (Srikakulam) for this movie," she says.
Mass Jathara was supposed to be a Sankranthi 2025 release. "The movie got delayed due to my hand surgery," Ravi Teja reveals. Incidentally, he had a leg issue during the making of Dhamaka. "Knowing him, I knew he was hiding his hand pain during the shoot of Tu Mera Lover. He had to lift me on his shoulders and rotate me. He did it without complaining. Once he was done with the shot, he gave up," Sreeleela reveals.
Where did the title come from? "The treatment has a jathara-like energy. And the 'Mass' in the title comes from 'Mass Maharaja'. The tagline 'Manade Idantha' was initially not preferred by Ravi Teja garu. But when I insisted, he relented," the director says. So, will the movie be riding on nostalgia? "That's a big word," the Tiger Nageswara Rao actor says. Earlier, producer S Naga Vamsi said that Mass Jathara will reintroduce the vintage Ravi Teja.
Mass Jathara will head to theatres on October 31st.
