Mahi V Raghav justifies usage of YSR footage in Mammootty starrer 'Yatra'

| Neeshita Nyayapati | TNN | Feb 26, 2019, 16:08 IST

He responded to criticism of him using YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's foo... Read More

Mahi V Raghav’s

YSR biopic

‘

Yatra

’ starring Mammootty released earlier this month and received mixed reviews from critics and audience alike.

While the film is having a decent run at the box office, there have also been some people who criticised the director for using real footage of not just the late CM YSR, but also his son Jagan Mohan Reddy. Clearing the air on social media, he wrote, “Usage of real footage in Yatra & politics behind it. I never defend or justify any criticism towards my stories. But I felt I had to share my thoughts as a set of audience felt or wanted to know the need for real visuals of

YSR

garu and Jagan Mohan Reddy.” (sic)

He added, “Yatra movie ends with Mammooty taking oath as Chief minister. We used real visuals to tell the rest of YSR Garu’s life as the story is based and inspired by his life. If that content was part of the story we would have shot it with our characters. The roles of Raja Reddy and Mr YS Jagan Mohan Reddy are very essential to tell the tale of YSR. It will be incomplete without both of them.” (sic)

He also made it clear that had he intended to give YS Jagan a leg up in the impending elections, he would’ve chalked him up to be a hero in the film. He wrote, “If I intended to give Jagan Mohan Reddy a political benefit through the movie, I would have created a character with most likely a star playing it in the movie and made sure there is enough meat in the father & son relationship to drive or milk the emotions to benefit Mr Y S Jagan Mohan reddy.” (sic) The director received support for his post in the comments.

NTR Mahanayakudu

' - which see

Balakrishna

essay the role of the late politician Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao and Rana Daggubati play the role of his son-in-law, the present CM Chandrababu Naidu.