“Working on a series or film with a period concept is always a challenging task for any technician. Every detail needs to be handled with utmost care, and bringing the envisioned content to the screen is never an easy process,” says director Pradeep Maddali. Known for his blockbuster web series Sarvam Shakti Mayam, this young director is now helming the web series Vikatakavi, produced by the passionate producer Ram Talluri under the SRT Entertainments banner. The series stars Naresh Agastya and Megha Akash in lead roles.
Vikatakavi is set to stream on the popular OTT platform ZEE5 in both Telugu and Tamil starting November 28. On this occasion, director Pradeep Maddali shared some intriguing insights about the project. He revealed, “Writer Teja Deshraj, who worked with Prashanth Varma on films like A! and Kalki, first narrated the story of Vikatakavi to me and asked if I would be interested in directing it. I loved the story, and the fact that it was a period series convinced me to take it up immediately. Working on this series has been a new experience as a director, as the story has many layers.”
Set in the 1940s and 1970s, Vikatakavi required detailed attention to settings, costumes, language, looks, lighting, and overall ambiance to reflect those eras authentically. “Luckily, we had a great team,” says Pradeep. “Shoeb’s cinematography, Ajay Arasada’s music, and Kiran’s art direction—everyone approached this project with a personal commitment and delivered impressive work. We used real locations like Ramoji Film City and the Aluminum Factory to add authenticity. This is the first detective series set against a Telangana backdrop, and Naresh Agastya fits the titular role excellently, with Megha Akash as his co-star.”
The director explains the title, Vikatakavi, by drawing a connection to Tenali Ramakrishna, one of the Ashtadiggajas (eight great poets) of the Vijayanagara Empire. Besides being a poet, Tenali was a spy for King Sri Krishnadevaraya, playing a critical role in protecting the kingdom from the Bahmani Sultanate. “Our protagonist has shades inspired by Tenali, which is why we chose the title Vikatakavi,” Pradeep adds.
