Telugu independent feature film Nadi, which completed production after a year of shooting, has been released at the American Film Market (AFM) with acclaimed actor-director Nandita Das and veteran performer Nasser leading the cast.
Set in the forests of southern India’s Andhra Pradesh in the mid-20th century, the film depicts an ancient tribe struggling to maintain its traditional way of life as its members move toward modernization following the construction of a dam.
Screenwriter and director Aditya Vempati, a San Francisco Bay Area native and USC School of Cinematic Arts graduate, developed the project out of his own ancestral ties to the Khoya people of India’s Eastern Ghats. The filmmaker spent months living in the heart of Koya, which straddles the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, building relationships with local residents who would later participate in the production.
“I wanted to tell a story that examines how our relationship with nature and with each other changes as the world develops around us,” Vempati said.
The production was shot on location in the foothills of the Eastern Ghats and on the outskirts of Hyderabad, working closely with local communities to recreate the period setting. The filmmaking team built an authentic village of the time, complete with sets, wardrobes and props, and locals guided us through the untouched wilderness location.
Das, known for directing ‘Firaaq’, ‘Manto’ and ‘Zwigato’ and starring in ‘Fire’ and ‘Bawandar’, will be returning to play the role of Devi, the village matriarch. Her character’s grown children are played by Maharshi Vudhya, Anusha Nuthula and Jagan Yogiraj. The ensemble also includes Mia Meltzer (Stolen) and Saileera. Nasser, whose credits include ‘Nayakan’ and ‘Baahubali’ series, plays Satya Mohan, a government employee who bridges the film’s past and present timelines.
The cast is a mix of non-actors from the Koya community and trained performers from the Hyderabad theater scene.
The film is produced by Brendan Bennett, Krishna Mamidibasula and Vempati, with Radha Krishna Nambu serving as executive producer through FrameByFrame Pictures. It was co-produced by Harish CP Yarlagadda, Chairman of Malakshmi Group, Hyderabad.
Principal photography began last October and took place over 12 months to capture the seasonal changes across the landscape.
