‘Varun always wanted to do a sports drama’

Kiran Korrapati talks about his boxing drama, Ghani

The first look of Ghani, a first-of-its-kind film with Varun Tej in the lead, was released to mark the actor’s birthday on Tuesday. We caught up with debutant director Kiran Korrapati to find out more about the film.

“Ghani is an intense film where the male lead takes up boxing for a cause. Varun Tej always wanted to do a sports film and when he expressed his wish to me, I embarked on writing a suitable script,” reveals Kiran, adding that he has been working on the script for the last three years.

We ask the director why he chose boxing and not some other sport. “Boxing is a mass sport that lends itself to the depiction of heroic moments. Moreover, Varun’s physique suits the sport,” Korrapati replies, adding that Ghani is not just about boxing. “There is more to the story than just the sport. It is also an emotional story at one level,” the young filmmaker shares.

Saying that he had engaged with Varun for two years before the project fell in place, Kiran adds that Ghani also raises the issue of most sports being neglected in India and why that is wrong.

“Even champions who won medals in the Olympics don't get their due. Our film highlights this neglect and makes a relevant point,” Korrapati says, adding that he did a lot of research to understand the sport.

“Varun received training from former international boxing players and, to make sure he looks the part, he even went to the US and was trained under experts,” reveals the director.

GHANI ALSO RAISES THE ISSUE OF MOST SPORTS BEING NEGLECTED IN INDIA AND WHY THAT IS WRONG. “EVEN CHAMPIONS WHO WON MEDALS IN THE OLYMPICS DON’T GET THEIR DUE. OUR FILM HIGHLIGHTS THIS NEGLECT AND MAKES A RELEVANT POINT,” KORRAPATI SAYS