Every place on Earth has a story to tell, says Rishi

Time of India

21-04-2025

Mangaluru, as it is popularly known, has another name, one that's commonly used among the locals there, Mangalapuram,' says Rishi, whose next movie is called Managalapuram. The actor shares that this is the story of the city, its cultural beliefs and more. 'The film's director,
Ranjith Raj Suvarana
, is a Mangalurean, and he believes that the stories of his hometown need to reach a wider audience. Mangaluru is also a place that's very culturally rooted, and a lot of it is unknown to people outside of it,' shares Rishi, who is looking forward to shooting in Mangaluru.
'Culturally-rooted movies seem to be in trend. It is natural for writers and directors to pick up stories that they or others around them have experienced. What has changed now is that such unique stories have given everyone the confidence to back projects with conviction. The audiences are also interested in listening to original and honest stories. People are open to watching and learning about different cultures through cinema. A movie doesn't always have to be commercialised for the sake of it, but it definitely has to be executed well for it to work with audiences everywhere,' points out Rishi. Rishi believes that filmmakers should never take the audience for granted. 'Scripts like these, that are rooted in culture, must be factually correct. As filmmakers, we are here to provide the audience with accurate information, while also leading them on an emotionally invested journey, through cinema,' says Rishi.