Loser is a Telugu series that has quenched the thirst of many streaming viewers looking to consume regional content amid the pandemic. Starring Priyadarshi, Shashank, Pavani Gangireddy, Kalpika Ganesh to name a few, the show narrated across three timelines was timely, given the growing interest of viewers to consume sports dramas. Though Loser’s writing isn’t stellar by any means and is even clichéd at places, the director Abhilash had displayed reasonable tact in weaving different timelines into one show seamlessly. It also marked the entry of Annapurna Productions into the digital arena. Commemorating its success, a virtual press meet was held by its makers and actors through a video call recently. Klapboardpost.com tells you who spoke what in the webinar.
The director Abhilash, who previously directed Chitra Vichitram on Zee5, said, “We all know a lot about cricket and badminton. However, audiences don’t know much about air rifle shooting. I know the struggle in it because of a friend of mine. Inspired by what I have seen, I developed this script. Everyone who heard it, instantly liked it as well including the actors and the rest of the team. While many asked me if I had taken a year to write the story, the fact is that I took only three months. Bharadwaj and Shravan too worked with me on the story.”
Priyadarshi, who plays Soori in the show, was reportedly apprehensive about playing the role of a rifle shooter. “Everyone played a great role in making ‘Loser’ happen. Neelakantha garu trained me in rifle shooting for 30 days. The team carried me on their shoulders.”
Shashank reportedly worked hard to play the character. “The director was very clear about what he wanted from me. I trained in bowling for three months to get the character’s body language and behaviour right. To play the younger Wilson, I had to shed 8 kilos. To play the older Wilson, I had to put on 16-18 kilos. There was a gap of two months between playing the two Wilsons. It was a great experience.”
Kalpika Ganesh who plays the character Ruby stated, “Women face a number of obstacles since childhood. Some discuss their struggles, others don’t. I believe that everyone has to believe in their talent. I hear so many athletes tell me that they too had to undergo the kind of struggles that Ruby goes through in Loser.” Pavani Gangireddy liked the experience of working in the web series, she confessed in the webinar. “Pallavi is soft by nature, but when it’s the right time, she stands up for herself. That’s why I could relate to the character. A close friend of mine opened up about her personal story to me for the first time in 15 years after watching Loser.”
The webinar also saw the participation of cinematographer Naresh, Annapurna Studios creative producer Mahesh, Executive Producer Chandra among others.
