Telugu film ‘Cockroach’ to be released in March

Most of us shudder at the sight of a cockroach and try to avoid looking at the ‘creature.’ Those who live in the dark alleys are viewed similarly in society.

Set against the backdrop of a society that shuns and stigmatises the so-called “dirty” people, Telugu film ‘Cockroach’ is a love story that unfolds in the margins. It narrates the pure friendship between a street-side sex worker and a contract killer, an unlikely bond that questions the moral decay of a corrupt and rotten social system.

‘Cockroach’ is a hard-hitting film that introduces audiences to the darkness of society that is not spoken of much. While people applaud the killing of a cockroach, they write poetry about butterflies. They do not try to understand the true feelings of the ‘dirty’ people and write them off as ‘hardened criminals’, who lack basic instinct. “My film questions this hypocrisy through its characters,” Director P. Suneel Kumar Reddy told The Hindu.

“To give life to the characters in the film, I picked real fighters and body builders, trained them to act, and to play the role of hardened criminals. Most of the characters are from North Andhra and Andhra Pradesh. The Central Board of Film Certification has given the film an “A” (Adults Only) certificate. Sensitive viewers and children should refrain from watching the film as it has violent scenes and graphic content,” says Mr. Suneel Reddy, who also wrote the story and screenplay of the film.

Produced by B. Bapiraju under the banner Sri Lakshmi Pictures, ’Cockroach’ has successfully completed its censor formalities. Preparations are underway to release the film in theatres in the first week of March.

Abhilash Sunkara, Premasan, and Naveen appear as contract killers. Award winning actress Teertha (of ‘Sontha Ooru’) plays a key role. Other important roles are played by Meenakshi, Raman, Bugatha, Anji Gagan, Pradeep, Samudram Venkatesh, Mallika, FM Babai, Raju, Balaji, L. B. Ramana, R. K. Singh, Pooja, Potti Murthy, Prasad, Relare Raghu troupe, Johnny, and others.