‘Devara, my most ambitious project so far’
By : Anupama Subramanian
Update: 2024-09-18 18:32 GMT
Jr NTR, who was in Chennai recently to promote his pan-India film, Devara – Part 1, emphasised the historical significance of Chennai to Telugu cinema. “Chennai has been the stepping-stone for Telugu cinema. Earlier, the whole Telugu industry operated from Chennai. So, no movie is complete without promotion in Chennai,” he said, adding, “Though we are divided by language, we are not divided by cinema anymore, especially after Baahubali. It’s no longer Bollywood, Tollywood or Kollywood. We may be speaking different languages, but we are united by one word — Cinema.”
The actor also expressed interest in working in Tamil cinema, particularly with acclaimed director Vetri Maaran. “If he calls me, I am ready to do a straight Tamil film. It can be dubbed in Telugu,” Jr NTR asserted.
Here’s what he said in a conversation with DC:
An ambitious film
Here’s what he said in a conversation with DC:
An ambitious film
“Not just a mass movie. it has a lot of commercial mainstream elements, but director Koratala Siva has presented a new dimension of a hero. We have a concept of ‘gram devata’ or ‘kula deivam’ (village deity) throughout south India. The male deity is called Devara. So, we felt the title would resonate across languages. I play two characters with the same name — Devara and Vara.” It’s an ambitious movie — the most ambitious movie I’ve been a part of so far in my career. It was challenging, especially in terms of VFX. Not many people understand VFX, but I think Rajamouli has mastered it phenomenally. The underwater shoots were of international standard. We shot for about 30 days underwater with crazy stunts.”
Karan Johar recommended Janhvi
Karan Johar recommended Janhvi
“We had no idea of casting anybody in particular initially. We were still writing the story. But Karan Johar called me one day and said that Janhvi is a very bright actor and asked me to have her in the movie.
“It was challenging, especially in terms of VFX. Not many people understand VFX, but I think Rajamouli has mastered it phenomenally. The underwater shoots were of international standard. We shot for about 30 days underwater with crazy stunts.”
She had fears about speaking Telugu, delivering her acting, dancing, and living up to the expectations of being Sridevi’s daughter. But she just killed it in the movie.
She resembles Sridevi. From certain angles, she’s a print copy of her mother”
About Saif...
“Saif Ali Khan has done something he hasn’t tried before, as villain. We don’t reveal much about him in the trailer. The movie is so tightly knit that there’s a risk of giving away too much. Our inspiration for his character came from Omkara, especially Langda Tyagi's character. Saif's character, Bhairava, is as powerful as Devara.”
On pan India films
She resembles Sridevi. From certain angles, she’s a print copy of her mother”
About Saif...
“Saif Ali Khan has done something he hasn’t tried before, as villain. We don’t reveal much about him in the trailer. The movie is so tightly knit that there’s a risk of giving away too much. Our inspiration for his character came from Omkara, especially Langda Tyagi's character. Saif's character, Bhairava, is as powerful as Devara.”
On pan India films
“I’m not in the pan-India race. You don’t want to push a film just because you have a pan-Indian market. Only when a story can travel should you push it.
There are certain stories that will work locally, some that will work only in the South, some that will work globally, and some that will work across the nation.
There are certain stories that will work locally, some that will work only in the South, some that will work globally, and some that will work across the nation.
Take Kantara as an example. I am half Kannadiga, I grew up listening to stories about Guliga and Panjurli. Suddenly, there's a movie about that, and I never thought it would strike a chord with the entire country. But it did. I think the writer and filmmaker should have the ability to connect with massive audiences for it to happen.”
“Though we are divided by language, we are not divided by cinema anymore, especially after Baahubali. It’s no longer Bollywood, Tollywood or Kollywood. We may be speaking different languages, but we are united by one word — Cinema.”
“Karan Johar called me one day and said that Janhvi is a very bright actor and asked me to have her in the movie. She had fears about speaking Telugu, delivering her acting, dancing, and living up to the expectations of being Sridevi’s daughter. But she just killed it in the movie.”