Untitled Koratala Siva project

Y. Naveen, Y. Ravi Shankar and C. V. Mohan are producing an untitled film written and directed by Koratala Siva on Mythri Movie Makers banner. It features Mahesh Babu and Shruti Haasan in the lead roles while Jagapati Babu, Rajendra Prasad, Sampath Raj and Brahmanandam appear in key roles. R. Madhi and Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao handled the cinematography and editing while the film's music was composed by Devi Sri Prasad.^[4] The film was formally launched on August 11, 2014 at Ramanaidu Studios in Hyderabad.^[5] The film is scheduled for a worldwide release on 17 July, 2015.^[6]

Cast

• Mahesh Babu
• Shruti Haasan
• Jagapati Babu
• Sukanya
• Rajendra Prasad
• Aamani
• Sampath Raj
• Brahmanandam
• Rahul Ravindran in a cameo appearance
• Poorna in a special dance number

Production

Development

UTV Motion Pictures announced that they are going to produce a film starring Mahesh Babu directed by Koratala Siva which marks their maiden Telugu production while Mahesh's sister Manjula Ghattamaneni would present the film on Indira Productions banner.^[7][8][9] A possible delay was expected as Mahesh accepted to work in a film directed by Raj & DK produced by Ashwini Dutt after completing the shooting of Aagadu.^[10] In late March 2014, UTV Motion Pictures South business studios chief G. Dhananjayan announced that the film would commence in July 2014 while the artistes and technicians would be announced in a week's time when there were reports that the film was shelved.^[11] Devi Sri Prasad was reported as the music director of the film and an official confirmation was awaited.^[12]

After UTV Motion Pictures backed out of the project because of differences with Koratala Siva, overseas distribution company My3 Movie Makers came forward to produce this film.^[13] Devi Sri Prasad was confirmed as the music director then while R. Madhi was selected as the cinematographer who charged 14 million (US$220,000) for this project.^[14][15] In late May 2014, Koratala Siva dismissed the reports that the film is titled Parakrama.^[16] The film's opening ceremony was held on August 11, 2014 at Ramanaidu Studios in Hyderabad and Mahesh Babu's wife Namrata Shirodkar along with few eminent Telugu celebrities attended the launch event.^[17] Mahesh Babu participated in the story discussions with Koratala Siva and shared his inputs for the betterment of the script.^[18]

The titles Magaadu and Maa Akka Bangaram were considered in October 2014.^[19][20] The makers registered the title Srimanthudu in mid December 2014 and almost finalized it.^[21] The film's title was expected to be announced officially on 1 January 2015 on the eve of New Year.^[22] The title Zamindar was considered in early February 2015.^[23][24]

Casting

Shruti Haasan was selected as the heroine of the film which was supposed to be her first onscreen appearance with Mahesh though she appeared in an item number in Aagadu after signing this film.^[25] She was reported to charge a remuneration of 12.5 million (US$200,000) which was the highest remuneration she received in her career till then.^[26] She was said to be seen in a full glamorous role.^[27] Jagapati Babu was selected to play the role of Mahesh's father in the film after Koratala Siva was impressed with his work in the 2014 film Legend.^[28] On the day of launch, Rajendra Prasad, Sampath Raj and Brahmanandam were announced to play pivotal roles in this film.^[29] Out of the above, Sampath Raj was confirmed as the antagonist.^[30]

Mahesh Babu was reported to play a dual role in the film for the first time in his career which was rubbished by Koratala Siva as a rumor.^[31] Tulasi was selected to play Shruti Haasan's mother.^[32] Prabhas accepted to give voice-over for few scenes in the film.^[33][34] Shruti Haasan was reported to walk out from the project in late November 2014.^[35] Those reports however were rubbished as rumors later.^[36] After considering actresses proficient in classical dance for performing a peppy dance number set in a rural backdrop, Poorna was selected as she was a trained Kathak dancer.^[37] After considering Nadhiya and Gracy Singh for the role of Mahesh's mother, Sukanya was finalized in late January 2015.^[38] Mahesh was reported to be seen as a NRI in the film in early February 2015.^[39]

The film's unit added that Mahesh would be seen as the son of a millionaire in the film.^[40] For his appearance, he chose to sport a casual look replete with cardigans, jackets and scarfs. He sported layered hair, messy hair-do and a straight cut hairstyles for varying episodes in the film.^[41] Siva confirmed through his Twitter page that Rahul Ravindran would make a small yet important cameo appearance.^[42]

Filming

(top to bottom) Notable places where the film was shot from September 2014 to March 2015: Pune, Ramoji Film City, Madurai, Pollachi and Palani.

Principal photography was expected to start on 11 September 2014 which would be wrapped up in continuous schedules.^[43] After the launch, it was confirmed that the regular shooting would start in early September after Mahesh completes his work in Aagadu and will be completed in one long schedule.^[44] The first schedule was planned in Hyderabad and the second schedule was planned in Bangkok.^[45] The principal photography was said to begin on 9 October 2014.^[46] It was postponed to 24 October 2014 while Mahesh was said to join the film's sets on 3 November 2014.^[47] The first schedule was planned in Pune from 8 November 2014 and parts of the film were said to be shot in some foreign locations.^[48]

The Pune schedule began on a day in advance and was planned to be wrapped up in 10 days.^[49] Shruti Haasan joined the film's sets on 8 November 2014.^[50] The lead pair was mobbed by the local people during the film's shoot at an IT hub in Pune.^[51] Mahesh completed filming for his part in the first schedule on 14 November 2014 and the team completed the schedule two days later.^[52] The next schedule began at Hyderabad in a private studio where a song on Mahesh and Shruti Haasan was planned to be shot.^[53] However the introduction song of Mahesh in the film was shot on him along with a group of dancers at Ramoji Film City nearly from 11 December 2014.^[54]

Later few key scenes on Mahesh, Shruti Haasan, Rajendra Prasad and Ali were shot in Manduva Logili of Ramoji Film City.^[55] Koratala Siva asked Mahesh to go shirtless for a fight sequence in the film which the latter declined.^[56] The next schedule was planned from 28 December 2014.^[57] The makers planned a long schedule in South Africa after completing a schedule in Karaikudi and Tenkasi in Tamil Nadu.^[58] Meanwhile, the third schedule was announced to be shot in Hyderabad.^[59] After filming few key scenes, the shoot of the introduction song continued at Ramoji Film City from 4 January 2015 under the supervision of Raju Sundaram and the set erected for the purpose resembled the one erected for a similar song in Murari (2001).^[60] A traditional song featuring Poorna and Mahesh was shot in a temple set at Ramoji Film City.^[61] By the end of January 2015, the film's shooting was expected to be wrapped up in a month.^[62]

A song on Mahesh and Shruti Haasan was shot in a set erected at Annapurna 7 Acres Studios.^[63] After its completion, the film's team planned a one month long schedule starting from 6 February 2015 at Pollachi to complete major portions of the film.^[64] But that schedule began at Madurai where Shruti Haasan and Vennela Kishore rejoined the film's sets.^[65] The film's shoot then moved to Karaikudi.^[66] An action sequence on Mahesh and others was shot at Pollachi in late February 2015.^[67] Later, a song choreographed by Bosco-Caesar was shot on Mahesh and Shruti Haasan. This also marked the first Telugu film of Bosco-Caesar.^[68] The filming was expected to continue at Palani till 3 March 2015.^[67]

Release

In December 2014, the producers announced a release was planned for May 2015.^[69].But, later the makers announced the worldwide release date as July 17, 2015.^[70]

Distribution

Classic Entertainments acquired the overseas distribution rights of the film in late February 2015,^[1] for an amount of 81 million, which was the highest price that any Telugu film commanded in the overseas market till date.^[71]

References