Untitled Srinu Vaitla project

Production poster
Directed by	Srinu Vaitla
Produced by	D. V. V. Danayya
Written by	Srinu Vaitla Kona Venkat Gopimohan
Starring	Ram Charan Rakul Preet Singh Kriti Kharbanda
Music by	S. Thaman
Cinematography	Manoj Paramahamsa
Edited by	Gautham Raju
Production company	DVV Entertainments
Release dates	Scheduled for 15 October 2015
Country	India
Language	Telugu

Srinu Vaitla is directing an untitled Telugu film starring Ram Charan and Rakul Preet Singh in the lead roles which is produced by D. V. V. Danayya under the banner DVV Entertainments. Kona Venkat and Gopimohan co wrote the film's script and dialogues while Vaitla himself penned the screenplay. S. Thaman composes the film's soundtrack. Manoj Paramahamsa too charge of the film's cinematography.

Production commenced on 5 March 2015 at Hyderabad and Principal photography began on 16 March 2015. The film is scheduled for a worldwide release on 15 October 2015.

Production

Development

Srinu Vaitla narrated a storyline to Ram Charan in late March 2014 and post the latter's approval, Vaitla planned to start work on the film's script after completing Aagadu (2014).^[1] D. V. V. Danayya, who produced Ram Charan's Naayak (2013), announced in late July 2014 that he would produce this film under the banner Universal Media and the pre-production works would begin soon. The production was expected to start in November 2014.^[2] The film was shelved post the release of Aagadu and was revived in late October 2014.^[3] After returning from a holiday in Kerala, Charan gave his nod in early December 2014 and Vaitla was busy giving final touches to the script which was said to be a fast paced action comedy.^[4]

Charan informed the media that the film's production would commence in February 2015.^[5] My Name is Raju, a phrase picked up from the popular song of Jagadeka Veerudu Atiloka Sundari (1990) starring Chiranjeevi and Sridevi, was considered as the film's title.^[6][7] The makers announced that the film would be a family drama and would be bankrolled by Danayya under his new banner DVV Entertainments.^[8] The film was launched officially on 5 March 2015 at Danayya's office in Hyderabad.^[9] The film was said to be inspired from the basic plot of the Telugu film Vijetha (1985).^[10]

Casting

Srinu Vaitla decided to re-shoot the scenes of Brahmanandam (left) with N. Santhanam (right) in the Tamil dubbed version after Chiranjeevi suggested him to replace the former with the latter.

Post the release of 1: Nenokkadine (2014) and before the release of Lingaa (2014), its female leads Kriti Sanon and Sonakshi Sinha were rumored to sign this film as the female leads.^[11][12][13] Shruti Haasan was approached in late July 2014 to play the female lead.^[14] Her inclusion was almost confirmed, considering her previous collaboration with Charan in Yevadu (2014).^[15] Both Danayya and Ram Charan reportedly insisted Vaitla to cast Prakash Raj in a crucial role with whom Vaitla had differences in the past.^[16] A source from the film's unit told IANS on 1 January 2015 that Samantha Ruth Prabhu was finalised as one of the female leads and the second female lead was yet to be decided.^[17]

Samantha Ruth Prabhu (left) was initially considered for one of the female lead roles, but Rakul Preet Singh (right) ended up being engaged for the same.

Vaitla was reported to abstain from casting Brahmanandam in this film making it his fourth film not featuring Brahmanandam after Nee Kosam (1999), Sontham (2002) and Anandamanandamaye (2004).^[18] Gopimohan later confirmed Brahmanandam's inclusion in the film adding that the character written for him would be one of the highlights of the film.^[19] Vaitla reportedly wanted to re-shoot Brahmanandam's scenes with N. Santhanam for the Tamil dubbed version similar to the act of S. S. Rajamouli for the casting of Eega (2012) as Chiranjeevi suggested to replace Brahmanandam with Santhanam.^[20]

Samantha was replaced by Rakul Preet Singh at the same time. While the lack of dates to accommodate was cited as one reason,^[21] budgetary reasons were cited as the other reason.^[22] Vaitla considered Ramya Krishnan, Tulasi and Jeevitha from Telugu cinema and also searched for yesteryear heroines in Tamil and Kannada cinema for the role of Charan's mother which was very crucial for the film's story.^[23] Kriti Kharbanda made a comeback to Telugu cinema with this film after the makers narrated her character sketch and the film's story.<ref name=Kriti K">A. S., Sashidhar (26 February 2015). "Kriti to play Ram Charan’s sister". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015. </ref> The second female lead was yet to be finalised.^[24]

Characters and appearance

While Ram Charan (left) plays the role of an action choreographer, Kriti Kharbandha (right) would play his sister, a courageous girl-next-door.

Charan hired Priyanka Chopra's trainer Samir Jaura in mid July 2014 to get into shape for this film by following an intensive training program designed by Jaura lasting for four-five months along with a strict diet. Jaura reached Hyderabad and accompanied Charan to the film sets where he worked out before or after the shoot of Govindudu Andarivadele (2014).^[25][26] Vaitla said in an interview that he wanted to put Charan's comic skills to the fore with this film, adding that the film would have a "good blend of humour and punch dialogues".^[27]

He was later confirmed to be seen as an action choreographer sporting a rugged look for which he had to shed weight by following a tough fitness regimen for four hours a day at his farmhouse in Bangalore.^[28] For further training, he left to Bangkok in mid April 2015 where he trained with Jaika stunt team.^[29] Action choreographer Kecha Khamphakdee supervised his training which consisted mainly of mixed martial arts.^[30] Videos showing Charan's kick boxing training sessions were released by Jaika Stunt team on 23 April 2015.^[31]

Kriti Kharbanda was signed in on to play Charan's sister in the film.<ref name=Kriti K"/> Danayya said that her character would be an important one in the film.^[24] She said in an interview that she would play a courageous girl-next-door and added that she was asked by Vaitla to be herself and extremely talkative.^[32] Vaitla envisioned a middle aged woman running a manufacturing firm as Charan's mother in the film.^[23]

Crew

Anirudh Ravichander was signed as the film's music director marking his debut in Telugu cinema. But he was later replaced by S. Thaman.

Vaitla was rumored to collaborate with the writer duo Kona Venkat-Gopimohan for this film with whom he had differences in the past.^[33] Kona Venkat-Gopimohan were working on the film's script in United States in late November 2014.^[34] S. Thaman and Sameer Reddy were reported to be the music director and cinematographer of the film respectively.^[35] Kona Venkat confirmed that he would be working with Vaitla again for this film after Charan convinced him to put aside their personal differences adding that he discussed the script with Vaitla and got an approval from Charan.^[36]

Gopimohan confirmed the same adding that this film's script would have no traces of their past works.^[19] Anirudh Ravichander was signed in on to compose the film's music marking his debut in Telugu cinema and also making this film the third Charan's film to have music composed by a Tamil music composer.^{[lower-alpha 1][37]} He met Charan at his house in Hyderabad in early February 2015 and Danayya, Vaitla and others were also present during the meeting. He accepted to be a part of the film after liking the film's script.^[38]

Manoj Paramahamsa was signed in on as the film's director of photography.^[39] The makers announced that Kona Venkat would pen the dialogues and co-write the film's script along with Gopimohan while Vaitla himself would pen the film's screenplay.^[40] Anirudh walked out of the project in late March 2015 and was subsequently replaced by S. Thaman who collaborated with Vaitla for Dookudu (2011), Baadshah (2013) and Aagadu (2014).^[41] Thaman confirmed the same through his twitter page later.^[42]

Filming

Principal photography began on 16 March 2015 at Hyderabad and the film's principal cast participated in the shoot.^[43] In late April 2015, Rakul Preet Singh's manager told media that she has allotted 15 days per month for the upcoming three months for this film's shoot.^[44] Charan was reported to join the film's sets on 27 April 2015 after returning from Bangkok.^[45]

Release

Danayya planned to release the film on 15 October 2015, a week ahead of Dusherra,^[46] clashing with Mahesh Babu‍ '​s Brahmotsavam^[47] and Nandamuri Balakrishna‍‍ '​‍s Dictator, his 99th film as an actor.^[48]

Marketing

Two posters featuring Ram Charan were released on 27 March 2015 on the eve of his birthday. The posters featured no title.^[49]

Notes

References