'Mr. Bachchan', starring Ravi Teja in the lead, will head to theatres on August 15. In this interview, director Harish Shankar talks about the highlights of the movie.
"The August 14th evening premiers are much awaited. I and my team have worked non-stop to ensure the release in time. The songs, the fights, and other elements in the movie will be worthy of being watched on repeat," Harish Shankar says.
The lead pair in 'Raid' (the Hindi-language original of 'Mr. Bachchan') are a married couple. In my film, they are in love. It's my belief that the audience would like to watch lovers more than a married couple.
Ravi Teja is not just an action hero. People want to see him doing romance, comedy, etc. 'Mr. Bachchan' is a wholesome entertainer. Ravi Teja feels that 'Mr. Bachchan' is worthy of being remade in Hindi. This compliment about a remake is superlative.
It is true that audiences' tastes have undergone a change. Ravi Teja is someone who has always offered diversity. He did 'Naa Autograph' at a time when he was doing contrasting films. He did 'Shambo Shiva Shambo' in which he didn't have a heroine. 'Neninthe' was another unconventional film wherein he played a vulnerable AD. He did a biopic like 'Tiger Nageswara Rao'. All these films were not regular movies and they didn't do well. The audience expect Ravi Teja to do films like 'Dhamaka'. What must he do then? He must do entertainers like 'Mr. Bachchan'.
Without producer TG Vishwa Prasad garu, the release wouldn't have been this early. His immense support helped me finish the film at a breakneck speed. I am fortunate to have found such a producer and a hero like Ravi Teja.
Mickey J Meyer composed music in a limited time frame. He gave me four tunes within a week's time. This is the fastest a composer can give in our times. The songs in my movies have never failed. There is a dedicated jukebox from my movies on Aditya Music. Mickey is the most under-rated music director. Direction is a craft that you can be trained in. Music is an art that you have to acquire by birth. My day never ends without listening to a song. Music has the quality of a healing therapy.
My father is a huge Amitabh Bachchan fan. It's because of him that my interest in cinema took root. It's because of him that my interest in literature grew. The influence of both Telugu and Hindi movies has been huge on me. At home, we didn't even have a TV set at home till my mid-teens. EVV Satyanarayana garu's movies are among my favourites. I used to enjoy the double meaning lines in them. I am equally excited by profound lines as well as lyrics that are erotic in nature. I am a fan of Veturi. Whenever I feel low, I listen to lyrics. When I am happy, I enjoy the tunes.
The reference to workless 'Pakodis' in the trailer of 'Mr. Bachchan' doesn't necessarily refer to the media. A lot of folks waste their time gossiping and chit-chatting.
The story of 'Mr. Bachchan' takes place in the old times when people used to listen to music on tape-recorders. Cassette centres used to publicly record music. Each cassette used to cost Rs 50. Those who couldn't afford it used to opt for recording. There is a level of excitement in setting a love story in the times when smartphones/mobile phones were not in prevalence. Communication used to come with a trace of tension back then.
I entered the industry to make films based on the novels authored by the likes of Yandamoori and Chalam. 'Shock', my debut movie, gave me only consolation prizes. It didn't give me the first prize. Had that film succeeded, I would have stuck to certain aesthetics and treatment. It was a film bereft of punchlines and excessive camera angles. The shock that resulted from its failure haunted me for years.
'DJ' and 'Subrahmanyam For Sale' were originals. 'Special 26' was a superb film I was so intent on remaking. Someone else did it before I could. Since then, I have never lost time in commissioning remakes.
Although I am a huge fan of literature and lyrics, I have no plans to write songs. In an interview many years ago, Chiranjeevi said that he won't choreograph songs just because he is a great dancer.
Whether I deliver a hit or a flop, my public behaviour doesn't change. My way of dealing with trolls on social media will not be altered.
