One of the most talked about Pan India projects of the contemporary times is Tiger Nageswara Rao, a biopic on a Thief who lived like a Robinhood in a particular settlement arena named Stuartpuram. Set in the 70s the flick has caught up well with the viewers. To know more about it, we present you the excerpts from an exclusive one to one with its maker, Vamsee Krishna…
Q- What initiated you to make this biopic on a Thief?
A – From time immemorial we have come across biopics most of which were broad-based on the lives and times of Celebrities! I wanted to make a film on that peculiar called Nageswara Rao who was a Thief and who was deemed a Celebrity! His modus operandi used to be so professional that he could comfortably and conveniently escape from the clutches of the Law, ever so many times!
I wanted to break away from the routine and hence I decided to make this biopic.
Q.- How long did it take to conceive and craft this biopic…
A. – About 5 years to incorporate all the details, get a story board done and fine tune the intricacies of the life and times of that celebrated thief of the real life onto the reel life!
Q.- Ravi Teja is a swashbuckling star with a lean towards humour. How did you decide to cast him in this character…
A. – After I decided to do this biopic, the actor who surfaced in my mind was Ravi Teja and I had a hunch that he will be able to pull off the character quote effectively in an effortless manner. He too agreed as it was a total change for him, image-wise!
Q. – How did you get him to get into the skin of the character?
A. – When we discussed on the character and how we would go about it, I shared some ideas as to what is expected of the character and he understood the requirements well. That done, he went about his role with dedication and conviction.
Q. – What were the preparatory steps that you adhered to, while finalizing the screenplay..
A. – In the 70s, there was a place named Stuartpuram which was inhabited by thieves and their families. I did a lot of research while drafting the script and continued fine tuning it as and when required.
Q. – Your take on the character …
A. – Tiger is not a prefix but a title awarded to him on the merit of his shrewdness and smartness. He could slip away from the police net ever so many times and managed to evade from being caught though he was caught once by the Tamilnadu Police and was imprisoned at Chennai’ s Central Jail from where he managed to escape!
Q. – About your Chennai connection?
A.- I am a Chennai boy as I was born and brought up here! I can speak Tamil very fluently. I have apprenticed under Gautham Vasudev Menon. I have great regards for his style of filmmaking! I adore heroes as Vijay Sir, Ajith Sir, Dhanush Sir etc.
Q. – Like your mentor, Gautham Vasudev Menon, would you too take up acting?
A.- Ah ah ah…Yes, time should tell…
Q. – Will you be interested in directing a Tamil film…
A.-Talks are on and announcements will follow…
With these words, the enterprising filmmaker bids a good bye!
