On September 27, NTR and Janhvi Kapoor “Devara” will hit theatres worldwide. As the film gears up for release, director Koratala Siva revealed intriguing details about the film. Excerpts from the interview.
Is Devara based on real incident that occurred in Andhra Pradesh?
Media stories might have indicated that the plot is based on real incidents, but the truth is that this is a fictional story. Devara is not based on any incident.
What is Devara’s basic story?
Fearlessness is also not virtue. It’s folly. We all fear without realizing it. Everyone should obey the laws of the land. For example, when a red light appears near traffic, we all come to a halt. Why should you stop? We understand that we must comply with the law. Such fear is absolutely necessary for human survival. This is precisely the point I made in the film ‘Devara’.
When did NTR agree to the story?
My bond with NTR has been unique. I can say anything to him. He never responds diplomatically. He shares his views openly. When I told him the ‘one-line’ story of ‘Devara’, he immediately agreed and wanted to expand it on a larger canvas. We took six months to bring the film ‘Devara’ to the sets. We explored how to build an ocean on a studio floor and capture its effects. That’s why we spent so much time.
Why did you split the plot in two parts after filming for a few months?
The narration in ‘Devara’ is four hours lengthy. On paper, it takes around 6-7 hours. After the second schedule, I realized that three hours would not suffice to tell this story. So we decided to divide it in two parts. This is not for business purposes. While writing the story, I took NTR’s portrayal of both characters into consideration. He portrayed ‘Devara’ and his son Vara.
How was your experience working with Janhvi Kapoor?
Despite being the late actor Sridev’s daughter, Janhvi Kapoor works really hard. She devotes a tremendous deal of time and effort to the role. A week or ten days prior, she would ask for the scene paper and come to the sets to practice. On the first day of shooting, as she finished the first scene, NTR raised his hand and said it was amazing and said we made right choice in casting her. It was a pleasure to see her performance from that point forward.
Why did you choose Saif Ali Khan as the antagonist?
I thought Saif Ali Khan’s look in Bollywood’s “Omkara” would be appropriate for the villain role I wrote for “Devara.” When we approached him, he was uncertain about his suitability for the role of Bhaira. However, after conducting the look test, we concluded that he should feature in the film. He delivered an exceptional performance that was beyond my expectations.
People say the “Acharya” debacle ruined your connection with megastar Chiranjeevi…
I have always had an excellent relationship with Chiranjeevi. Despite Acharya’s failure, he was the first to express confidence that I would succeed this time. We don’t have a strained relationship.
Which actor will star in your next film?
‘Devara’ is my number one priority. I have not yet decided upon my future films.
