Another khaki thriller
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Srihari stars in yet another police saga.
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Selection of locations is a cumbersome but creative part of filmmaking. If you have to select 40 locations within the city to shoot for as many days then the task becomes even more difficult. The hard taskmaster that he is, producer K. Mahendra with his dedicated unit could accomplish this rather difficult task with aplomb for his ambitious venture, a police saga, Okkade directed by Chandra Mahesh. Lead actor Srihari is back into the fold that gave him a big hit, Police. Newcomer Santhoshi plays the female lead.
As you enter the the Hussain Sagar guesthouse, near the Police Academy, you are greeted by the producer K. Mahendra with a broad smile. He has converted the guesthouse into the Superintendent of Police's office. His son and executive producer "Jeethu" Chandrasekhar approaches him for a consultation. You move towards the shooting area.
No songs and rhetoric
Cinematographer Adusumilli Vijay Kumar and his unit are positioned to click the camera once the artistes are ready for the take. Director Chandra Mahesh briefs Jeeva, who is dressed as a police officer, stands at the entrance. Srihari also clad in uniform with L. B. Sriram who plays a head constable faces him. Jeeva claims that he is the "official" Superintendent of Police for the zone and tells Srihari "better leave the place." But the hero does not budge and says he is appointed by the Home Minister (played by Nagababu). A cunning smile crosses Jeeva's face. The director wanted the smile to last a little longer so that it registers. The take is redone. Jeeva retorts that he has the blessings of the very same Home Minister and asks Srihari to leave the place. A war of words ensues between them. Surprisingly there is no rhetoric or loud dialogued from the hero like in his previous films.
The other policemen lead by L.B.Sriram protest and come in support of the hero. The director okays the shot. And it is time for lunch break. "It is a pre climax scene," informs Mahendra as the mess unit arranges tables for lunch to be served.
Power politics
A political drama is interwoven into the theme. Jayaprakash Reddy is cast as the Revenue Minister and Mukesh Rishi plays Rayudu, his sibling and a de facto ruler of the district. Sridhar, a DCP in the city is posted as an S.P to this district thanks to the power play of the politicians. The climax throws insight into his transfer. "We took utmost care to see that the film is designed to suit the young audiences too. You find a new style be it in action or dialogue delivery from the hero. It is savvy sans loud rhetoric. The action sequences (by `Horseman' Babu) are created in a new style," explains Mahendra. In an action flick the role of a conventional heroine is minimal. Santhoshi plays the tradition bound wife of Srihari; brought up in a village. She has five or six scenes where she makes her presence felt. And the songs? " Like our earlier ventures, Police and Deva we planned the film without songs. But keeping with the times and trend, we may go in for a peppy item number," smiles Mahendra. So Vandemataram Srinivas is not restricted just to compose background score.Mahendra had made 16 films under A.A. Arts banner. He has now revived his 1990's lucky banner Geetha Art Pictures. "As you said, the lucky banner may augur fortunes for me and my director as both of us needed a good break," laughs Mahendra. He then turns serious and adds, "I have full faith in this project and confident of its success. No cliché words these are. With all my experience, I can easily judge how the product is shaping up." The film will be released in middle of July.
M.L. NARASIMHAM
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Entertainment
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
