The sword and the Samaritan
M.L NARASIMHAM
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History and heritage blended for a modern story.
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ACTION FILLED Haranath Policherla and Astha Singhal in `Chandrahas', slated for May release.
With its dense forests, waterfalls and a steep valley, Talakona is an ideal location to shoot adventure films and action sequences. The location is accessible after a 90-minute journey from Tirupati.A couple of weeks ago at the location, director Shiva Shakthi Datta is canning an action sequence on the film's producer and hero Haranath Policherla, heroine Astha Singhal, villain Satyaprakash and a few stuntmen for Chandrahas.
After the cinematographer Ramnath Shetty pans the valley through the camera eye sitting on a huge crane, the director hollers `action,' the villain chased by the hero looks at ways to escape from him. He finds the heroine standing close to the valley and pushes her down. The director shouts `cut.' The camera whirrs to a stop.
All retakes need not be due to the fault of the actors. Even a reflector, if not placed properly can force a retake. The shot was taken again before going for the next sequence where the hero fights the stuntmen who are projected as part of the villain's gang in the movie. Though Shiva Shakthi Datta is better known as father of music director Keeravani, he is a director in his own right. Incidentally, Keeravani has composed the music for the film. Datta came to the industry to produce films but ended up writing stories along with his brother Vijayendra Prasad for such hits as Kodama Simaham, Manchi Donga and Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari. Ardhangi was his first directorial venture.
"Chandrahas is a sword given by Thuljapur Bhavani Mata to Chatrapathi Shivaji to liberate the country from the invaders. Nothing is known about the whereabouts of the sword later. An idea triggered in my mind, what if, if one finds the sword again. In my story, the hero is named Shivaji, the 13th descendant of the great Maratha King. As a child this Shivaji too is fed with tales of valour and about the sword by his mother (played by Sujatha). As he grows up, Shivaji vows to find the sword to eliminate the destructive forces in the country and bring peace. After research and overcoming hurdles, he finds the sword. But his intentions are misunderstood and this leads to tense moments that you have to watch on the big screen," Datta narrates the concept. After a tea break one more block from the action episode is taken by the director. "It is an emotional block," he says. We turn towards the shooting spot to find the heroine precariously hanging in the valley, struggling to gain a grip from a tree branch. The hero rushes to save her. Actor Krishna does a cameo as Chatrapathi Shivaji. Sarath Babu is cast as the hero's father. Puneet Issar, Ravi Prakash, Hari Prasad, Brahamanandam, Venumadhav, Sana, Rajyalakshmi and Ravali are part of the cast. Shot extensively in Chatrapathi Shivaji's Lohgarh Fort, the ancient fort in Murud Zanjeera on the western sea coast, at Chandragiri fort and in Talakona apart from various locations in Hyderabad, the movie is expected to hit the marquee in the last week of May.
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