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`Vennela' - no hero domination

The down-to-earth Raja struck a chord among the youth with his friendly banter

PHOTO: K.R. DEEPAK

AIMING HIGH Actor Raja .

You are watching a movie at a theatre and suddenly the screening stops and floodlights are flashed on the screen and the young hero makes a dramatic appearance without prior intimation. The excitement of the crowd, especially youth, is seen to be believed.

This was the scene inside Venkateswara Theatre when budding hero Raja walked up the stage in front of the screen on Wednesday. Some of the audience rubbed their eyes in disbelief while others clapped in excitement.

The down-to-earth Raja freely interacted with the audience and sought their comments on the film and the characters in it. A youth blushed when Raja asked him whether he ever fell in love. He, however, replied "I love Aishwarya" and Raja was quick to join him "I, too, love Aishwarya"

Some said that the songs were good and others vouched for the screenplay and direction. Some of the enthusiastic youth appealed to the young director Deva Kaushik to shoot a film in the Steel City, and the latter replied that that was on the cards.

A senior citizen walked up to the dais and showered his blessings on the budding star.

"There are no heroes in `Vennela' but only characters. Every character has an identity in the film and there is no 'hero-elevation', and that brings a lot of freshness to the film," Raja told newsmen earlier.

He was optimistic that the film would run for 100 days. "Except a few characters, all others in the film were newcomers and our wavelengths met and it was fun working for the film," Raja said.

"The theme of the film is based on the real life of my friend," says the writer and director Deva Kaushik. While 75 per cent of the film was shot in the US, the indoor shoot was done in Hyderabad.

"The film has also been released in 13 centres in the US and is drawing good crowds," says producer Ravi Vallabhaneni.

BMG

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