‘Tiger Nageswara Rao’ will be  mesmerizing to the audience: Director Vamsee Krishna

The much awaited pan India project ‘Tiger Nageswara Rao’ is a crazy combination of mass maharaja Ravi Teja, director Vamsi Krishna and Abhishek Agarwal Arts Abhishek Agarwal. Presented by Tej Narayan Aggarwal and produced by Mayank Singhania, Nupur Sanon and Gayatri Bharadwaj are the heroines in this film. With gripping teaser, massive trailer and chartbuster songs, Tiger already creates huge buzz nationwide. Director Vamsi Krishna shared the special features of ‘Tiger Nageswara Rao’ at a press conference in the background of the film’s grand release worldwide on October 20.

The reason for choosing the story of ‘Tiger Nageswara Rao’?
Every director needs a biopic. I love the movie ‘Nayakudu’. It is a film that has been close to my heart since childhood. I wanted to make a biopic out of the films I make. Biopics are mostly on sportspersons, leaders and movie stars. But an unknown story can also be told in a biopic. Love to do something a little unique. ‘Tiger Nageswara Rao’ is known here and there. There is an interest in his story. We did research about him for almost two years. After starting research, many things came to light. That character didn’t leave me either. Tiger Nageswara Rao is a thief as far as we know. But no one knows his inner soul. I wanted to show it in the movie. Tiger Nageswara Rao is an emotion. I have never seen more emotion than him. There are two shades in him. A very scary person in a shade. On the other hand, he is a very thoughtful man. Both these aspects are intense in him. The beauty of Tiger Nageswara Rao is the same.

Some stories are circulating about Tiger Nageswara Rao? Did you find it a challenge to incorporate what elements into your story?
Biopics are hard to do. Because half the information is known. It is not so easy to make a known thing interesting. That is why it is a difficult task to make the biopic interesting to the audience. Some information is also known about Tiger Nageswara Rao. It is a challenge to make an emotional connection while watching it on screen.

Many incidents in the light about Tiger Nageswara Rao are true or not? What kind of exercise did you do to find out?
In my research I collected information about Tiger Nageswara Rao in Stuart Puram along with his family members and some police officers. But in the title I said it is based on true rumours. This is because there are stories about him but no evidence. No record. It is said that he used to grow up with the speed of the train and board the running train. It really doesn’t seem possible. But it is said that he used to do it. It is good to hear that they steal a lot, but we don’t know how they did it. There are many incidents like this. But there is no basis for this. There is no document related to him. A biopic is a lot of information. But there is nothing written about him. I also found it very tough. That’s why we called it Based on True Rumors. Almost all the characters are in the real Stuart Puram setting. This is a story set in 1980. In the process of researching about him, there are some amazing incidents. It has all such wonderful scenes. We shot the train sequence on the Godavari Bridge. We have presented the story of that time in a wonderful way to impress the present audience.

What was the reaction when Tiger Nageswara Rao told the story to Ravi Teja?
Ravi Teja first heard the first half. He said that the shooting is on and he will hear the rest tomorrow. If he said that, I thought he would not call again (smiling) but the next day he called at the correct time. I went and told the story. Is it good if he gets up while saying the climax and raises his hair like this? Do you put a lens like this? He said. He already approved the story and moved on. I found it very thrilling. It was a very emotional moment.

According to the budget and star in your career, this is a very big movie, isn’t it? Feeling stressed?
In large scale films, there is not so much pressure after the hero and producer believe so strongly. Ravi Teja took a lot of care. We have taken very good actors in this. Harish and Jeeshu look very new. Everyone believed it as their own subject. When it comes to the budget…we thought earlier that we should not compromise anywhere. Also I hope to complete it on time. Coming from an editing and production background, there is complete control. If we have such control in our hands, there will be no pressure.

About heroine Nupur’s role?
Need a place to sell the stolen gold. Many Marwaris came in that belt. Thus, Tiger Nageswara Rao gets in touch with a Marwari girl. That is Nupur’s character. This is not fiction. Tiger is a real life story. Nupur has done the role very well.

How is the role of Renu Desai?
Everyone knows about Hemalatha Lavanam gari. I thought Renu Desai would be good for such a role. After telling Renu Gari about this role, Renu Gari liked it very much. I also spoke to Hemalatha’s family members for this role. Renu did a wonderful job in that role

Tiger is two hours 52 in length. Is it a bit more compared to movies lately?
There is no problem with the length. After watching the movie, one feels that ten more minutes would have been better. It is believed that even when the rolling title is coming, he will not leave the chair.

What are the challenging sequences in this movie?
Train sequence. Recreating the Godavari Bridge is not an ordinary thing. For this, DVP, Fight Masters.. Art Department.. everyone supported my vision wonderfully. That sequence took 20 days to shoot. Its CG took a year to make. There are many wonderful sequences like the port sequence in Chennai, the prison escape sequence.

Reason for taking Jeevi Prakash?
Jeevee Prakash is the composer behind the script. He can capture the soul of the story. At the same time a composer who knows how to make it commercial. He knows my mind set. That’s why I traveled with him.

About Abhishek’s production?
Abhishek is more like a family member than a producer. To make such a big film, you need to believe. They have that faith in me. They provided what I needed. It was because of their support that it was so grand.

About Avinash Kolla Production Design ?
Avinash Kolla is brilliant. He created Stuart Puram. It is the heart of the soul. Every character and craft in this story speaks.

What kind of films do you want to do in the future?
Large scale stories are to be done. Our country is the birthplace of great stories. There are many good stories to tell if properly researched. I took such stories. Next movies are also on a large scale.

All the best
thanks