Discussion on Film Costumes and Storytelling

Mannerisms or…

Whatever you call it, that slang or… And another thing, Rashmika…

The costumes are wonderful.

Mm-hm.

So we're all following them too.

Yeah.

There are so many reels.

Correct, correct.

So what kind of homework did you do for that? How detailed is it?

We did a lot. I mean, especially back in that nineteenth

century, in 1878, it was almost—

Mm-hm.

One hundred and fifty years back.

So now, the sarees—

Aren't there.

Nor is the jewellery.

There isn't.

So now, there are many people getting them made using this as a reference.

Correct, yeah.

Mm-hm.

And now, it makes me feel very happy.

I mean, after the song "Endayya Swami" was released, so many little children,

Girls—

Yes, so many.

Everyone like that—

If hundreds of thousands of reels like this come—

Mm-hm.

At least that way, if they embrace that tradition again, it’s a…

The beauty lies in putting it together and seeing it.

So, I'm very happy.

For Rashmika, in one song, we changed thirty sarees in particular.

Those colors—

Even in a single song?

Yes.

Thirty times.

She has around thirty costume changes.

Mm.

Easily. So, those colors, those vintage colors, plus the

fabrics and silks used at the time,

those six-yard saris, all of it was

thoroughly researched and done.

Compared to the roles Vijay has played so far, what's different about this Ranabali character?

What is it, exactly?

You should tell us that.

You must have had some major discoveries when you described this character, some major

discoveries.

So, did you tell him, “You need to prepare yourself like this,”

Vijay?

Did you tell him that?

Yeah, yeah.

Mm.

I explained the character first.

So, if I tell you what Ranabali actually is,

since he has never done such a character before, I mean, b—

Mm.

I mean, a village character, wearing dhotis, riding horses, and all that.

Twirling his mustache like that.

Mm.

That slang is Rayalaseema slang, while Vijay has a very strong Telangana accent.

Yes.

Speaking Rayalaseema slang in such contrast, and saying those kinds of words,

using swear words.

Mm.

All of that was really very new. He took it as a big challenge.

Vijay is a hungry actor.

So, after he got something like this, he did extreme homework.

Mm.

The two of us discovered how to get there. So…

So, he also said in a speech, "For a story like this,

I've been eagerly waiting. Rahul suited my hunger,"

he said. So, when you two were sitting together, while the story was being narrated,

what was the moment that excited him?

Vijay doesn't show much excitement.

Mm.

All that excitement comes only after they say, “Camera… action.”

In the performance.

Mm.

But he was very excited about the overall character.

I mean, more than the character, he was excited about the story.

Because he himself is someone with a great interest in history.

Mm.

So, when this happened, when we had to tell it, it became this country's

story.

Even if it begins in one village, it is a story that belongs to every village.

Famines struck every state, such atrocities happened, about that…

It came about. So Vijay was very excited about this story at first.

Mm.

Then he took on the challenge of that character, and as he did it,

he really

enjoyed playing that character.

So, did you narrate the story to both of them together, or separately?

We told them separately.

Mm, you told them separately.

Yeah, yeah, from the very beginning—

So, for the heroine, for Jeyamma's character, did you think of Rashmika

from the beginning?

From the start, she was the only option.

Mm-hmm.

As Ranabali said earlier, it's a beautiful love story too.

For such a beautiful love story to work, with a character like this, Vijay needed someone

beautiful

who could sync so beautifully with him in that chemistry—

a co-star was needed.

A couple was needed. Their chemistry had to be truly beautiful.

It had to be.

Second,

for a character with such depth, someone who could deliver that performance was needed too.

I find Rashmika's performance very interesting.

Mm-hmm.

And at the same time, a star who could carry such an image, a star who could take the story wide

was also needed. So, considering all this, Rashmika

was the first option

for the character.

Mm-hmm. So, when I see you, you're so silent and reserved.

Yes.

How did you build up so much romance in that song?

Mm-hmm.

And how did you direct it during the execution?

So they're a couple anyway, well and good.

So, so—

When you did that particular song, what was your opinion of the song?

No, not like that. I’ve always really liked love stories.

I like them.

Even Shyam Singha Roy is a beautiful love story.

Yes.

When it came to telling this world, it was a very hard-hitting world,

a hard-hitting story. Whether it was the family, even the world of Ranabali,

the action, all of it.

From the beginning, when I was writing it, I felt that it should also have a beautiful love story.

That’s what I thought.

Mm.

So, that too isn’t like a regular love story.

It’s a love story that begins after marriage, between a wife and husband.

Mm.

Actually, if—

If told in that style, it would feel fresh, especially against a Rayalaseema backdrop.

It’s not a story that begins sweetly and romantically.

It begins with them cursing and fighting, and it’s very beautiful.

A love story that ends somewhere.

Hmm.

So…

Yeah, it worked out like that.