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Eager to see ‘Sarfira’ connect with audiences in theatres: Sudha Kongara

The director says Akshay Kumar's dedication to bringing stories of unsung heroes to the forefront made him the perfect fit for 'Sarfira'.

South First Desk

Published Jul 15, 2024 | 11:24 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 15, 2024 | 11:52 AM

Eager to see 'Sarfira' connect with audiences in theatres: Sudha Kongara

Eager to see 'Sarfira' connect with audiences in theatres: Sudha Kongara. (X)

Directing a film in two languages is both rewarding and challenging, according to Sudha Kongara, who helmed the Tamil hit Soorarai Pottru (2020) and its Hindi adaptation, Sarfira. Starring Akshay Kumar in the lead, Sarfira hit theatres on 12 July alongside Kamal Haasa-Shankar’s Indian 2.

It is the Hindi remake of Soorarai Pottru, headlined by Suriya, which drew inspiration from the life of Air Deccan founder Captain GR Gopinath.

The original film, which debuted on Prime Video in 2020, received five National Film Awards, including Best Feature Film and Best Actor.

Sudha Kongara mentioned that the most challenging aspect of directing a film in multiple languages is preserving the essence of the story. “Directing the same film in two languages is both a delight and a challenge. The delight stems from presenting the story to diverse audiences and observing how varied cultural nuances can enrich the narrative.”

The director also stated that collaborating with different actors on reinterpretations of the film brings new perspectives, personalities, and nuances to the characters, which can be equally enriching and invigorating.

The storyline of Soorarai Pottru and Sarfia centres on a protagonist determined to enable the common man to fly, challenging the world’s most capital-intensive industry with support from family, friends, and sheer determination.

According to the director, both the Tamil and Hindi versions remain faithful to the narrative and essence of the story, with slight variations in execution to appeal to their respective audiences.

Suriya portrayed Nedumaaran Rajangam aka Maara. The character is named Vir Mhatre in the Hindi remake.

Aparna Balamurali played Maara’s wife Sundari aka Bommi in Soorarai Pottru, while the character (Rani Mhatre) is played by Radhika Madan in Sarfira. Paresh Rawal appears in both films.

Also Read: It took me a while to adapt to Sudha Kongara’s way of working, says Akshay Kumar

‘Open to work in any language’

Sudha Kongara said Akshay Kumar’s versatility and his dedication to bringing stories of unsung heroes to the forefront made him the perfect fit for the Hindi adaptation.

“When I approached him with the script, he was immediately drawn to the story and the character of Vir Jagannath Mhatre. He brought in several new ideas and insights to differentiate his portrayal in Sarfira from the original, tailoring it more closely to the Hindi audience, which enhanced the film.”

However, the broad appeal of the story motivated Sudha Kongara to create the film in Hindi. “The protagonist’s journey isn’t confined to one region but embodies a tale of resilience and aspiration that can inspire people nationwide, crossing all demographics. The language of cinema breaks down barriers.”

As a filmmaker, Sudha Kongara is open to working in any language. “If I have the opportunity to work in Odia or Kannada cinema, I would love to create films in those languages as well. In Hindi cinema, I aspire to collaborate with Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Shefali Shah, Tabu, Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, and reunite with Paresh Rawal, whose mastery I greatly admire.”

With Sarfira, Sudha Kongara’s long-awaited desire for a theatrical release came true. Soorarai Pottru couldn’t be released in cinemas due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There’s a special magic and shared experience that comes with watching a film in a theatre. The large screen enhances engagement and emotional resonance uniquely. I’m eager to see Sarfira connect with audiences in theatres,” she concluded.

Sarfira is backed by Aruna Bhatia, 2D Entertainment, and Vikram Malhotra. It features a script penned by Sudha and Shalini Ushadevi, with dialogues crafted by Pooja Tolani, and music composed by GV Prakash Kumar.

(With PTI inputs)

(Edited by Y Krishna Jyothi)

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