Vijay Binny clarified that though the film is a remake, he kept the Telugu sensibilities in mind and adapted the story accordingly.
'Naa Saami Ranga' marks Vijay Binni's directorial debut. (Supplied)
Akkineni Nagarjuna is set to entertain the Telugu audience this Sankranthi with the wholesome family entertainer Naa Saami Ranga. Directed by renowned choreographer Vijay Binni, the film has amped an air of excitement among film lovers with its trailer and other promotional content.
Produced by Srinivasa Chitturi under the banner of Srinivasa Silver Screen, the Telugu movie is competing with two other films — Teja Sajja’s Hanu-Man and Mahesh Babu’s Guntur Kaaram.
It is scheduled for a grand worldwide release on 14 January.
Ahead of the film’s release, choreographer-turned-director Vijay Binni spoke to the media on Sunday, 7 January.
When asked about the ongoing discussions on social media that young actor Raj Tarun is playing the friend of Nagarjuna in Naa Saami Ranga, as presumed by fans after watching the trailer, the filmmaker dismissed it as a rumour.
However, he clarified that though the film is a remake, he kept the Telugu sensibilities in mind and adapted the story accordingly.
Nagarjuna with Allari Naresh and Raj Tarun. (X)
“The story unfolds in the 1980s and 1990s. Friendship is at the core, providing a refreshing take. Naa Saami Ranga revolves around individual characters and their situations. Raj Tarun is not playing Nagarjuna’s friend in the movie as assumed by his fans,” the director explained.
Vijay Binni revealed that he initially discussed doing a film with Nagarjuna. But the actor shared the story of Naa Saami Ranga with Binny and asked him to helm the project.
“I adapted the story in my style and infused a few emotional moments into it. Vintage Nagarjuna makes an appearance, and I believe I’ve presented him differently than before,” he added.
So, was it challenging for him to helm a star actor like Nagarjuna in his directorial debut? “Well, I had the privilege of collaborating with Nagarjuna garu before. Working with him on Naa Saami Ranga was a familiar experience,” Vijay Binni quipped.
He elucidated, “This film stands out as one of the quickest productions in Nagarjuna garu‘s career. He placed his trust in me for the remake because he believed in my storytelling abilities. I effectively communicated my vision for the film to him.”
The director says Naa Saami Ranga is filled with emotional peaks, and the audience would witness the vintage look of Nagarjuna. “Making a movie with him for my directorial debut was a great opportunity.”
Choreographer-turned-director Vijay Binni. (vijaybinni/Instagram)
But when did this “filmmaker bug” bite him? Vijay Binni pursued choreography for a few years and not until recently did he realise that his heart was in film direction.
“My initial goal upon entering the industry was to become a director. However, watching the movie Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana (2005), I was impressed by all the crafts involved in the process of filmmaking. It was then I thought that having a foundation in choreography would be beneficial for me,” the director recalled.
Since choreography and direction are both different, how did he handle both? The filmmaker replied: “Well, I didn’t feel pressured to handle both choreography and direction. I’ve had a keen interest in directing from the beginning.”
He explained, “Choreography also involves storytelling through songs, and I’ve worked on montages in the past. The opportunity to direct Naa Saami Ranga came to me at the right time, and everything worked out smoothly without hassles.”
About Allari Naresh and Raj Tarun’s characters, Vijay Binni said, “The movie revolves around friendship, and in this context, Allari Naresh is portrayed as someone who is a great admirer of Nagarjuna’s character. I felt it would add depth to include both Allari Naresh and another young actor in the story.”
He added, “Naresh’s performance is impressive, and we brought in Raj Tarun as the additional young character. Naa Saami Ranga is a story that intertwines the narrative of these three characters, exploring the unique situations they find themselves in.”
Naa Saami Ranga marks composer MM Keeravani’s first significant project following his Oscar Award victory. The three singles from the film showcasing his musical prowess have struck a chord with music lovers.
“The remaining songs and background score are expected to be equally engaging. Given the film’s setting in the 90s era, the songs carry a nostalgic and retro vibe. The visual appeal of these songs depicts the 90s perfectly,” Vijay Binni signed off.
Team #NaaSaamiRanga Wrapped up the entire shoot with great energy ❤️
Celebrate this Sankranthi like never before with #NaaSaamiRangaOnJAN14 🌾💥#NSRForSankranthi
KING👑 @iamnagarjuna @allarinaresh @mmkeeravaani @vijaybinni4u @itsRajTarun… pic.twitter.com/L3lulBczjg
— Srinivasaa Silver Screen (@SS_Screens) January 6, 2024
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