Exclusive: ‘Music School’ is a story that cuts across all genres, says director Papa Rao Biyyala

Actor Shriya Saran with director Papa Rao Biyyala on the sets of ‘Music School’. (Supplied)

In 1998, Papa Rao Biyyala directed a short film titled Willing to Sacrifice which fetched him a National Award and two International Awards.

“Nevertheless, making a feature film has always been at the back of my mind for the past 20 years. One fine day, I felt it was high time that I took a call on wielding the megaphone,” he quipped.

After taking voluntary retirement, Papa Rao became an advisor to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for the first term.

“I did a three-month course in filmmaking at the New York Film Academy in 1996 before making Willing to Sacrifice. After quitting the job, I started writing scripts and Music School is one of the five scripts I wrote.”

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Musical film

Music School is a musical film that deals with the academic pressure mounted on students and the stress that drives them to suicide.

Ilaiyaraaja with director Papa Rao Biyyala, (Supplied)

“These days, films are loaded with violence and a lot of sound. But I thought I should tell a story in a nice, musical way. Music School is about children who are under immense pressure to perform in their studies. They don’t have time for extra-curricular activities like art, culture, and sports but for tuition,” the filmmaker wondered.

Sadly, highly educated people are encouraging their children to choose a variety of subjects. But the lower class has no scope for drama and music, Papa Rao pointed out.

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Music School has 12 songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja that will play at critical moments and would be the milestones,” the filmmaker explained.

Prakash Raj in a still from ‘Music School’. (Supplied)

While Papa Rao Biyyala wrote the screenplay himself, the lyrics of nine songs have been written by Rahman (Telugu), Dr Sagar and Raman Raghuvanshi (Hindi), and Pa Vijay (Tamil).

Rahman earlier worked for the Telugu film Kadali (Ocean, 2013).

Meanwhile, three songs from the Oscar-winning movie The Sound of Music (English, 1959) have also been included in the project.

While The Sound of Music is a Broadway play, the makers of Music School acquired rights for the songs from Fox Studios. Ilaiyaraaja supervised the orchestration at the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Happy to present the trailer of #MusicSchool that celebrates the importance of following your dreams.

All the best to the entire team! 😊👍🏻#MusicSchoolMovie releasing in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil in theatres on May 12th!https://t.co/ixKTiEih3i@yaminifilms @ilaiyaraaja…

— Vijay Deverakonda (@TheDeverakonda) April 25, 2023

Cast and shooting

In Music School, Sharman Joshi plays a drama teacher and Shriya Saran appears as a music and dance teacher from Goa. They struggle to put up a play.

Actors Sharman Joshi and Shriya Sharan with the cast of ‘Music School’. (Supplied)

Prakash Raj plays the police commissioner.

The entire story is structured in such a way that it doesn’t have Telugu alone.

“We have auditioned around 500 children for six months. A majority of the kids are from Hyderabad and a few are from the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh state. They have done an extraordinary job. Their performance was on par with the lead pair, which is the USP of Music School,” Papa Rao Biyyala exclaimed.

The film has been shot during Covid. The makers took required permits from schools and the parents of the kids who are part of the project.

#MusicSchool fourth single
“ IIT TO MIT” My son will go…
will join your playlists from May 3rd 💫#Musicschoolmovie releasing in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil in theatres on May 12.

An Ilaiyaraaja’s Musical Magic 🎶@shriya1109 @TheSharmanJoshi@MonaAmbegaonkar@chinni_prakash… pic.twitter.com/nGJF7km6KR

— Sri Venkateswara Creations (@SVC_official) May 2, 2023

Confident of success

Music School has extensively been picturised in Hyderabad and Goa. It is two hours long.

It has been shot simultaneously in Hindi and Telugu and dubbed into Tamil.

Papa Rao Biyyala roped in Kiran Deohans as the cinematographer. Deohans started his career with Qayamat Se Qayamant (Hindi, 1988) and became popular for his work in Jodha Akbar (Hindi, 2008), Aks (Hindi, 2001), Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (Hindi, 2001).

Papa Rao Biyyala and Sharman Joshi on the sets of ‘Music School’. (Supplied)

But, given the poor theatre collections, would audiences watch a non-star film?

Papa Rao oozes confidence saying, “I’m sure that the film will do well at the box office. Today’s audiences know what they want. Moreover, Music School is a story that cuts across all genres and parents can take an idea out of it without getting hurt.”

He felt that children should have free time. “They need all-round development. I am not against studies but they should be provided with at least an hour for pursuing art and culture,” the director concluded.

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The Hindi and Tamil versions are distributed by PVR Pictures and the Telugu version by Dil Raju’s Sri Venkateswara Creations banner. Papa Rao Biyyala is bankrolling it under his banner Yamini Films.

Adam Murray, Chinni Prakash, and Raju Sundaram are the choreographers.