Pawan Kalyan was on milk and vegetable diet to get the divine look in ‘Bro’: Samuthirakani

Bro is releasing in theatres on 28 July amidst expectations. It is the remake of the Tamil film Vinodhaya Sitham (2021) which again was helmed by Samuthirakani.

Bro emerged as a trendsetter for completing the project in a short span. “It is we who decide how many days a project should be wrapped up. Only the content decides,” Samuthirakani said.

This S Thaman musical is being bankrolled by producer TG Vishwa Prasad.

Also Read: 100 years of TR Narasimharaju, the ‘Hasya Chakravarthy’

Backstory behind fantasy drama

Samuthirakani on the sets. (thondankani/ Twitter)

Describing the backstory behind the fantasy drama Vinodhaya Sitham, the director said he once got the opportunity to attend an English stage play along with his master and renowned filmmaker late K Balachander in 2004.

“He felicitated the event and we started watching the drama. I was able to sense the subject and feel the emotions. While returning, when my guru asked me how it was, I replied that it was quite extraordinary but should reach the common man,” Samuthirakani recollected.

“Balachander immediately called up a person and told him that Samuthirakani would come to you and give a story narration, ensuring that rights are reserved. Intermittently, I thought about casting Satyraj sir or Raj Kiran sir for the role. And thus, 17 years have passed. The project finally materialised in 2021 with Vinodhaya Sitham. The same is now coming in Telugu as Bro,” he added.

Related: I was nervous to meet Pawan Kalyan on ‘Bro’ sets: Ketika Sharma

Art has no barrier

Sai Dharam Tej with director Samuthirakani on the sets.(thondankani/ Twitter)

When asked about the controversial rules laid down by the FEFSI (Film Employees Federation of South India), the director-actor said he was not aware of the development.

“Is it so? Since I put myself here in Hyderabad, I lost track of the developments there.”

He hastened to add: “I don’t think it would work in the film industry. If you observe, all Tamil superstars were chiselled by Telugu directors. Kannada directors shaped the careers of some Telugu heroes. So, such rules don’t actually work in reality.”

Pawan Kalyan, a visonary leader

Pawan Kalyan in ‘Bro’. (thondankani/ Twitter)

Samuthirakani said he chanced upon exploring Pawan Kalyan’s personality as a leader besides having known him as an actor.

Describing why he terms Kalyan a national leader, Samuthirakani elaborated, “If I keep discussing the topic, I have so much to tell about him. During our casual interactions after the shoot, he happened to say, ‘God has given two hands to every human being. One to feed your family, the other to the poor’.”

Revealing more about the actor’s politics, Samuthirakani said, “That very thought has made me curious about Kalyan garu’s personality. People are vexed with corrupt practices in government institutions. It starts with bribing a small clerk in a government office and it has no bounds. Everyone is adapted to the system. Kalyan garu has a vision to build a team to work on it. If he starts now, fruits are enjoyed by the next generation.”

Also Read: Will Pawan Kalyan’s political remarks cast a shadow on ‘Bro’?

Deft touch in filmmaking

Director Samuthirakani directorial ‘Bro’. (thondankani/ Twitter)

Samuthirakani said his vast experience made him complete Bro on time. He recalled directing 3,000 episode-daily soap Jhansi, starring yesteryear star Radhika.

“Radhika played the double role in the serial. She would come at 11 AM and leave by 3.30 PM. I used to request her and constantly remind her that she had to play a dual role in the serial. I was quick enough to complete all crucial portions,” the director said.

“The same thing helped me handle comedian Sunil — who was busy with multiple projects — in Shambo Shiva Shambo, a decade ago, and now Pawan Kalyan in Bro,” he explained.

Samuthirakani stated that he never planned anything in all these 15 years as a filmmaker and actor.

“I came to the film industry as an assistant director in 1994. Since then, I took up whatever came my way. Hit or flop, I took everything in my stride,” he signed off.

Related: Scoring music for Pawan Kalyan’s film is a serious business: Thaman