Kollywood actor-director Samuthirakani’s highly anticipated film, BRO, is all set for a grand release this Friday, with Pawan Kalyan and Sai Dharam Tej as the leads. On this occasion, we met with the director for a brief interview. Here is the transcript:
What is your reaction to directing a star hero like Pawan Kalyan?
I started my journey as a small artist, and Bro is my 15th movie as a director. I am so happy to have directed Pawan Kalyan; honestly, I didn’t plan anything about it. Everything went well once he accepted the film. In the movie, he plays ‘time,’ in Bro, and his scenes with Sai Dharam Tej are funny and enjoyable in theaters.
Tell us about remaking Vinodhaya Sitham in Telugu
As I said before, I didn’t plan anything. The seed for directing Vinodhaya Sitham was planted 16 years ago. My mentor, K Balachander, took me to watch a play, and it was Vinodhaya Sitham. After many years, it came to reality, and I felt like half of my life’s ambition was accomplished. After directing it in Telugu, my purpose had been achieved. I am also planning to remake the movie in Hindi.
How was your working experience with Pawan Kalyan?
He is a wonderful person, and after accepting the film, he immediately joined the sets. We took only 21 days to complete his portions, and he is a sincere person. I really enjoyed working with him.
What changes did Trivikram make to your script?
He wrote the screenplay within 10 minutes after I discussed the story with him. His changes didn’t affect my story and, moreover, added value to the film. He is very kind to me, and I am glad to have worked with him.
How did you handle two actors on the sets?
The biggest boon is that the real-life chemistry between Pawan Kalyan and Sai Dharam Tej helped me greatly and made my work easier. They were always funny on set, and that’s what my film required. Of all the 15 movies I have directed, Bro is my best film as a director.
Tell us about your working experience with Thaman
The first time I saw S Thaman’s work of re-recording for Bro, tears rolled down my eyes. Thaman, too, broke down before me. He said the story is very close to his heart and recalled his father, who passed away when he was 11. Usually, music directors were away from us during the release time. But Thaman assured me he would sit with me and ensure everything aligned.
What are your future projects?
I have a Tamil movie and a pan-Indian movie with Dulquer Salman under the production of Rana Daggubati. The remaining details of these projects will be revealed in the coming days.