S S Rajamouli is one man who is the most talked about in the entire nation because of his magnum opus Baahubali 2. The film is up for a release this Friday and we caught up with the master craftsman for a detailed interview. Let’s interview.
How tensed do you get before the release date?
I get very excited during the shooting phase and need extra days to shoot my film. But as the film is gearing up for a release, I get very tensed and am going through a lot of mixed emotions right now. I am very eager to know the reaction from the audience as to what they think about my hard work that I have done for this film.
What do you think has made everyone connect to this film all over?
I feel that the way the characters have been written by my dad has stuck with everyone. I feel that even after you go home, all the characters stay with you throughout and create an impact when you see them on screen.
What has kept you going all these five years?
I credit three things that have kept me going all through these years. Firstly, it is the producers who believed in the project and risked their lives for me. Secondly, it is my family who worked for my dream and gave up everything to see me achieve my dream. And finally, it was Prabhas who constantly made me realize that I had it in me to take Indian films to another level.
How huge is the pressure of Kattappa killing Baahubali factor?
We planned everything clearly and felt that a small suspense factor like this would be a good ending for the first part. But we never knew that it would only become the talking point all over. I feel that I have done justice to this factor and it will not be that important once the film releases as the drama in the project is even bigger.
So, how difficult was shooting the part two?
This time around, our producers took an upper hand and planned things very carefully. All the CG work related parts were shot months in advance so that the visual effects guys had enough time to work on the graphics part. Things were clearly planned at each step and that is the reason we are coming on the said date.
How do you rate Baahubali among all your films to date?
Undoubtedly, Baahubali has been one of my most satisfying films to date. Even though it took five years for me to make it, I have learned a lot and love making such films which bring the best out of me.
How different is the second part going to be?
The grandeur in the film will be even bigger and there will also be a lot of humor. Some characters will surprise you with their flashbacks and majorly the drama between these characters will be quite riveting.
Where do you get such courage to make out of the box films like these?
I feel that as a creator one should be completely convinced with the work that you have created. You need to have the command on the subject and believe in it completely. The moment you have doubts on your work, things will become quite tough for you.
How do you feel when the likes of Narendra Modi speaks about your film?
I feel extremely proud that a man like him has cited the example of my film. My happiness is on top of the world and I feel very happy that our Telugu cinema has made it to the top among all Indian films.
What kind of collections are you expecting for your film?
I am yet clueless about the figures but the pre-release sales and trade reveal that the collections will surely be the biggest for an Indian film. Personally, I want this film to run as my producers have put their heart and soul and have risked their lives to achieve my dream.
