Rudhramadevi (film)
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
2015
India Today, August 28, 2015
Amarnath K. Menon
The making of a Deccan queen
As a 13-year-old in Class VIII at a government school in Narsipatnam, a tiny town in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh, Karri Gunasekhar, 51, was fascinated reading about the exploits of a thirteenth century Deccan warrior-queen. For 40-odd years, Rudramadevi, the seventh and penultimate in the line of rulers of the Kakatiya dynasty, successfully countered the machinations of the Cholas and Yadavas who tried to annex the empire spread over what is today's Telugu-speaking states. Her father, Ganapathideva, the greatest of the Kakatiya kings with the longest tenure of 64 years, initiated the elder of his two daughters into the nuances of administration early in life as he had no son. She lived up to his faith, even earning a male nickname, Rudradeva, in the process. Rudramadevi ultimately bequeathed the throne to her grandson Prataparudra II, who was felled by the invading Muslim rulers of Delhi in 1323 AD. This school-time tale of empowerment stirred Gunasekhar so much that after directing 11 Telugu films, including the National Award-winning children's mythological Bala Ramayanam in 1996, he is presenting Rudhramadevi, come September, also doubling up as producer for the first time. "Her life story impressed me as a child-and continues to even today-as a classic case of empowerment. Irony is, we are still talking about providing 33 per cent reservation to women in governance 800 years later," says Gunasekhar on why he decided to make it a feature instead of a docudrama. Yet, there were no takers when he began research to develop the dramatised story in 2003. A woman-centric film, more so of the historical genre, with a planned Rs 25-crore budget, did not interest producers. Prospects turned more bleak after Nippu, a film he directed, bombed at the box office in 2012. Gunasekhar did not give up, taking nearly a decade to develop the story by 2013. "There were gaps which we have bridged with dramatic build-ups to make it a riveting experience," he explains about the evolution of what is now his Gunaa Teamworks project. After the story was put together he chose Anushka Shetty to channelise the ruler's furious spirit. For visual grandeur, he turned to designer Neeta Lulla, known for her work in period movies such as Jodhaa Akbar (2008). "Scanty information about attire in the Kakatiya days was a challenge. We worked on concepts, keeping in mind what is known about their arts and aesthetics, to make Rudhramadevi look somewhat masculine in feminine attire," says Lulla. For the grandiose sets, Gunasekhar roped in art director Thota Tharani. "I did not know about the Kakatiyas earlier. Gleaning from history we worked painstakingly to sketch some 200 visuals," says Tharani. Chennai's Nathella Anjaneyulu Chetty designed period jewellery, costing Rs 5 crore, exclusively for the film. In the quest for perfection, Gunasekhar asked 'Master'-as he calls music maestro Ilayaraja-for the background score. And did what he ordered: travel to London to get the 125-piece London Philharmonic Orchestra to record what Gunasekhar calls "an enthralling enrichment". As a meticulous director, he made sure to include all possible elements despite the rising cost and time overruns-Rs 75 crore and two years. "It could have taken even longer and been costlier but for the massive detailing made possible by research and development. We made many trips to the Kakatiya ruins and the 1,000-pillar temple in Warangal to learn about their architecture. We also made a trip to the National Museum in Delhi to see what is believed to be the crown of Prataparudra II to model one for Rudramadevi. We relied on inscriptions too for authenticity," says the producer-director. The film is India's first historical 3D stereoscopic film, which means viewers will have an enhanced viewing experience of greater depth in the three-dimensional visuals. For this, despite being adept at using computer graphics, Gunasekhar did a crash course in 3D filming in London and another with cinematographer Ajayan Vincent in Munich. He also brought in two stereographers-one from London and the other from Los Angeles-to work on the film. Skills and technique apart, Gunasekhar believes what actor Prakash Raj, who plays the role of Shiva Devaiah, the minister and adviser to the queen, said often during shooting: it is ultimately the life and experiences of Rudramadevi on screen that will bring recognition for the film. "The story value is high because she wows with her grit," he says.
