Latest news with #NagAshwin
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari' gears up for theatres, in 3D, joining the trend of Telugu film re-releases
On May 9, 2025, production house Vyjayanthi Movies is re-releasing the Chiranjeevi-Sridevi Telugu socio-fantasy drama Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari in 2D and 3D formats in more than 150 screens, to mark its 35th anniversary. 'We have been working on restoring the film for the last few years. My father (producer C Ashwini Dutt) thought it would be apt to re-release it on the anniversary,' says Swapna Dutt, co-producer of Kalki 2898 AD and several noteworthy contemporary Telugu films. When the film was released on May 9, 1990, a severe cyclone battered undivided Andhra Pradesh. The film drew the audiences gradually and became a blockbuster. It was a game changer for Ashwini Dutt and the production house. The fantasy drama directed by K Raghavendra Rao, with its story by Yandamoori Veerandranath and screenplay by Jandhyala, featured Chiranjeevi as a guardian of four children and Sridevi as the daughter of Lord Indra; she is in quest of her lost ring, without which she cannot return to Indralok. Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari is the latest film to join the re-release bandwagon. The trend of re-releasing older hits gathered momentum post pandemic, hoping to woo back the audiences to the idea of collective theatrical viewing with a dash of nostalgia. Once more, on the large screen Mahesh Babu's Pokiri directed by Puri Jagannadh, SS Rajamouli's Simhadri featuring NTR Jr, Pawan Kalyan's Kushi, the Ravi Teja starrer Venky are a few examples. Several films followed, including director Sukumar and Allu Arjun's Arya 2, Gowtam Tinnanuri's sports drama Jersey led by Nani, Nag Ashwin's Yevade Subramanyam starring Nani and Vijay Deverakonda, Tharun Bhascker's Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi and Sekhar Kammula's Happy Days. For the film teams, it was a chance to regroup and relive memories of making these hits. For the audiences, it was an opportunity to revisit old favourites and even introduce these films to the next generation on a large screen. When Nagarjuna and Sonali Bendre's 2002 hit Manmadhudu re-released, the cheer in the halls was palpable as Brahmanandam's famous line 'they paid no?' was said in unison. Making these re-releases possible are technical teams that diligently restore and digitise old films. More often than not, old negatives are lost or damaged. Cases in point being Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari and Singeetam Srinivasa Rao's Aditya 369, the time travel film led by Balakrishna. Since 2018, Swapna and her sister Priyanka Dutt were on the hunt to find a good print of Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari. Priyanka's husband, director Nag Ashwin, set a daily reminder on her phone, so that she would relentlessly pursue the search. The production house contacted several theatres in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to see if anyone had an old print of reasonable quality. Some theatres stored prints of old blockbusters as keepsakes. In 2021, a print was sourced from Appa Rao of Vijayawada. Film restoration Prasad Laboratories began to work on restoring the film. The reels that had been run on projectors for prolonged periods were weathered with the use of grease and oil. The cleaning process involved removing dust and grease from each frame, followed by scanning for digitisation. The restored film was first digitised in 8K and the images were then converted to 4K format for theatrical projection. Prime Focus oversaw the 3D conversion. 'This was challenging since the film was not shot for 3D,' says Swapna. Ticket bookings for the re-release have been enthusiastic. Those who grew up in the '80s and '90s are likely to turn up in theatres for a slice of nostalgia. Swapna hopes the younger generation will also warm up to the film. 'I am looking forward to introducing the film to my five-year-old daughter. Old films may be available on television or digital platforms for home viewing, but the collective viewing experience is unmatchable.' Vyjayanthi Movies earlier re-released the Chiranjeevi and Sonali Bendre starrer Indra to much fan appeal. Director Singeetam Srinivasa Rao's 1991 film Aditya 369 featured Balakrishna in dual roles, including Vijayanagara emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya. Producer Sivalenka Krishna Prasad says about its restoration, 'It was an iconic film for our production house, Sridevi Movies, and for Telugu cinema. All the effort that went into digitising the film in 4K with 5.1 sound mix was worth it when we saw the enthusiasm in theatres. We sourced a print (positive) from Vijayawada and worked on the restoration.' The restored version of Aditya 369 was screened in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, USA, Australia and UK. Krishna Prasad saw it as an opportunity to showcase the film, presented by SP Balasubrahmanyam with dialogues by Jandhyala, to a newer generation. 'I doubt if young people will watch these older films at home,' he says, adding, 'When I lived in Chennai for a few years, I noticed how there was a culture of older films being screened in a few theatres. That helped people rediscover iconic films. Since we do not have that in the Telugu States, this trend of re-releases can serve to plug the gap.' Next up is Rajamouli and NTR Jr's Yama Donga, expected to arrive on May 18. And, the trend is unlikely to fade any time soon. On X, producer Shobu Yarlagadda hinted at the possibility of re-releasing the Baahubali films to mark a decade of Baahubali - The Beginning!
Hans India
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Prabhas pens heartfelt birthday note to Nag Ashwin, teases ‘Kalki 2' magic
Pan-India star Prabhas took to social media to extend warm birthday wishes to filmmaker Nag Ashwin, lauding his creative brilliance and teasing what's in store with the highly-anticipated sequel, Kalki 2. Sharing a snapshot of Ashwin seated inside the now-iconic futuristic vehicle 'Bujji' from Kalki 2898 AD, Prabhas praised the director's visionary mind. He wrote, 'Wishing a very happy birthday to this amazing human, Nagi... Your vision and commitment always inspire me. Sending lots of love... Can't wait to see the Kalki 2 magic.... Super excited!!' The admiration between the actor and director is mutual, with the duo having collaborated on the ambitious sci-fi epic Kalki 2898 AD, released earlier this year. The film, set thousands of years after the Kurukshetra War, blended mythology and science fiction in a dystopian world ruled by the all-powerful Supreme Yaskin, portrayed by Kamal Haasan. With the sequel, Kalki 2, the saga is expected to delve deeper into the mythos, expanding the narrative around Yaskin, Bhairava (Prabhas), and Ashwatthama (Amitabh Bachchan). Reports suggest that Bachchan's character will have a more prominent role in the follow-up, continuing the mission to protect SUM-80, who is destined to give birth to the final avatar of Lord Vishnu. Nag Ashwin, with just three films under his belt—Yevade Subramanyam, Mahanati, and now Kalki 2898 AD—has already earned a reputation as one of the most innovative storytellers of Indian cinema. As Kalki 2 gears up for production, fans eagerly await what Ashwin has in store next.
NDTV
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Prabhas Shares His Excitement For Kalki 2 And How Nag Ashwin Inspires Him
Mumbai: Prabhas took to social media to write a heartfelt birthday wish for Nag Ashwin, revealing how the filmmaker's creativity and vision continue to inspire him. In his post, the Baahubali actor shared his admiration for Nag Ashwin and also expressed his excitement for the upcoming film Kalki 2, hinting at the magic that audiences can expect from this much-anticipated sequel. Taking to his Instagram stories, Prabhas shared a picture of Nag sitting in the futuristic supercar 'Bujji' from the film, applauding the director's visionary approach and unwavering dedication. For the caption, the actor wrote, 'Wishing a very happy birthday to this amazing human, Nagi... Your vision and commitment always inspire me. Sending lots of love... Can't wait to see the Kalki 2 magic.... Super excited!!' Instagram/Prabhas Prabhas and Nag Ashwin have joined forces for the 2024 mega-hit, Kalki 2898 AD —a grand sci-fi epic set nearly 6,000 years after the Kurukshetra War, in a dystopian future. The story unfolds in the final known city, Kasi, under the iron-fisted rule of Supreme Yaskin, played by Kamal Haasan. Yaskin controls the population from a massive floating megastructure known as the Complex. The sequel will delve further into the character of Supreme Yaskin, the formidable antagonist who gains even greater power. Prabhas's character, Bhairava, along with Amitabh Bachchan's immortal warrior, Ashwatthama, will continue their mission to protect SUM-80, the woman destined to carry the Kalki avatar, the tenth and final avatar of Lord Vishnu. Reports suggest that Amitabh Bachchan's screen presence will be significantly expanded in this instalment. Remarkably, with just three films to his credit, Ashwin has already made a significant name for himself in the industry. His debut, Yevade Subramanyam, offered a glimpse into his philosophical depth. This was followed by Mahanati, a heartfelt homage to the legendary Savitri garu, which garnered critical praise, numerous accolades, and box-office success. However, it's with Kalki 2898 AD that Ashwin has truly captured global attention, cementing his place as a visionary director.
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Prabhas wishes Nag Ashwin a happy birthday and says he can't wait for the 'Kalki 2' magic
Prabhas and Nag Ashwin collaborated for the 2024 mega-hit ' Kalki 2898 AD .' As Nag Ashwin celebrates his 39th birthday, Prabhas took to Instagram to share warm wishes and excitement for the upcoming sequel. Prabhas posted a picture of Nag Ashwin seated on the futuristic supercar 'Bujji' from the film, praising the director's vision and dedication. He expressed his admiration for Nag Ashwin's commitment and conveyed his eagerness to witness the magic of Kalki 2 . He captioned, "Wishing a very happy birthday to this amazing human, Nagi... Your vision and commitment always inspire me. Sending lots of love... Can't wait to see the Kalki 2 magic.... Super excited!!" by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo 'Kalki 2898 AD' is a grand sci-fi epic set in a dystopian future nearly 6,000 years after the Kurukshetra War. The story is set in the last known city, Kasi, ruled by the tyrannical Supreme Yaskin, portrayed by Kamal Haasan, who controls the population from a colossal floating megastructure called the Complex. Amitabh Bachchan plays the role of Ashwathama, and Prabhas is seen as Bhairava , a bounty hunter with a mysterious connection to the ancient warrior Karna. Deepika portrays the role of Sumathi, also known as SUM-80, who seems to be carrying the prophesied Kalki, the tenth and final avatar of Lord Vishnu. The movie is left on a cliffhanger for the sequel. Speaking of its sequel, 'Kalki 2898 AD: Part 2' is rumored to begin in late 2025. The sequel will dig deeper into the story of Supreme Yaskin, the antagonist who gains new strength. Prabhas's character Bhairava and Amitabh Bachchan's immortal warrior Ashwatthama are expected to continue their quest to protect SUM-80, the woman carrying the prophesied Kalki avatar. Amitabh Bachchan's screen time is reportedly increased in this installment. Prabhas also has multiple projects in his pipeline, which include 'The Raja Saab,' 'Fauji,' 'Salaar 2,' and 'Spirit.
