IT IS NOT EASY TO BE CHIRANJEEVI'S SON, AND RAM CHARAN TEJA IS FEELING JITTERY TOO OVER CHIRUTHA'S RELEASE

It is one of the biggest debuts in the Telugu film industry in recent times. When other star sons like Nagarjuna, Venkatesh, Balakrishna and even Mahesh Babu made their debut, they were greeted with a mix of objective optimism. And the fanfare was definitely muted when compared with the debut of Chiranjeevi's son Ram Charan Teja.

Ram Charan is all set to hit the screen tomorrow. And he has already become something of a legend. For the simple reason that he is the son of Chiranjeevi, the megastar who trailed a blaze for three decades. And still continues to command a huge following.

And it is not an easy task for anyone to make a debut with such huge expectations riding on him. And naturally Ram Charan Teja is feeling jittery too.

Talking to NDTV on the eve of the release of his film, Ram Charan admits he is tense about Friday when his debut film, Chirutha releases in 650 theatres worldwide.

Says the 22-year-old actor, "I would want to see how Chiranjeevi's son is performing. What does he have to give us? Is he going to reach his fans' expectations? Does he have anything in him apart from being Chiranjeevi's son?," says Ram Charan.

Charan is himself a huge fan of Chiranjeevi, the star, and he does not want his father to look for different kind of roles, just because his son is donning the greasepaint as well.

"I want to still see him in the funny massy roles, where he gets to dance with two or more beautiful heroines in one movie, and I want him to stay like that," said Ram Charan.

Chiranjeevi's family is truly the first family of Telugu cinema, as his father-in-law Allu Ramalingaiah was a veteran character actor and both brother Pawan Kalyan and nephew Allu Arjun are established actors.

But this son-rise will be the star's biggest test off-screen.

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NAGARJUNA WANTS A SUPERHERO SUBJECT AHOY!

Nagarjuna is willing to give a chance to anyone who can give him a blockbuster. But, he should be able to deliver a blockbuster. Nothing less. Of late, he has been harping on the "mass entertainment" factor too much in his interviews. "I want to do a film like Shiva, which has a wider appeal," he had gone on to say in a recent interview. And it is not easy to understand why.

The younger actors like Mahesh Babu, Junior NTR, Allu Arjun, and the likes have stolen the thunder from under the feet of the Big Four -- Chiranjeevi, Venkatesh, Balakrishna and Nagarjuna -- leaving them tottering on the brink of extinction. And what they need is a massive hit to stabilise their position. While Balakrishna and Venkatesh are managing to hang on there with their cleverly crafted subjects, Chiranjeevi and Nagarjuna have been struggling to maintain their image.

Especially for Nagarjuna, who is unable to bracket himself in any category unlike the other Three, it has been a Herculean task to withstand the competition. Which is why he is singing the "mass entertainment" mantra. Don't think he has any love lost for you, on the contrary, he wants to count his money. And the bigger the packet, the grander their words. So, don't be surprised if you see Nagarjuna twisting and tearaing the hands and limbs of villians in his next film a la a super hero. Remember, he is only trying to be in the reckoning.

FINALLY THE D-DAY ARRIVES FOR SHANKARDADA TO GIVE US GANDHI GYAN

The long wait is finally over. The director has tied out all the loose ends, the producers have cashed in on all the territories and the actors have played their part to the fullest. And Shankardada Zindabad is set to roll out on Friday. That is in just a couple of hours from now. And it is just a matter of time before it hits the screens near you. Given a solid storyline and emotionally rich elements, including the Gandhi factor, there is no reason why it shouldn't pull at the heart strings of the audiences.

Chiranjeevi, who was mighty upset at the way Shankardada MBBS has fared, has taken all possible measures to ensure that the second part would break all box-office records. So, right from casting the director, to choosing the producers, to taking an active interest in the overall production of the film, he has done it all.

He even roped in Venkatesh and Pawan Kalyan for the audio release function, and had Mamata Mohandas dance to the tunes of Devi Sri Prasad. And managed to create a hype around the film.

10 reasons why Shankardada Zindabad will be a milestone in Telugu cinema

1. Four actors -- Pawan Kalyan, Ravi Teja, Allu Rajun and Srikanth will shake a leg in one song in the film.

2. Dileep Prabhavalkar, who gave a mesmerising performance in the film, is out to prove his mettle again.

3. Chiranjeevi has given his best so far for the film. And so has Srikanth.

4. Karishma Kotak is an added attraction for the film, for the simple reason she is raw and relatively untapped potential. So, there is curiosity among the audiences of how she will look and act of course, opposite the megastar.

5. There is the Gandhigiri element in the film, which has some good gyan to offer to the people. If you have watched Lage Raho Munnabhai, you will understand how beautifully the Gandhigiri element has been interwoven into the film.

6. Then there is the voluptuous Yana Gupta to get you grooving in an item number. And I must tell you, she is rocking, man.

7. Seven old actors, including Kanta Rao, will bring in the old element of nostalgia in their Second Innings house.

8. Prabhu Deva has the magic of painting images on film. So, his direction is eagerly being looked forward to.

9. Then there are the Paruchuri Brothers, who was famous for their dialogues, and in this film, we hear, they have put in extra effort to deliver the punch lines in a better fashion.

10. And lastly, the music is rocking. And you can expect some dhoom-dhaam dance sequences to rouse the masses out of their emotional inertia.

So, go for this one and have fun. All the best

RAJA FINDS HIS NICHE IN TOLLYWOOD, BUT WILL HE BE ABLE TO MAKE IT BIG?

The chocolate-faced boy of Tollywood, Raja, has come a long way from itsy-bitsy teeny weeny roles. Though he is still to establish himself as an actor to reckon with in the Telugu film industry, luck and pluck has enabled him to create an identity of his own.

Raja burst on to the scene with Appudu Appudu, one of the biggest hits of 2001. But, all was not hunky dory. "After a dream debut, it felt as though lady luck had deserted me. To make matters worse, I was considered as unlucky after the failure of all the films I had acted in. It was a traumatic phase," says Raja, talking to Hyderabad Times.

But, Sekhar Kamula's Anand bought back joy in the life of Raja, who had been doing odd roles till then. "Anand changed everything. Fans still address me as Anand," he says. And predictably, there was no looking back. He was able to carve a niche in Tollywood with films like Aa Naluguru,and Kokila.

Right now, he has graduated from family dramas to action films. "My latest film, Toss, is an action flick in which I play one of the leads. Until now, I have acted only in family-oriented movies, but I want to shed that image to appeal to a larger audience. I have worked hard to put in the extra muscle required to look the part," says the actor.

What does he think of the GenNext actors? "The new generation of actors be it junior NTR, Allu Arjun or whoever it is are in the transition phase. They are more aware of what is happening in the world cinema than any other generation, and that will be reflected in their work."

There have been rumours of his alleged escapades with his Toss co-star Priyamani. What does he have to say about it? He shrugs off the rumours but says wedding bells might ring any moment. "All I can say is I have found the love of my life, and she is not from the film industry."

HANSIKA MOTWANI DOES A BRAVE ACT, SAVES A SLUM FROM GETTING BURNT DOWN

Hansika Motwani, who wowed Telugu audiences with her debut opposite Allu Arjun in the Puri Jagannadh film, Desamuduru, has a social conscience. And she is proud of it. Recently, while she was at home saying her prayers on the terrace, she noticed flames coming from hut nearby. Immediately, the actor started screaming on the top of her voice to alert the hutdwellers. Although initially they started wondering what was wrong with the lady, they soon realised the gravity of the situation and sprung into action to put off the flames. Not content with just alerting the poor, she even took up the phone and dialled the fire brigade, who rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

Incidentally, Hansika made her debut in Hindi too with the Himesh Reshammiya starrer Aap Ka Surroor and even got more mileage than the sex kitten Mallika Sherawat. We hear that people are raving about her performance in the film, and the girl too is quite happy for having chosen Aap Ka surroor as her launch vehicle. Let's hope more Bollywood offers come her way.

Meanwhile, in Tollywood, she is chosen as the leading lady opposite junior NTR in a film to be produced by the Student No 1 producer Ashwini Dutt, and directed by a novice.

THE AUDIO IS OUT AND IS REPORTEDLY QUITE A RAGE WITH THE FANS, WILL THE FILM BE THE SAME TOO?

The audio of Shankardada Zindabad, the sequel to Shankardada MBBS, was launched with great fanfare at a function held at Shilpa Kala Vedika on Wednesday. Fanfare, because some of the prominent actors and directors of the Telugu film industry graced the occasion. They include actors not just from the Chiranjeevi clan like Pawan Kalyan and Allu Arjun, but Venkatesh too made his presence felt.

Of course, the entire cast of the film -- Srikanth, who plays the role of ATM, Karishma Kotak, the heroine, Mamata Mohandas, Devi Sri Prasad, who complosed the music for the film, Prabhu Deva, the director.

Also present were the Tollywood filmmakers K Raghavendra Rao, Trivikram Srinivas, S J Surya, V N Aditya, M L Kumar Chowdary, Aswini Dutt, M S Raju, Paruchuri Venkateswara Rao, Dil Raju, Gemini Kiran, Ravi Shankara Prasad, Manohar Prasad, T Trivikrama Rao, Addala Chanti.

The whole auditorium reverberated with the cries of Shankardada Zindabad when the audio was released.

WHO SAID WHAT:

The most precious thing for me in the world is the affection and enthusiasm showered by my fans. Devi Sri Prasad, who scored amazing music for Shankardada MBBS. did even better for Shankardada Zindabad. All songs in this film are superb. Sometimes, I feel jealous of the manifold talents of Devi Sri Prasad.

-- Chiranjeevi

I always wanted to do at least a small role in Chiranjeevi’s film. I am acting like a representative of all the fans. My dialogue in the film represents the heartbeat of all the fans. It took me 18 years to fulfill my dream of becoming hero.

-- Pawan Kalyan

Shankardada MBBS was a big hit. I hope that Shankardada Zindabad will become a bigger hit.

-- Venkatesh












THERE IS NEVER A DULL MOMENT AT OUR HOME, STEP IN

WHAT ARE THE TOLLYWOOD STARS DOING TO EMULATE RAJNIKANTH AS THE IRREPLACEABLE ICON?

Rajnikanth has been making waves the world over with his latest film Sivaji: The Boss. What are the Tollywood stars -- Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Venkatesh, Nagarjuna, Pavan Kalyan, Prabhas, Allu Arjun, Siddharth, Sivaji, et al -- doing to become icons in the mould of Rajnikanth?

Scroll down to know what they are busy with















TRYING TO WAKE UP TO COMPETITION

RAM CHARAN TEJA'S PLANNING COMMISSION GETS UNDERWAY: S S RAJAMOULI ROPED IN TO DO TEJA'S SECOND FILM JUST IN CASE...

The spotlight is on him. His every move has been making news. And he hasn't uttered a word ever since he announced his desire to put on the grease paint. He is the heir of a great tradition set by his father Chiranjeevi. Following the footsteps of the megastar, Pavan Kalyan and Allu Arjun have created a niche for themselves in the Telugu film industry. But it is just the tip of the iceberg. The real mantle falls on him now -- Ram Charan Teja. All eyes are on him. Will he blaze a trail like his father? That only time will tell which is not far away.

In the meanwhile, all the top directors are vying with one another to work with him. Or conversely, Chiranjeevi is making the right moves to ensure that his son's future is paved with gold. And he has rightly put Teja's future in Puri Jagannath's hands with Chirutha as the launch vehicle. And this is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because Puri is presently riding the crest of success unknown in the history of Telugu cinema with the stupenduous success of Pokiri, followed by Desamuduru. And all he has to do is ensure that it is a decent film and the market will take care of the rest. On the other hand, since Puri's popularity is hovering in the stratosphere, and the expectations from Teja, too, hovering at the same place, even a minor hiccup in the film is going to bring their soaring popularities crashing down like a house of cards. And it will prove to be a disaster for the careers of both Teja and Puri.

Chiranjeevi seems to have correctly read the situation. And so he has okayed Teja's second film with the currently-in-demand director S S Rajamouli. Now, Rajamouli is known for giving his heroes a larger-than-life image, especially NTR and Prabhas, who have become the current favourites of Telugu cinema partly because of him.

Therefore, realising that Rajamouli can feel the pulse of the masses, Chiranjeevi has decided to make Teja's second film under the Geeta Arts baner with hium. And, what more, the cutie pie of Bollywood, who has become the darling of Bollywood after the stupendous success of Vivah, and who is currently doing Adithi with Mahesh Babu, Amrita Rao, has been selected as the heroine.

Amrita Rao too seems to have been taken given the craze she has already achieved thanks to her casting in Atidhi.

Ram Charan Teja currently is in Bangkok busy with the shooting of Chirutha. But going by the way his every move is being meticulously planned by his father, it looks another super director may be roped in to make it a complete threesome of films, before his first film is released. Will it be a perfect 3, Mr Chiranjeevi?

DON'T BE FOOLED BY YOUR SUPERSTAR'S HOLIER-THAN-THOU ATTITUDE: IT IS JUST AN OUTWARD APPEARANCE

A Tollywood superstar, testifying in a minor breach of contract case, was asked to identify himself.
"I am the world's greatest actor," he told the court with a simple dignity.
One of his friends chided him the next day. "Don't you think that boost you gave yourself was a little too thick?"
"Usually I avoid any kind of self praise," said the film idol, "but remember, this time they had me under oath."

Sounds like a rib-tickling scene from a latest Telugu film. For, you would ask, which of the present day actors behave that way in real life. The point is: Who doesn't behave that way today? Every hero worth his name, from Chiranjeevi down to Sivaji, have their bloated egos plastered all over their body. It is only when they are in the company of crowds that they appear to be simple and sombre. But, in reality, they are a species the defies definition: they are crass, crude and clumsy to the point of hatred. You just need to spend a couple of days with a hero to know the kind of insecurity he suffers from. To get rid of which, he projects a larger-than-life to his fans, friends and the flunkeys who surround him. And the moral of the story is: like him, love his acting, but don't get fooled by his holier-than-thou attitude. Because he has none.

Bhaskar's next film is with Allu Arjun

All eyes are on director Bhaskar's next move. And wouldn't they be when he has delivered a huge hit called Bommarillu that rattled the superstars? Bhaskar proved, with Bommarillu, what a new director is capable of doing if only he has the right producer backing him. And now that he has delivered a hit, it is no secret that every hero worth his salt has started singing paeans of him and his film. However, he has finally decided to do his next film with Allu Arjun or should we say Dil Raju? Whoever it may, it makes no difference. Because the film will be produced by Dil Raju and Allu Arjun is playing the lead. So, should we hope for another blockbuster from Bhaskar?

Bhukailas give low brow cinema a boost

There is good news for comedians aspiring to become heroes. Bhukailas is a pretty good film made on a not-so-lean budget. And it has all the ingredients that you would look forward into a big heroes films, like Nagarjuna, Junior NTR, Mahesh Babu, Chiranjeevi, Venkatesh, Allu Arjun, Siddharth, Prabhas and the like: sentimental drama, item song, and dollops of laughter. Of course, not all the laughter is aesthetic. But, in the recent past, when was comedy clean anyway? The film is made on the premise that there is an audience which is low brow and for whom no films are being made. In Tollywood parlance, it is called B and C centres' crowd. To put it simply, it is the multiplex culture in the reverse. And with the increasing wealth quotient even among the lower classes, they are looking forward to films they can identify with. And so this spoof on the rise and rise of real estate in the state addresses their concerns. Venu Madhav plays his role to the hilt as the guy who has it all and who loses it all, only to find fulfilment in his roots. Watch it if you don't have anything better to do.

Will Srikanth manage to hang on?

Srikanth is desperately trying to keep his on-the-verge-of-drowning career afloat in the wake of the onslaught of younger heroes who have been sweeping the Telugu film industry like a tsunami sending tremors in the hearts of the ageing-and-refuse-to-leave-the-industry superstars. From NTR to Prabhas, from Mahesh Babu to Allu Arvind and even Ram and Siddharth have been flying high creating a niche for themselves. The reasons are many. But the most important is their freshness. And, of course, their ability to strike a chord with the younger directors. Coming to Srikanth, he has been clutching on to the straws, literally, and has been desperately trying to make himself noticed with his trademark comedy films with his trademark directors. But the land under his feet is fast slipping away. So he thought he would do something different before he fades away from the industry. Of course, it is just a euphimism for his unemployment. And for that, he has even shaven his head and is now sporting a barely-grown-hair-on-his-head look for his new film 'Operation Duryodhana'. Incidently, the film is directed by Posani Krishna Murali, and looking from the likes of it, it appears as if the theme is written keeping Srihari in mind. We will come to that later. The film has some really hard-hitting political dialogues questioning the system and its deviation from the Constitution, in typical Posani style. But will Srikanth be able to deliver? That is the million dollar question.