Nani-Srikanth Odela's The Paradise, is all set to hit the screens on September 24. This is the highest-budget film in Nani’s career and is produced by Cherukuri Sudhakar under his SLV Cinemas banner.
Nani plays Jadal, who sports a long braid, and he said the look is not just for the sake of appearance but is integral to the story. “The look came from the story itself, and it felt very new to me. So far, most of the characters I have played have been relatable and felt like people we know. But this character is not someone who has grown up in a regular society, and you will understand what I mean when you watch the film,” says Nani.
The actor said that while many people have been talking about the violence and action shown in the promotional videos, the film is actually driven by the mother-and-son emotion. “When we released the glimpse, we presented it as a story about a mother talking about her son. Even in the teaser, the main element we focused on was the mother. The film begins with the mother’s emotion and also ends with it, and that emotion will stay with you when you leave the theatre. This film will remain on your mind for 3-4 days after you watch it,” says Nani.
Talking about what The Paradise is all about, Nani said the story is completely fictional. “The story is set in a place called Paradise and revolves around a tribe called the Savaris. It’s completely fictional, but there are so many interesting real-life incidents added. There is no identity for the Savaris, and nobody even cares about their existence. Even if they are killed, no case is registered. They fight for their identity and stand up for their cause,” shares the actor.
Nani adds that it is a rebellion for identity, and the story is set around 1984-85. “The set-up is fictional, and we have to deal with the situation in a more cinematic way. When we watch films like Salaar and KGF, we relate to the worlds shown in them, irrespective of whether those exact places exist or not. This film creates a similar feeling, and you will be able to relate to that world,” says Nani.
Talking about his character, Nani shares it is completely new for him. “There is a certain madness to the character right from the beginning. The audience will look at this character with a shock value, and in fact, a character like this is very new to Telugu cinema. It will also be a very fresh character for me,” says the actor.
Nani says that he didn’t use a body double in the film, despite having some risky action episodes. “Maybe after 15 years, you can see a body double of me in action scenes. I clearly instructed all the assistant directors not to use a body double even for a leg shot. Because when I watch the film, if I come to know that it’s a dupe shot, then I can’t own it. I can’t take the compliment genuinely either, so I don’t want to use a body double for small hand or leg shots,” says the actor.
Nani asserts that The Paradise has been his most challenging film when it comes to action sequences. “It is my most challenging action ever because of the jadals (braids). Because of them, I can’t move my head, as I have to sit straight. During the action episodes, we used ropes, and these jadals got stuck in the ropes many times. Even the action choreographers faced this as a big challenge,” points out Nani.
Senior and versatile actor Mohan Babu is playing an important role in the film. When asked whose choice it was, Nani reveals it was director Srikanth’s call. “When Srikanth narrated the story, he said Mohan Babu garu would be perfect for the role. However, I had my doubts about whether he would actually do it because it is a very negative and brutal character for him. But Srikanth went and narrated the story to Mohan Babu garu, and he was extremely excited after hearing it. Srikanth called me from there and gave the phone to him, and I was shocked to see his reaction. Mohan Babu garu was the first person who believed, after hearing the story, that this would become a very big film,” says Nani, adding that the audience will definitely be shocked when they see Mohan Babu's character.
Nani also praised music director Anirudh Ravichander for his background score. “We have already worked together on Jersey and Gang Leader. With this film, we got an opportunity to use the background score to hold the audience from the beginning to the end. Anirudh has done more than 100 per cent, and Srikanth and Anirudh are a killer combination. Songs like Aaya Sher and Yesu Nagula Katta were possible because of them,” says Nani.
When asked about female lead Kayadu Lohar’s role, he said she would surprise everyone. “She has a very solid character in the story, and especially her emotional story arc in the second half is very important. It is a very surprising role,” says Nani, who is also confident that his September sentiment will work in his favour. “My career actually began in September. Ashta Chamma was released in September, and Bhale Bhale Magadivoy also came out in September. I am hoping that the same hit sentiment will work in favour of The Paradise as well."
Nani reveals that his mother didn’t like him doing violent films. “My mother doesn’t like that I do violent films. She wanted me to do some soft movies,” says the actor.
Sonali Kulkarni plays Nani’s mother in the film, and the actor had high praise for her. “Sonali garu is extremely professional, and she has done an amazing job in the mother’s role. Just like the hero has to go through a lot of hardship in the film, we made the mother’s character go through the same amount of difficulty. She worked in the rain, mud, and various difficult locations without complaining and gave us as much time as required. She was the best choice for this film, and she will receive a lot of appreciation,” he says.
Nani’s comments about the braids became a talking point on social media, with many people reacting to them. Responding to that, he said it was only a joke and that he never intended to offend anyone. "It’s a joke, and nowadays we have to tell people that it’s a joke. I never forced it onto anyone, as I was just joking. Today, anything we talk about gets attention, and some people take it positively while others take it negatively. We can’t do anything, and if I started replying to those people, it would become a never-ending story,” signs off Nani.