Fourteen years ago, Bheema Theeradalli hit the screens with Duniya Vijay Kumar in the lead and directed by Om Prakash Rao. Produced by Anaji Nagaraj under Veera Films, the film went on to become a commercial success. Now, over a decade later, the team is gearing up to re-release the film.
Director Om Prakash Rao recalls the journey fondly. “I have worked on many films with Anaji Nagaraj. Among them, Bheema Theeradalli made a lot of noise and enjoyed a successful run. There are many stories behind that film. Actor Lokanath, who could barely walk then, climbed the fort set and performed his scenes. Producer Anaji Nagaraj went through several struggles during the making. Eventually, the film emerged successful,” he says.
He adds that the film, which was preserved on negative, has now been trimmed slightly and converted into a digital format for re-release. The makers are planning a large-scale release not only in Kannada but also in Telugu and Tamil through dubbed versions. “I myself have watched the film over six times on YouTube. Back then, we worked extensively on the dialogues and the making,” the director notes.
Speaking about the re-release, producer Anaji Nagaraj says, “Our updated version of Bheema Theeradalli is releasing on March 6. It is a film I made with great passion. We have now edited it and are presenting it in a new format. There is a vast difference between film and digital. The quality of film cannot be completely replicated in digital. Ours was among the last films shot on negative. Even after 14 years, it feels like it was made today.”
He further reveals that Bheema Theeradalli was originally made on a budget of Rs 5 to 6 crore. “But when you watch it now, it appears like a Rs 50 to 60 crore film,” he says.
The film will release in Kannada and Telugu on March 6, with the Telugu version titled Kadapa and expected to screen in over 150 theatres. Plans are also underway for releases in other languages. Duniya Vijay is expected to be present during the re-release promotions.