Priyadarshan gave Bihari touch to Chennai: Amita Pathak

Aakrosh,a racy thriller on honour killings,is set in Jhanjhargaon in Bihar,but it was shot entirely in and around Karaikudi in Chennai. Director Priyadarshan has captured the beauty of his favourite South spots by cleverly giving touches and making them appear like a town in Bihar. Amita Pathak who plays Roshni,the daughter of a rich and powerful villager in the film,says,“Priyan sir has shot films like Virasat and Malamaal Weekly in Chennai,so he is familiar with the terrain. In fact he knows all the shooting locations like the back of his hand and selected some exotic places to shoot. Ajay Devgn,Akshaye Khanna,Bipasha Basu and I were absolutely mesmerised with Karaikudi’s old-world charm with its heritage houses and romantic havelis and palaces. Though the architecture and construction material were unique to the South,the upholstery and furniture quickly converted it to a North Indian house.”

Her home in the film was the Atangudi Palace,which is spread over some 40,000 square feet and in which the designs,embellishments,colours and architecture were of an era gone by. “We were in Karaikudi for 25 days and shot at the palace for a long time,but I could barely see half the palace. Everyone was intrigued by the key to the main gate,which weighed about three kilos and had to be held by two persons!” laughs Amita.

Even the outdoor scenes,which had Ajay and Akshaye (who play CBI officers) scouting through market places,parks and streets were shot on real locations in and around Karaikudi.

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“It was interesting how Priyan-sir got the local artistes to look like North Indians for the crowd scenes,and also gave the vegetable vendors and hawkers a typical Bihari touch.”

Amita recalls how her father,producer Kumar Mangat,and Ajay had carted equipment and set up a gym in the Bangala Heritage Palace in which they were staying. “Wonder what the erstwhile king would think if he saw Ajay,Akshaye,Bipasha and me working out furiously in his royal abode,” she smiles. Aakrosh releases on October 1.