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“When Rajamouli asked me for a story set in the times of kings and field battles, I narrated him few bits first. One of them was the story of Kattappa, who tells about the greatest sword master he has ever seen to a visiting Persian sword maker,” revealed Baahubali, Bajrangi Bhaijaan and RRR writer Vijayendra Prasad during an interview with YouTube channel Film Tree recently. “Then came this random bit of a woman who saves her child in an increasing water flow in a river by lifting him up in her hands, sacrificing her life, which became the concluding scene of Shivagami’s character,” added Prasad.
Vijayendra Prasad has been working in the Telugu film industry as a writer since the mid 80’s. Even though he delivered hits like Janaki Ramudu (1988), Bangaru Kutumbam (1994), Samarasimha Reddy (1999), it is his work with his son, director SS Rajamouli that grabbed maximum eyeballs. “It is because of Rajamouli that my work has gained recognition. Without him, nobody would have picked up my stories,” said Prasad during the interview.
“As the work on Baahubali script progressed, Rajamouli came to me one day and asked, “Father, do you know why we are doing this movie? I asked him why. He then said that through this film with kings, palaces, queens, wicked opponents, horses and battles etc., I am trying to check my own readiness for handling Mahabharata at a later stage. Rajamouli said this is going to be the litmus test for that ultimate goal,” revealed Prasad.
“Having Amarendra Baahubali’s story as a flashback was suggested by Keeravaani,” another secret tumbles out from Prasad. “The entire credit for Kilikili language used by Kalakeya goes to Tamil writer Madan Kirky,” says the screenwriter in another revelation. “It was Madan who designed all the words, the syntax and grammar for that unique language. He might still have that rule book with him.”
“Mohanlal was also considered for Kattappa’s role. Before Ramya Krishna was chosen, Rajamouli tried to rope in Sridevi, though I was opposed to casting her for Shivagami. Before Rana, few other names came up including Jayasudha’s son. But Rana did a wonderful job in that role. I was not so sure about Tamannaah, but she impressed me with the transformation she presented in that character,” Prasad told Film Tree.
He concluded, “It is not my achievement, or Prabhas’ or Rajamouli’s that needs to be appreciated with regard to Baahubali’s stupendous success, it is the daring and conviction of producers Shobhu and Prasad. If Indian cinema has turned a new chapter with Baahubali, it is only because of them.”
Vijayendra Prasad is currently working on an untitled film being helmed by SS Rajamouli and starring Mahesh Babu in the lead role. The movie is rumored to be an adventurous film in the mode of Indiana Jones series, having Wilbur Smith’s novels as inspiration. Prasad is also writing Bajrangi Bhaijaan 2, Aparajitha Ayodhya and Vikramarkudu 2.
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