Thread by @rajuvijai

3 years for #Nani and #ShraddhaSrinath-starrer Jersey. Good time to know how the story took shape on paper, what went behind the making of the much-revered railway station scene and much more. #3yearsofJersey
A thread 1/41
@NameisNani
@gowtam19
@ShraddhaSrinath

1)In general, society glorifies success stories through news articles, books, movies or through other forms but there are others who are equally good but situations force them to take a different step.

Their percentage in the society is higher than those of successful people.

2)Filmmaker Gowtam Tinnanuri believed that the stories of the former will be more relatable, triggering him to conceive the idea of a late bloomer who wants to make a comeback to the game which was his first love.

3)He chose sport as the backdrop because physical capabilities and age tend to be barriers for a sportsman after a certain point of time unlike other lines of work.

The only sport Gowtam knew back then very well was cricket.

4)He wrote a number of drafts— in one Arjun (played by Nani) goes on to represent the national team while in one coach Murthy (Sathyaraj) is the father of Sarah (Shraddha).

He later shifted attention to another script.

5)Just before his maiden film Malli Raava was green-lit, Gowtam revisited Jersey script again, incorporating the father-son layer. #3yearsforJersey

6)Jersey was initially set in modern times but with franchise cricket helping many talents realize their potential besides offering big bucks, he decided to set the story in ‘90s and let the son (Harish Kalyan) tell it.

It was the 14th and final draft.

7)In fact, after Malli Raava (MR), Gowtam wanted to do a courtroom drama as his sophomore venture.

He shared the script with his co-director Vinay who liked it but said it’s not the best bet after MR.

8)Gowtam’s hopes were dashed. But he likes people who are honest and believes in moving forward with the right feedback.

He later narrated Jersey to Vinay— who got all super animated.

9)He started narrating to his team from MR, getting a wave of positive feedback.

His friend Girish too gave it a thumbs up.

As he was narrating it to a few people from the industry, he got a call from Sithara Vamsi aka Suryadevara Naga Vamsi.

10)The producer was at the spot of NTR-starrer Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava at Durgam Cheruvu, Hyderabad when Gowtam met him for the first time, giving him a 15-20 mins narration.

The producer loved it; he too played cricket.

11)He wanted to know who Gowtam had in his mind for the lead role, to which the director replied, ‘Nani’.

He spoke to Nani’s manager before informing Gowtam that he will notify when to narrate to the actor in 4 days.

12)The call doesn’t come after 4 days. Soon, 4 days turn to 14. Gowtam was waiting, waiting when Nani’s manager rang him and fixed an appointment.

13)Gowtam meets Nani at around 4 pm at the latter’s office.

The actor’s office in Jubilee Hills has many classic film posters adorning the walls. One of the posters read ‘don’t hesitate to say no’.

14)Gowtam breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that Nani will say no if he doesn’t like it.

Maybe he felt who would headline such an unconventional story where there are no heroism elements?

15)It was the first time he was meeting Nani.

As a writer-director, Gowtam believes in giving detailed narrations. #3yearsforJersey

16)Before he began, he told the actor, ‘If you feel disinterested at any point or if you believe it’s not your cup of tea, please tell me. I will stop it as I don’t want to waste your time sir’.

He began narrating.

17)The first half was over after one and half hours.

He asked the actor, ‘Do you want me to continue with the second half?’

Nani replied, ‘Will it be as good as the first half?’ Gowtam’s confidence got a boost.

18)He completed the second half with more energy.

Nani had to rush somewhere at that point of time, so he told Gowtam, ‘Manam cheddham’ (We’ll do it). #3yearsofJersey

19)The director initially felt Nani wouldn’t do it but when the actor wanted to know the names of the technicians Gowtam was looking at, the director mentioned his team from MR.

Nani advised that the subject needs bigger technicians and asked him to give it a thought.

20)The actor shook hands with Gowtam before leaving the office.

Still, the director was in doubt.

He started from the office to his house when he rang Vamsi and briefed him about what transpired.

21)When Vamsi wanted to know what else Nani said apart from ‘bavundhi’ (it's good), Gowtam replied, ‘Inka em analaedhu’ (He didn’t say anything else). #3yearsforJersey

22)By the time Gowtam reached Jubilee Hills Check Post, Vamsi’s inbox received a message from Nani that read: “It will be a cult movie.”

Yippee!

He shared the same reaction with Gowtam and immediately wanted to complete the formalities with him.

23)Gowtam had a trip planned to Tirupati the next day and wanted to meet Vamsi after it but nothing doing, the producer wanted to meet him and sign the formalities.

They met, discussed stuff and that’s how Jersey took off.

24)On his way to home, Gowtam rang his family and direction department team from MR and spoke about landing the project.

He treated them to dinner the same night.

#3yearsforJersey

25)Gowtam generally locks his scripts a month before the shoot commences.

And he shoots 99 percent of what’s on paper.

He made the bound script of Jersey into a small blue book and handed it over to Nani, who went on a vacation just before he began shooting for the film.

26)The actor would later say, ‘From now on, I would ask everyone to give the script in a book format, so that I can absorb the role before landing on the sets’.

On a lighter note, he would also declare that the film’s script book is the only book he read in life.

27)Now cut to the iconic railway station scene. When Gowtam wrote it, he didn’t imagine it would turn out the way it did, and enjoy so much love and adulation from the people.

It’s a different thing that Anirudh, with his skills, took it to a different level altogether.

28)For Gowtam, when a character weeps due to a situation it’s not a real emotion.

When a character doesn’t weep despite the situation, the anticipation of why he is not crying is a bigger emotion for him.

29)He wanted to hold on to that emotion for as long as possible in Jersey and let it out at a place where no one notices Arjun.

On the shoot day, it was the only scene they planned.

30)The venue was the famous Timmapur railway station where many Telugu films were shot.

It masqueraded as Khairtabad railway station for the film.

When Gowtam wanted to know how Nani would go about it, the actor said, ‘I will do it. You see and let me know’.

31)The crew had three trains passing through the opposite platform to complete it.

It was night time. Two cameras were ready to capture two angles.

The shoot attracted nearby locals, who would shout ‘Nani garu’, ‘Nani garu’.

32)From the unit, no one was prepared for what the actor was going to do and did.

Arjun’s scream with honesty written all over his body left them in utter disbelief and in delight at the same time.

They were almost frozen.

33)With the locals chanting Nani name and the loud sound of the train meant the unit could hear a faint scream of Arjun but with the emotion with which it was conveyed; it was extremely effective for them.

After the train passed, the locals went silent.

34)Gowtam said cut, which meant there would be commotion to set everything in order but there was a deafening silence.

Nani almost lost his voice due to his emotional outburst.

He would later rush to the monitor to check the spell he cast.

35)Gowtam wanted to gauge the reaction of the viewers for the railway station scene, so he visited Gokul 70mm, Hyd on the release day, in time for the scene to start.

He expected the audience to scream and hoot in joy in response but turns out the hall has gone mute.

36)Only after Arjun wiped his eyes, did a lady, who was with a baby, got up, and shouted in glee.

The whole hall erupted later, much to the delight of Gowtam and his team.

#3yearsforJersey

37)Gowtam realized the audience had to process the experience of Arjun’s emotional explosion and so, it took time.

38)Post release, the likes of SS Rajamouli and Sukumar rang Gowtam and spoke highly about the film.

Krish, on the release day, predicted that it will be remade in Hindi and advised Gowtam to latch on to the Hindi offer without any second thoughts.

39)In fact, when Gowtam met Shahid Kapoor for the first time he was clueless that he’d be offered the Hindi version to direct.

He thought Shahid and Co. liked the film and simply wanted to have a word with him.

40)After he was offered the project, he rang Nani spontaneously and expressed his dilemma.

Nani replied, ‘I’m hanging up after which you will go to them and say you are doing it. We will discuss the matter in Hyderabad’.

41)Later in Hyderabad, when they met, the actor told Gowtam, ‘It’s a nice opportunity for you to do your third film in Hindi. Also, I don’t want anyone other than you to make Jersey in Hindi.’

#3yearsforJersey