Thread by @rajuvijai

One of Venky’s most loved-films, Preminchukundam… Raa celebrates its silver jubilee today. A thread (1/43) on how Jayanth landed the script, his improvisations on sets and what went behind-the-scenes.
#25yearsofPreminchukundamRaa
@VenkyMama
@jayanthparanji
@SureshProdns

1)Jayanth C Paranji was initially working on a mass masala script with a lot of action and dash of romance for Venky but he was unhappy with it.

At the same time, a senior director was narrated Preminchukundam… Raa! script by writer Deenraj; it was for Venky as well.

2)He, however, couldn’t connect to it.

He let it pass but both Venky and his brother Suresh Babu felt there was something in it. They made Jayanth hear it.

‘Oh my God! This is the script I want to do with Venky’ was the director’s reaction.

3)He connected to the first half big time but wanted some changes.

Both the Daggubati brothers were open to it.

Initially, Deenraj’s script didn’t have a love story involving Venky.

4)Originally, it had Venky’s nephew—Chandramohan and Sudha’s son—falling in love with girl-next-door Kaveri (Anjala Zaveri) and how Venky gets them together amid a major scuffle involving Kaveri’s dad Veerabhadraiah (played by the late JP) formed the crux.

5)Jayanth was particularly impressed with some scenes of the script.

But he was like, ‘We have Venky as a hero. So why can’t we just make it into his love story?’

That’s how everything was altered.

6) From the film’s think-tank, there were some concerns on whether the audience will accept Venky as a college-goer or not, especially after him having done films like Intlo Illalu…, where he played a father to a 6-year-old, and Pavithra Bandam, where he played a husband.

7)Venky went on a diet to lose weight to play Giri, while simultaneously picking his own clothes for the part. He also trimmed his hair.

8)For Kaveri’s part, Jayanth was keen on a new girl to bring that freshness factor into the love story.

He and Suresh saw pictures of Anjala in a reputed English film magazine and flew her down to Hyderabad to perform the screen test.

9)The first thing Jayanth noticed in her was the sparkle in her eyes.

She was in Hyd for almost 3 days, with Jayanth conducting a look test, costume test and even doing a video shoot.

She was wonderful in all those tests, prompting him to rope her in.

10)With the film being Jayanth’s maiden one was a director; both Suresh and Venky went out of their way and gave what all the director needed.
#25yearsofPreminchukundamRaa

11)On the first day of shoot, Jayanth shot the much adored and loved Little Hearts episode, which was an improvisation from his end.

The venue was BHEL colony, Hyderabad.

The script had Giri write a note on a greeting card and place it on the bicycle.

12)Jayanth felt something was missing with it. He needed something there.

How about a rose or a bunch of flowers? Nah, he thought. It was too clichéd.

He spotted a paan dabba next to the location and it had Little Hearts biscuit packets hanging over its roof.

13)So, how about Little Hearts now? Venky loved it.

Similarly, the part where Giri hands over Kitkat to Kaveri as she gets into her bogie on her way to Tirupati was an improvisation on the spot.

It wasn’t written in the initial script.

14)People who noticed Giri casually handing over Kitkat to Kaveri came back to see the film a second time just for that scene.

Venky had a big smile when Jayanth mentioned the idea.

He knew Jayanth was a romantic at heart, so gave him a complete freehand.

15)Kurnool schedule was planned for 5-6 days but the unit had to come back to Hyderabad after shooting just for a day because of huge crowds gathering at the shooting.

They were uncontrollable, leaving the unit no option but to head back.

16)Jayanth could only get a wide angle shot of Kaveri with Kondareddy Buruju in the background.

He could only shoot Kaveri running towards Giri and later her dad’s vehicle approaching and picking her up.

17)It was filmed from 7 am to 9:30 am, post which they had to call off shooting due to crowds.

The close up shots of the scene leading up to Kondareddy Buruju in the background were later filmed at JBS, Secunderabad.

In that scene, Kaveri tripped over for real on the ground.

18)Portions involving Chakrapani (Chandramohan) and Veerabhadraiah houses, which are situated next to each other in the film, were shot at Karamchedu.

The properties belonged to Ramanaidu. The unit stayed in both the houses for 20-odd days while filming in the same houses.

19)The balloon sequence which comes right before Meghale thakindi… song needed Giri to turn and look into the window in the hope of seeing a balloon going off from Kaveri’s house.

As Jayanth was filming a close up of the shot, Venky’s back gave up. He collapsed in pain.

20)He was nursing a back injury for a long time, which he sustained on the sets of Bobbili Raja.

Which is why, he is careful with his back whenever he does action.

Venky was in excruciating pain and the unit had to call a doctor.

21)Later, Jayanth called pack up for the day and the schedule as well— 5 days before the intended time, and the unit had to return to Hyderabad from Karamchedu.

Venky took more than a month to recover. The balloon sequence was later recreated at Ramanaidu Studio.

22)Jayanth spent six months time on the script, fine-tuning it. So he was confident on the sets with his skills.

He kept saying we are making a good film, but Suresh used to say that he needs a hit film.

The making was a piece of cake for Jayanth.

23)At times, Suresh used to get worried seeing Jayanth so chilled out as a director.

Jayanth used to smilingly quote Hitchcock back to Suresh, ‘The film is ready; I just have to shoot it’.
#25yearsofPreminchukundamRaa

24)Personally, Jayanth was a little unsure about the whole action block in the climax.

He was sure about the lead pair catching a train, with Srihari being the key factor.

He felt the fight sequence was too cinematic and heavy.

25)Until then, he felt he kept the film natural.

If there’s anything that he would want to change after 25 years, it’s that climax action part.

But then Venky is a big star and they needed to be a little mass-friendly.

26)Suresh n Jayanth watched the FDFS at a mass theatre in Vijayawada. At the interval point, Jayanth felt he had given Venky a flop.

Viewers couldn’t connect to the 1st half as there was no laughter. All that occupied the screen was utter silence. He was almost close to tears.

27)The second half response, however, was in stark contrast.

The turnout could connect with all the heat and the action in the second half as they clapped, screamed and whistled in joy.

When both he and Suresh came out of the hall, they realized they had a hit in hand.

28)As far as the title was concerned, Jayanth wasn’t happy with Preminchukundam… Raa!

He felt it was a little crude, and sounded like the name of a Tamil dubbed movie. He was looking for a softer title.

29)But the camera team and the direction team unanimously voted for Preminchukundam… Raa!

Venky too was very happy with it. #25yearsofPreminchukundamRaa

30)As the team was shooting at Exhibition Grounds, which shared its compound wall with Vanitha Mahavidyalaya, the college girls dropped by the location to catch the shoot after their classes got over.

31)As they were discussing what the name of the film could be among them, Venky, overhearing it, said its Preminchukundam… Raa!

Hearing it, they giggled among themselves, and were a little shy and coy about it. Seeing them, Venky said, ‘See, this is what I meant’.

32)Mahesh Mahadevan was the original music director for the film, while Mani Sharma was his keyboard player.

After composing three songs—Surya kireetame, Alachudu premalokam and Chinni chinni gundello—Mahesh was diagnosed with cancer.

He was hospitalized later.

33)Jayanth didn’t want to go with other music directors—although some names came up for discussion— because he felt it wasn’t fair on Mahesh.
#25yearsofPreminchukundamRaa

34)But luckily Mani saved the day for him. The first tune he composed was Meghale thakindi…

It was green-lit instantaneously.

Jayanth didn’t even ask for another tune. He later played it to Suresh, who too loved it.

35)Mani later composed Pellikala vachesinde bala and O Panaipothundi Babu.

The latter was the last thing Jayanth shot for the film. They attached the song to the film three days before its theatrical rollout.

36)Not many people from the unit had confidence on Pellikala vachesinde bala song.

Choreographer Lawrence hated it. He wanted to hold the shoot for a day so that Jayanth could come up with a new song.

Being the last song of the film, Lawrence felt it was slow as well.

37)Jayanth simply Lawrence to shoot it. He was confident about it, so was Venky. “Just trust Jayanth and go with him’, the actor would declare.

In the song, after Giri ties the knot, Kaveri gets up and starts to dance, and so does Giri. Jayanth insisted on that.

38)Lawrence was dead against a bride dancing in the mandap itself but Jayanth said, ‘Just do it. This is today’s generation. This is how they will react to it’.

39)It was Kaveri’s dream to have that mangalsutra around her neck and after all what she goes through in the film, there must be sheer joy, right? This was Jayanth’s funda.

40)The Dairy Milk ad was celebrated those days.

It had a girl dancing and running on to the cricket pitch and giving a bite of the chocolate to her cricketer boyfriend who had just hit a 6 to get to his ton.

Jayanth wanted Lawrence to emulate that feel. The latter got it.

41)Jayanth felt Pellikala… would be a hit song but never thought it would go crazy the way it did.
#25yearsofPreminchukundamRaa

42)Mani insisted that his name not be included as music director.

He only took credit for the scintillating and lifting background score he did.

43)On the 50th day, the team embarked on a three-day tour in two buses, covering Vizag, Tirupati, Chittoor and Hyderabad.

From the industry, it was one of the first tours where the actors went to cinema halls and interacted with the attendees.
#25yearsofPreminchukundamRaa