Thread by @rajuvijai

As #NinnuKori, a touching love story, clocks 6 years today, a thread (1/36) on its origin, the stories behind the popular campfire sequence in the 2nd half n the title track that comes in the opening credits.
@NameisNani
@ShivaNirvana
@konavenkat99
#6yearsforNinnuKori

1) Before Ninnu Kori, Shiva Nirvana had directed a couple of short films–One More Smile and Love Algebra.

The latter was watched by Shiva Thorlapati, an NRI and a dance choreographer who was pretty close to writer Kona Venkat.

2) Thorlapati later met Nirvana at a coffee shop in Hyderabad, where the latter narrated some of his story ideas, including Ninnu Kori.

In particular, Nirvana shared four crucial scenes of Ninnu Kori with Thorlapati.

3) In fact, Thorlapati wanted to produce a short film or plan a low-budget flick with Nirvana while the latter felt that the time was ripe for a feature film debut.

#6yearsforNinnuKori

4) Shiva Thorlapati later headed back to the US, while Nirvana was in thinking mode.

“What is this life? It’s been 12 years since I got into the industry? Would I ever become a director in the future?”

5) Left with no choice, he felt the need to adjust some money personally and borrow some from friends.

He wanted to start something with Rs 20-25 lakh in the hope that whatever he shoots will find a producer who can later fund the complete film.

6) “Or else should I cut trailers by spending Rs 2-3 lakh from the story ideas I have and make an impact on producers”.

Such thoughts were running in his mind.

#6yearsforNinnuKori

7) In fact, Nirvana never thought of making Ninnu Kori as his maiden feature.

Before he met Thorlapati, he pitched his ideas to multiple people in the industry but to no luck.

8) 15-16 days after Thorlapati left for the US, Nirvana got a call in the morning at around 9:30 am from an unknown number.

Turns out, it was ace writer Kona Venkat.

#6yearsforNinnuKori

9) He spoke about his association with Thorlapati before saying, “Last midnight after dinner, Thorlapati narrated three-four scenes from Ninnu Kori and I was spellbound. Who can think of such a crazy idea?”

10) Kona later asked whether Nirvana had a passport, to which the soon-to-turn-feature film director replied with a yes. “We are doing the film”, Kona declared.

11) “I will come down to Hyderabad in 3-4 days and we can take things forward from there”, he added.

Nirvana’s joy knew no bounds. At last it’s happening!

#6yearsforNinnuKori

12) Nirvana used the time to prep well for the narration.

He later pitched the story successfully to Kona.

He worked on the screenplay and dialogues at Kona’s office for a couple of months. Kona’s inputs and wealth of experience were incorporated into the screenplay.

13) Kona later wanted to know who Nirvana saw as the leading light. Nirvana mentioned Nani’s name without any second thoughts.

It was Nirvana’s dream to work with Nani as he felt the actor carries the middle-class body language with aplomb.

14) Kona, who is quick with his decision-making ability, said OK.

Nirvana had a rendezvous with Nani three days later at the latter’s office in Hyderabad.

#6yearsforNinnuKori

15) At that time, Nani was in the form of his life, belting out one super hit after the other.

“Shiva, you are a good narrator. You can pitch it well. Go ahead,” said Kona to Nirvana before the narration to Nani began.

Kona decided to wait outside.

It was around 2:30 pm.

16) The narration began.

The 1st 30-40 minutes, the actor didn’t evince much interest.

The scene right b4 the interval when Pallavi invites Uma to her home n asks him to spend 10 days so that he will know how happy she is with Arun piqued Nani’s interest out of the blue.

17) Uma’s retort to it later meant that Nani leaned a little forward on his sofa.

He was shocked with ‘the turn’ the story took.

When Nirvana said Uma, Arun and Pallavi will be in one house in the second half, Nani got curious.

18) Kona came in later and wanted to know how the narration went.

Nani said the interval is good and he will let his opinion know after listening to the second half.

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19) Nirvana started the second half.

It was going on smoothly and Nani was listening to it with renewed interest.

20) When Nirvana narrated the Arun twist–how he helps Christy and how he saw Uma in her–it caught Nani’s interest in particular.

The subsequent portions also got big thumbs up from him.

21) After the climax, Nani had this to say to Nirvana: “Don’t take too much time. The script is solid. I could picture the film from the 1st scene to the last. Can you go to sets in 2 months?”

Nirvana said he can.

That’s how the journey took off.

22) It was Kona who said DVV Danayya would be better for the project at the production level.

A leading producer at that time and still now, the RRR producer later took over the project.

23) After he heard the story, he told Shiva Nirvana, ‘I’ve hardly done love stories. Maybe one or two here and there and they didn’t do well. But I feel your story will work out”.

#6yearsforNinnuKori

24) After the film was released he rang Nirvana and said, ‘I’ve produced commercial cinemas by the dozen but this film gave me immense joy and happiness. As ladies and families are calling me in appreciation of the film, I’m thrilled to bits.”

25) One of the best scenes of Ninnu Kori is the campfire one which comes in the second half, where Uma receives a slap from Pallavi.
Remember it?
#6yearsofNinnuKori

26) Uma, in a fierce tone, says to Arun: When a girl loves someone and marries someone else, what is it called? You are having an illegal relationship with my love.”

#6yearsforNinnuKori

27) Nirvana got teary-eyed while Nani was performing the above scene.

But the spark was missing, Nirvana felt.

After the shot, he went to Nani and told him, ‘I didn’t like the fact that Pallavi simply walks off after Uma berates her husband. Let her slap you’.

28) Nani agreed to it, feeling it was a stroke of genius. But then after slapping, she shouldn’t have a hatred feeling towards Uma.

Rather she wants him to understand her. If her expression had something to do with hatred, then she would ask him to leave the very next day.

29) She slaps him like parents slap their children when they use bad words.

Nirvana wanted such an expression from Pallavi and the talent that she was she gave more than what the director wanted.

30) Not many know that the beautiful and soothing to the ears title song that comes in the opening credits was written by Shiva Nirvana himself.

And there’s a story behind it.

#6yearsforNinnuKori

31) The film’s re-recording was over; all reels were locked and Nirvana was about to leave Gopi Sunder’s studio in Kerala to the airport.

As he was climbing down the stairs, he thought of the film beginning.

32) The initial idea was to have the titles rolled as Pallavi gets up from her sleep, while Arun plans a surprise for her as it is their anniversary. Nirvana wanted something else.

#6yearsforNinnuKori

33) He got a brainwave. He climbed up the stairs, met Gopi and asked him to spend an additional 30 minutes.

#6yearsforNinnuKori

34) As the film transports viewers back to their past, Nirvana didn’t want to waste those 2 minutes and instead wanted to open the film with visuals of Vizag, New Delhi and San Francisco and by the time his name appears on the screen, he wanted the scene to open.

35) Gopi wanted to know what can be achieved within such a short time.

How about a bit song?

Nirvana took 10 minutes to write the lines, Kadhile Nadila Kariga Kanula… Ninnu Kori Nadiche Prathi Dhaari… Ninnu Kori.

36) He gave the lines to Gopi who with the keyboard sang the tuneful title track in a melodious way.

The minute Gopi sang it; Nirvana felt the film was destined for box office glory.

#6yearsforNinnuKori