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Savitri’s role: Nag Ashwin seeks popular support
At a time when Bollywood filmmakers are gambling with biopics on celebrities who are alive like Mary Kom, Azhar and Saina Nehwal, and only one on Dhyan Chand, Ashwin is all geared up for a biopic on Savitri, the tragedy queen, who endeared herself to the audience down South with her histrionics till her tragic death.
In a way, ‘Yevade Subramanyam’ director Nag Ashwin is gradually positioning himself as a trail-blazer and not one belonging to the run-of-the-mill motley crowd.
At a time when Bollywood filmmakers are gambling with biopics on celebrities who are alive like Mary Kom, Azhar and Saina Nehwal, and only one on Dhyan Chand, Ashwin is all geared up for a biopic on Savitri, the tragedy queen, who endeared herself to the audience down South with her histrionics till her tragic death.
Given the graceful intensity with which the actress portrayed her roles, and the ups and downs of her chequered career, there is no denying that zeroing in on a contemporary actress to play Savitri on-screen is perhaps the biggest challenge for Ashwin.
Guess what? He is embarking on an innovative true-blue democratic style to choose the actress, who will play the reel-life Savitri –the onus will be on the film-goers, the men on the streets. Yes, you heard it right. Fans from across the globe will have a decisive say in picking the heroine for the coveted, but hugely challenging, once-in-a-lifetime role.
“We will be starting an online campaign to see who will be the popular choice of the people. We will not burden them with any options or preferences. We are finalising a massive ad campaign in order to attract an overwhelming response,” points out Ashwin, speaking to Talkies.
A thoroughbred professional, Ashwin’s home-work includes a massive research into Savitri’s life. “Not many people are aware that she was into horse-racing in the 60s. Her following and popularity was so phenomenal that at one point in time, she commanded a bigger pay-packet than MGR, Sivaji Ganesan and NTR, when she was their leading lady” is his awe-struck reaction.
“The advent of extraordinary talents like Savitri, who came to be hailed as the Meena Kumari of South, at a time when Tollywood was evolving itself, saw theatre making way for cinema,” he states.
He admits that it’s a huge challenge for him to make a biopic on Savitri as his second project. But he remains undaunted.
“For all her humility that is unthinkable for one who has scaled the loftiest of heights, it is unfortunate that she was never given her due, even when she spent her last days in utter misery and tragic circumstances.
My film is a thanksgiving to an actress who epitomised perfection with a rare conviction in whichever roles she essayed. I will try to make a film that will celebrate her legacy,” he declares, revealing that he in a month or two, he will be done with pre-production.
Since it is a Telugu-Tamil bilingual, I’m being extra cautious about getting everything in order,” he says, signing off.
By:Nagaraj Goud
