Vishnu gave me a free hand: Raaja Kiran

Manchu Vishnu has earned the dubious distinction of interfering in a director’s vision so much so that he takes creative calls at times. In fact, gossip mills went into overdrive claiming that Deva Katta was hardly present on the sets of ‘Dynamite’, which Vishnu produced and which sank without a trace at the BO upon release last year. B

ut the director of his forthcoming film ‘Luckunnodu’, Raaja Kiran (of ‘Geetanjali’ fame) tells us that Vishnu has never meddled in the decision-making process of the film and that he was simply bothered about what he should do in front of the camera. “After working with me for some days, he told me, ‘I’ve worked with many directors in my career but no one had the clarity that you have.’

He added that some directors went on making four hours films with him, requiring him to spend additional Rs 1 crore from his own pocket but I shot what I narrated him,” Raaja Kiran exults, adding, “The talkie portions of ‘Luckunnodu’ have been wrapped up in 40 days flat and the film’s running time is close to 2 hours 15 minutes as of now. We may trim it down to 2 hours five minutes.”

The director points out Vishnu understood that he is in safe hands on day one itself. “We shot a couple of scenes on day one, making him realise that the film would be wrapped on time and with quality. I’ve continued the same practice (shooting two scenes) for the rest of 39 days. Though Prime Minister Modi announced demonetisation as we entered the crucial phase of our shooting, the production never stopped as we dealt every money transaction in cheques,” he asserts, admitting that Vishnu like his father Mohan Babu is a stickler for punctuality.

“He would turn up on sets dot on time. In fact, he pushed me to take first shot by 7 am. Hansika too was surprised with the pace at which the film has been wrapped up. She was like, ‘I’ve dropped by the sets and the film is all but over.’” The film’s teaser was released recently and as it indicates, it narrates the tale of Lucky (Vishnu) who is considered unlucky for his family and friends.

Raaja Kiran confides that the story is inspired from his own life. “After I was born, my dad lost big money and ever since, he never showered the affection that a (regular) father generally showers on his son. Nonetheless, I always loved him. In his last days, he stayed with me and though I wanted to take good care of him I couldn’t as I was in a wobbly phase as far as my career was concerned. I so wished he saw the success of my first film,” he whines, pointing out ‘Luckunnodu’s songs are being shot currently and they are planning to release the film next month.