Music of Disney’s first south indian film - Anaganaga O Dheerudu was launched at a function organized in HITEX, Madhapur on the night of 18 December. It was attended by Mohan Babu, NTR, Ram Charan Tej, Siddharth, Prabhas, Vishnu, Manoj, RaNa, K Raghavendra Rao, SS Rajamouli, Krish, Koti, MM Keeravani, Micky J Meyer, Swati Shetty, Mahesh Sawant , Brahmanandam, Tanikella Bharani etc.
The function was kicked off with a stylish entrance of a floater on which Siddharth who is playing the role of Yodha (the warrior) in the movie entered into the auditorium. The other key actors like Shruti Hassan, Lakshmi Manchu and Harshita were also introduced in a typical ballet style. The creative floater designed by the art director Bhupesh R Bhupati stood as the backdrop for the entire event.
Mohan Babu launched the audio CD and handed it over to all the young heroes who were present at the function.
AOD is about magic and beief - Swati Shetty
Speaking on the occasion Swati Shetty (Disney India) said, “Anaganaga O Dheerudu (AOD) is a special film for Disney and it is Disney’s first south Indian film. AOD is a good-looking film with simple/beautiful story. It is about good over bad. AOD is about magic and belief. Disney is proud of a talented artist like Siddharth. Shruti dons a new look in this movie. Lakshmi will scare you away. This film has music by Koti, MM Keeravani, Micky J Meyer and Salim-Sulaiman. Salim-Sulaiman composed background music. AOD is the result of beautiful work done a dream team. We are going to send the floater of AOD to all over Andhra Pradesh.”
Prakash have extremely creative ideas - SS Rajamouli
SS Rajamouli said, “I was supposed to direct a film titled Vijayasimha with Prakash as hero after my Student No.1. It didn’t materialize. Prakash used to say that we should do a different film. I understood what he actually meant by different after watching visuals of AOD. AOD has songs, colors, fights and commercial elements. Yet, it is refreshingly different with a new canvas. Prakash have extremely creative ideas and I am sure that he is going to exceed his father as a director. Siddharth is very lucky to get this project as it will give him an oppurtunity to come out of his ‘loverboy’ image. It is a good launching pad for Shruti Hassan. Mohan Babu is very proud person. I am sure that Lakshmi will kill his proudness with her performance in this movie. Firefly has won vfx national award for their movies Anji and Magadheera in the past. I am sure that they will win for this year with AOD despite terrific competetion from Endhiran/Robo.”
I am happy and jealous - NTR
NTR said, “I am happy and jealous at the same time. I am happy for Prakash and I am jealous that I am not doing the title role of this movie. I am a huge fan of K Raghavendra Rao and I wish this film a thumping success.”
AOD = JVAS + Magadheera : Ram Charan Tej
Ram Charan Tej said, “I have shown the trailer of AOD to my dad a few days back and he asked me why I didn’t do this movie as Prakash has been my close friend for years and we spent lots of time together in our house doing studies. No film has crossed Magadheera records and I wish that AOD will do it. AOD is equivalant to JVAS and Magadheera together, in my opinon.”
Pabhas opined that AOD visuals look like that of any Hollywood flick.
Our association goes a long way - RaNa
RaNa said, “I am associated with the entire team of AOD. AOD is very important to me because it is directed by Prakash. Our association with the family of K Raghavendra Rao goes a long back. Prakash’s grandfather K Surya Prakash Rao directed Prem Nagar film for our banner when my grandfather D Rama Naidu was at make-or-break situation. I am a big fan of Kamal Hassan and I welcome his daughter Shruti to Telugu film industry.”
Sumanth said, “All of my friends are working for AOD. I am sure that Siddharth will kick some butt with this movie.”
Vishnu Manchu said, “The next generation of Telugu film industry should be proud of Prakash. I am sure Prakash is going to lead us all.”
Prakash struggled for five years with AOD script - Krish
Krish said, “AOD sports very good music and visuals. People do think that Prakash is born with a silver spoon and hence a film like AOD came in his way. It is not true. Prakash struggled by carrying this script and narrating it to various heroes and producers for the past five years. K Raghavendra Rao and Disney backed him. I am sure that AOD will become a huge hit.”
MM Keeravani said, “I saw most o the film and it is an eye-feast. AOD will be a mega hit.”
Koti said, “I always dreamt of scoring hit music to K Raghavendra Rao. It is becoming true with AOD.”
Dialogue writer Rajasimha said, “I was an assistant to Paruchuri brothers before becoming an independent writer. I would like to thank Prakash for entrusting me with such a responsibility. I penned pristine Telugu dialogues for AOD.”
Child actress Harshita said, “I am glad to be the part of AOD movie. I had memorable events during the shoot of this movie. Working with such a reputed studio like Disney is a milestone in my career.”
Shruti Hassan said, “I am grateful to K Raghavendra Rao for taking me in. I am glad to be the part of Prakash’s dream. Siddarth breathed life into the characetr of Yodha with his performance. Prakash has an unique way of doing things and having four music directors for one movie is such a thing.”
Dreams do come true - Lakshmi Manchu
Lakshmi Manchu said, “It was Ramji who suggested my name for this character and I want to thank him. Prakash has brought Hollywood to Tollywood by associating with Disney. I want to thank Elton (make-up), Phani (Firefly) and all the technicians. I am an example to that fact that dreams do come true. I would like to thank my dad.”
I got Yodha role because it was rejected by a few popular heroes - Siddharth
Siddharth said, “I am indebted to K Raghavendra Rao for this opportunity. AOD’s is not an ordinary team. All the technicians who worked for this movie are like warriors. DOP Sounder Rajan is a committed technician and a genius. Art director Bhupesh R Bhupati performed a challenging task. Raj G did the drawings. We are going to release a comic book on AOD along with the movie. Nikhar Dhawan designed costumes. Firefly did international standard work for this movie. If the same quality movie had to be done in Hollywood, it would have cost 100 million dollars. I have the best co-actors in the form of Shruti and Lakshmi. Lakshmi brought out the meaning of evil with her work in this movie. I got the role of Rang De Basanti after 16 popular actors rejected it. I got the role of Yodha in AOD after many popular actors rejected in Telugu. None of the international studios have chosen the right projects in India in the past. But Disney has made the right choice by opting for AOD. I am tuly the luckiest man in the world.”
Siddharth was brave enough to play this role - Prakash Kovelamudi
Prakash said, “I am very happy to have four music directors for this movie. It is gracious of them to accept to work for this movie. It’s been five years since I was working on this script. I loved Siddharth’s performance in NVNV and I was in touch with him since then. Not many heroes were brave enough to do this movie. Siddharth is brave enough to accept the role of Yodha. Without Siddharth, AOD wouldn’t have happened. My father K Raghavendra Rao is known for the commercial elements and I am glad that I have convinced him with the story of AOD. I approached many studios in the past two years and I am happy that Disney came forward to produce it. Disney took the leap of faith along with me. I was looking for a heroine of exotic looks and Shruti Hassan turned out to be a perfect choice. Lakshmi has convinced her parents to do this role. She made the movie come alive with her performance. She will be one of the greatest villains of Indian cinema. Siddharth surprised me with his adeptness and adaptability. Raj G translated my ideas into drawings. Using those drawings, art director Bhupesh R Bhupati came up with sets. Soundara rajan mounted those beautiful sets onto the film. Phani of VFX added the glitz to the film and took it to a higher scale with right vfx. Editor Sravan gave clarity in rhythm of shooting.”
Nobody can dominate me - Mohan Babu
Mohan Babu said, “K Raghavendra Rao is an encyclopedia of cinema. His father K Surya Prakasa Rao was a master of screenplay. K Raghavendra Rao gave me a hit in the form of Devatha film when I need it most. He has also directed Alludu Garu when I was down. I was surprised that everybody here praised Lakshmi to an exent that she surpassed me. Nobody can dominate me in this film industry, not even my daughter. Lakshmi knows no fear. She acted with a live snake when she was 7 years old. Lakshmi took my advice regarding dialogue delivery and modulation. I taught her a few tips and she came up with wonderful modulation. Kamal Hassan was a dancer when I was struggling as assistant director in Chennai. Both of us became actors later. I welcome Kamal’s daughter Shruti Hassan to Telugu films.”
