With the highly anticipated pan-India film 'Kuberaa,' starring Superstar Dhanush, King Nagarjuna, and Rashmika Mandanna, set for a grand worldwide release on June 20th, King Nagarjuna recently shared profound insights into the film during a special press conference. Directed by Sekhar Kammula, 'Kuberaa' is being hailed as a potential game-changer in Indian cinema, a sentiment strongly echoed by its lead star.
"The story, characters, and screenplay of 'Kuberaa' are all very different," stated King Nagarjuna. "It takes guts to make a film like this. 'Kuberaa' will undoubtedly offer audiences a very unique experience." The film, produced by Suniel Narang and Puskur Ram Mohan Rao under SVCLLP in collaboration with Sekhar Kammula's Amigos Creations Pvt Ltd, boasts high budgets and production values. Its promotional content, including chart-topping songs "Poyiraa Mama," "Trance of Kuberaa," and "Pee Pee Dum Dum," has already garnered tremendous response.
Why 'Kuberaa'? Nagarjuna on the Unique Narrative
Nagarjuna revealed his motivation for undertaking such a multi-starrer project: "Good stories require stars to collaborate. My father (ANR) and stalwarts like NTR Garu, Krishna Garu, Shobhan Babu Garu, all collaborated on many films in the past." He expressed his long-standing desire to work with Sekhar Kammula, praising his films from Anand onwards for their social relevance and commercial appeal, coupled with wonderful music.
Elaborating on 'Kuberaa's' unique selling point, Nagarjuna explained, "There's a very good, unique point in 'Kuberaa' that is highly relevant to today's society. Sekhar Garu has had this point in his mind for a long time." He further detailed the film's core conflict: "This film features good people and bad people. It portrays a clash between three societal strata: the ultra-rich, the middle class, and those below the poverty line."
Nagarjuna described his character as a "middle-class CBI officer" navigating an internal conflict between doing right and wrong. "My character has many shades," he shared, adding, "Sekhar has written my character wonderfully, offering great scope for a nuanced performance." He confirmed that the film is filled with "amazing incidents," all deeply related to real life. "Dhanush has completely immersed himself in his role and performed brilliantly," he added.
Filmmaking with Integrity: Sekhar Kammula's Vision
Nagarjuna praised Sekhar Kammula's unwavering commitment to his vision. When asked if the script was altered to suit his image, he responded, "No, he made what he envisioned. I also didn't ask for any changes. Changing it would have spoiled it." He noted that he had consulted Naga Chaitanya about working with Kammula, who assured him, "His working style is great. You will enjoy the whole film."
The actor affirmed that his character in 'Kuberaa' stands out from his previous roles. "This film's story is different. My body language, my manner of speech, my reactions… all will be new, in Sekhar Kammula's style." He also highlighted the extensive use of real locations, including Tirupati, Mumbai, Goa, and Bangkok.
Rashmika's Surprising Performance and Production Excellence
Nagarjuna spoke highly of Rashmika Mandanna's character: "Her character is very entertaining. She has done an amazing job. After watching the film, I told her she is the star. It's a very impressive character in the story."
He lauded the producers, Suniel Narang and Puskur Ram Mohan Rao, for their unwavering support. "Suniel Narang and Puskur Ram Mohan Garu wanted to make a big film. This project was done on a pan-India scale, for Telugu and Tamil. They made the film with great passion. They gave Director Sekhar Kammula everything he needed without compromising anywhere. The film has come out with amazing quality."
Devi Sri Prasad's Impactful Music
Nagarjuna underscored the importance of music in 'Kuberaa.' "Music is very important for this film. The songs are very situational, and Devi has given wonderful music." He described the film's unconventional nature: "This story is very different. It's not a regular screenplay, nor are the characters routine. Everything is different. In this film, no character can be called hero or heroine; all are just roles. It takes guts to make films like this."
Personal Reflections and Future Plans
Reflecting on his 100th film, Nagarjuna confirmed, "Yes, we are planning it. They've given it the working title 'King 100'." On his fitness, he humorously stated, "No, I'm doing what I've been doing for the past 15 years. Nothing new."
Regarding the pan-India trend, he offered a candid perspective: "Making pan-India films is very difficult. Not all films suit it. Not all films made to be pan-India actually become pan-India, right?" He also shared that his upcoming character in Lokesh Kanagaraj's 'Coolie' will be "different," noting Lokesh is a "completely new-age director," and it's his "first time playing such a character."
Finally, on the much-anticipated 'Siva 4K' restoration, he confirmed, "'Siva 4K' is finished. Work is still ongoing for better effects. It's coming out very well. I saw one reel, and it was fantastic." While he expressed a desire to work with banners like Sithara and People Media Factory, he noted that projects need to align first.
