Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy
Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy is a 2019 Indian Telugu-language epic historical action drama film directed by Surender Reddy and produced by Ram Charan under the Konidela Production Company banner. Reddy scripted the film based on an original story given by Paruchuri brothers. A work of fiction, the film is inspired by the life of Indian independence activist Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy from the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. The film stars Chiranjeevi in the title character, with an ensemble cast including Sudeep, Vijay Sethupathi, Ravi Kishan, Jagapathi Babu, Nayanthara and Tamannaah Bhatia. Amitabh Bachchan and Anushka Shetty make guest appearances. Pawan Kalyan, Kamal Haasan, and Mohanlal gave narration in the film to their respective languages. The film tells the story of Narasimha Reddy in his fight against the rule of the British East India Company.
Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy was officially launched on 22 August 2017, coinciding with Chiranjeevi's birthday. Principal photography for the film began on 6 December 2017 and wrapped up on 24 June 2019. The film was shot in Hyderabad and Kerala with some scenes filmed in Georgia. The film's cinematography was handled by R. Rathnavelu, and it was edited by A. Sreekar Prasad. The soundtrack was composed by Amit Trivedi, while the background score was done by Julius Packiam.
Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy was released theatrically worldwide on 2 October 2019. The film garnered positive reviews from critics and grossed ₹240 crore at the box office against a budget of ₹200–300 crore.
Plot
By 1857, the Indian subcontinent is in the grips of a widespread revolt against the rule of the British East India Company. The city of Jhansi is under siege by the British, and the defending soldiers begin to waver upon seeing that they are outnumbered. However, their queen, Rani Lakshmi Bai, motivates them by telling the tale of the rebel who started their war 10 years ago: Narasimha Reddy.Reddy was born to the chief of Uyyalawada in the state of Hyderabad and his two wives are the daughters of the Nizam's chief. He defied death after being born still and coming to life, and is believed to be blessed by God with demonstrated athletic and acrobatic skills from a young age. One day, a teenage Reddy rides past an execution conducted by the British, and his grandfather explains the predicament faced by villagers under the rule of the East India Company. Reddy vows to retaliate and learns combat and philosophy under sage Gosayi Venkanna. 25 years later, Reddy gathers several fallen chiefs and kings from different provinces and organises a fully operational resistance in the city of Renadu. The kingdoms were taken over by British forces led by Cochrane, the governor of Madras. Cochrane is told of Reddy's resistance being effective against their rule and sends a general named Jackson to forcefully collect Renadu's taxes.
Reddy meets the dancer Lakshmi and saves her life from stampeding cattle, who have been drugged by fellow chief Avuku Raju, who is known to have hostility towards Reddy for his popularity. Reddy rounds up the cattle, forgives Avuku, and also displays feelings for Lakshmi. This comes to nothing as a child marriage has already been conducted between Reddy and a girl named Siddhamma, who has had feelings for Reddy even then. Due to omens, they were separated and reunited for a yagam. Upon learning this, Lakshmi attempts suicide, but Reddy convinces her to give life another chance. In the meantime, Jackson raids and pillages the surrounding regions of Renadu, and challenges Reddy by killing villagers who speak against him. In retaliation, Reddy attacks Jackson's home by himself and kills all of his soldiers. He eventually beheads him and sends his head to Cochrane.
The resistance grows stronger when Lakshmi travels across the nation and promotes it, leading Tamil chief Raja Pandiyan to join. Cochrane sends a battalion of hundreds of men led by his man Daniel, all of whom are killed when Reddy and a group of civilians hold themselves down in a fort, using strategic traps to counter their technology. Avuku reforms and helps Reddy defeat them, admiring his bravery. In the process, Siddhama gives birth to their child in the fort, and Reddy names him Subbaya after his farmer friend who perishes. As Reddy expands his army by training civilians, Cochrane manages to capture Lakshmi and use her to get to Reddy. When Lakshmi is told that Cochrane has enough ammunition and weapons to demolish the resistance, she lights her clothes on fire and causes an explosion, killing herself and the men. Cochrane however survives and gathers his remaining troops to make a final stand against Reddy's army. The two armies clash, and Cochrane kills Obanna while Raja Pandi is gravely injured Reddy saves him by defeating Cochrane in a duel. The rebels hold them back and kill 10,000 men, but Reddy is forced to go into hiding when an injured Cochrane continues to search for him.
A chief named Veera Reddy betrays the resistance out of anger since Reddy had killed his son for attempting to assassinate him and collect a British bounty on his head. At the same time, Reddy gave his treacherous brother a second chance but only to reveal his allies. It turns out that Reddy had spared and forgave him, without knowing that Veera had drugged Reddy's tea which weakened him, allowing Cochrane's men to capture him. Reddy is convicted and his supporters are exiled, but before Reddy is executed he gives a speech to his people telling them to stand strong and hold up the resistance. However, Reddy does not die even from hanging and escapes the noose. One of the soldiers beheads him, but even afterward, Reddy's body manages to stab Cochrane dead. Reddy's head is hung for a display to suppress the rebellion. Gosayi Venkanna, Avuku Raju and other supporters of Reddy are exiled from India.
10 years later, Rani Lakshmi Bai and her men fight the British and defeat them. A voice-over narration states that Reddy's rebellions will have served as inspiration for warriors and activists to gain their deserved freedom.
Cast
Adapted from the opening and closing credits:Production
Development
Following the phenomenal success of the Chiranjeevi-starrer Khaidi No. 150, Ram Charan, who made his production debut through this film, announced that he will collaborate with his father Chiranjeevi for the second time. Touted to be mostly based on the life of Indian independence activist Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy from the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, the script was written by Paruchuri brothers, and was rumoured to cast Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, opposite Chiranjeevi, although her dates had not been finalised. Amitabh Bachchan and Ravi Kishan were reported to sign in pivotal roles. In June 2017, a still featuring Chiranjeevi in a tweaked moustache went viral, with many fans supposed to mention about his look for the film. On 22 August 2017, the makers released the motion poster of the film, revealing the title as Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy, and was announced that the film will be made on a budget of ₹125 crore. It was revealed that the makers spent more than ₹45 crore on the film's visual effects out of its total budget.Casting
Soon after the launch of the film, Vijay Sethupathi and Amitabh Bachchan was hired to play a crucial role in the film, marking their debuts in the Telugu film industry. Sudeepa, Jagapathi Babu and Nayanthara were hired to play pivotal characters. Bachchan was essayed to play a short role of Chiranjeevi's mentor in the film, while Vijay Sethupathi's role was reported to be a close aide of the protagonist. Tamannaah Bhatia was hired to play the second female lead in April 2018. Chiranjeevi's niece Niharika Konidela, was hired for a crucial sequence in September 2018. In May 2019, Anushka Shetty was confirmed to play a cameo role in the film. She was reportedly playing the role of Rani Lakshmibai, in which the story was narrated through her perspective.Crew
Cinematographer Ravi Varman who was initially signed for the project, was replaced by R. Rathnavelu, after he walked out of the project due to schedule conflicts. Rajeevan was signed to do production designing. Anju Modi, Uthara Menon, Sushmitha Konidela was signed to work as costume designers. London-based stunt choreographers Greg Powell, Lee Whittaker and Ram Lakshman choreographed the action sequences.Filming
Principal photography of the film kickstarted on 6 December 2017. The first schedule of the film was kickstarted on an aluminium factory located at Hyderabad, with the presence of Chiranjeevi and Brahmaji. The first schedule of the film was completed on 25 December. The second schedule of the film which was supposed to happen in January 2018, was postponed due to 20 February 2018. This schedule will be shot across Kerala, where Chiranjeevi and Nayanthara will be present. In March 2018, Nayanthara joined the sets of the film, after the shooting of her Tamil film Viswasam, with Ajith Kumar, has been interrupted due to a strike. The unit has completed some action sequences under the guidance of a team of stunt choreographers from South Africa. Amitabh Bachchan joined the sets of the film in Hyderabad on 28 March 2018.On 17 April, the shooting of the film was called off for unknown reasons, and was resumed later on 7 June 2018. Rajeevan erected a grant village set for a war sequence, which will be shot in night effect. The team spent 35 nights to shoot the entire schedule, which was wrapped up on 27 July 2018. In August 2018, the makers shot an action sequence at the Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad. In September 2018, a crucial war sequence was filmed, which cost the makers ₹45 crore. On late September 2018, the makers film an extensive climax sequence at Georgia, which was filmed within 25 days. A single stretch schedule was completed on 1 November to 10 December, followed by the team which went to shoot some sequences in Mysore.
In March 2019, Amitabh Bachchan rejoined the sets of the film, to complete few portions of the film, which were completed on 19 March 2019. Kiccha Sudeep, too entered the last schedule of the film on 29 March and completed late April. The makers filmed few scenes at Kerala on 19 April 2019, for a 10-day schedule which had battle sequences and several crucial scenes to be shot. After this schedule, the team returned to Hyderabad to shoot some important sequences with patchwork, which will be the last schedule in the entire shooting part.
The final schedule took place at a specially erected set in Kokapet which resembles a huge kingdom. On 2 May 2019, a major fire broke out at Chiranjeevi's farmhouse due to a short circuit. The farmhouse which was located nearby the shooting location, made a significant part of the film's set burnt to ashes, which made the makers lose more than ₹2 crore. Due to which the team had halted the shooting midway. On mid-May 2019, Anushka Shetty shot her cameo sequences for the film, followed by a shoot of a special song featuring Nayanthara and Chiranjeevi in a customised set at Annapurna Studios. On 24 June 2019, the entire shooting process of the film was wrapped.