We are going ahead with our release, says Nagarjuna

Nagarjuna says his producers are going ahead with the release of the out-and-out comedy 'Bangarraju' which stars Nag and his son Naga Chaitanya.

Says Nag, “We are releasing as per schedule on January 14. The third wave is not that strong in Hyderabad and Andhra. Yesterday there were huge traffic jams in Hyderabad as people made their way back to their villages. We are confident that  people would want to see our film.”

Nag is confident of getting his audience, “It is the kind of an escapist no-brainer that people need right now. We have no intellectual pretensions in 'Bangarraju'. It is  a straightforward escapist entertainer  meant to make  people forget  their  worries for  two hours.”

But Rajamouli chose to postpone the release of RRR again.

Nag reasons,  “ But postponing that film is not the same thing as postponing our film. We are targeting our film at predominantly an Andhra-Telangana audience whereas RRR  is meant for a pan-India audience. In fact why just India?  RRR is aimed at a  global audience. There is no comparison between the expected  reach  of their film and  ours.”

Nag is confident that audiences will turn up in movie theatres for 'Bangarraju' “There is a tradition of watching movies in  Andhra and Telangana for Makkar Sankranti.  They do their pujas and then they dress up in new clothes and go see  a movie. Every year as many as  4-5  big films are released on Makar Sankranti. This time, the situation being what it is, it’s just 'Bangarraju'.  I am not saying to take risks to see it. But mask up, take all precautions and you are promised a  super time. It is actually a super-hero film.

Nag calls  'Bangarraja' a super-hero though not  like the  Malayalam blockbuster 'Minnal  Murali'.“Bangarrraju is not a superhero film in that sense. Neither Chaitanya nor I  get into superhero suits. But it is about powers that guide us through life. In Indian culture, we believe that our ancestors look over us. Bangarraju is about that. It also has a  wise thoughtful snake. It’s a  crazy crazy film, as mad as Manmohan Desai’s cinema. Audiences should leave their brains behind and come for it.”

Nag  shares screen space  with his  son Naga Chaitanya.The younger Akkineni was not nervous of his father’s presence. “If he was, I didn’t see any nervousness. I   saw a remarkable change in  Chaitanya during  Bangarajju. When we did  Manam together he was new and raw.  Now after 'Love Story' last year, I saw a  very confident co-actor in  Bangarajju. Initially, Chaitanya was nervous about doing something so over-the-top. But he gradually got a  hang of it. By the time we completed  the film he was  as  confident as me.”

Chaitanya conducted himself with dignity during the family crisis last year.

Speaking for the first time on the family crisis when Naga Chaitanya’s wife Samantha ended their marriage, Nagarjuna says, “I am very proud of how calm he remained through it all. He was not provoked into uttering a  single word. Like any father, I  was very worried about him. But he was more worried about me than I was about him. He would ask me, ‘You okay, Dad?’  and I’d be like, errr,  ‘Isn’t that what I should be asking  you?’

 Looking back at the challenges that destiny threw at his family last year Nag says, “I would rather focus on the good than the bad. Both my sons broke through the so-called  jinx  to  deliver mature performances in hit films. I am proud of both Chaitanya and Akhil for what they achieved in 'Love Story' and 'Most Eligible Bachelor'.”