Natural Star Nani is stepping into a distinctly intense space with The Paradise, his collaboration with Dasara director Srikanth Odela. While the film promises a raw and action-heavy theatrical experience, Nani says the story is ultimately driven by emotion, particularly the bond between a mother and son.
“There is as much action in The Paradise as I have never done before. But every fight begins with a strong reason and an emotional lead. Srikanth enjoys a commercial movie and emotion equally. He is a very theatre guy. He designs every scene in a way that the audience can enjoy it in theatres. Srikanth approves a take only when he is fully satisfied with it.”
The Paradise is set in a fictional world revolving around the Sawari tribe. Nani explained, “The Paradise is set in a place where the fictional tribe called Sawari has no recognition. Even when they die, they have no identity. They don’t exist in the law. Their fight is for an identity.”
At the centre of this world is Nani’s character Jadal, whose appearance and behaviour are unlike the relatable characters the actor has generally played. Nani stressed that his hairstyle is not merely a visual experiment. “The Jadal is not just to try a new look. There’s a valid reason behind it. The character didn’t grow up in normal society. He has an extreme madness from the beginning. With a little shock value and wonder, you will watch him and feel that he is very different.”
The physical transformation came with its own challenges. “The main problem was the Jadal look. Sometimes we shot for 36 hours in a single stretch. Working with the Jadal hair was very difficult. Rope shots were even harder. The fight masters felt sorry for us. The makeup takes around one to one-and-a-half hours in the morning, and removing it takes about 20 minutes.”
The actor also pushed himself in the dance department. “I haven’t done many songs with scope for dance before. But according to Srikanth, I am a good dancer. I pushed myself for him. After Aaya Sher and then Yesha Nagula, Srikanth’s belief in me came true. I also enjoyed doing the dances.”
Music is another major component of The Paradise. Nani believes Anirudh Ravichander has delivered something particularly special for the film. “I feel this will be the best music from Anirudh. The Paradise has given him an opportunity to bring out his best. Anirudh has an extreme grip on sound, while Srikanth has a strong grip on our folk songs. You will witness their craziness in theatres.”
The film’s emotional backbone, however, remains the mother-son relationship. “The film starts with mother emotion and ends with mother emotion. The mother emotion takes you home. That emotion will give you a hangover. This is a film for family audiences. The mother-son emotion is very real. Since there is a lot of violence, it may be difficult for very young children to watch. But this is a proper drama and an emotional film. Everything you expect from a commercial cinema can be seen in it.”
The actor also spoke about Mohan Babu, who plays a particularly brutal character. “Srikanth suggested his name. He has never done something this brutal before. Mohan Babu was very excited. There are some scenes in this story where you see what he does and how much torture he inflicts. Raghav is popular for his dance and has very good comedy timing. He will be seen in a Completely different role in this film. Kayaadhu Lohar has a very interesting and surprising role. Sonali is extremely professional. The effort she put in is next level. She never complained about anything and worked extra hours in very tough conditions. She is the best choice for the character.”