Inside Devara Part 1: Jr NTR opens up about Koratala Siva, epic action sequences
Jr NTR revealed insights about his collaboration with director Koratala Siva, Devara's unique themes, and the extensive effort involved in its production.
Jr NTR in and as Devara
Telugu superstar Jr NTR is brimming with excitement over his upcoming film Devara: Part 1, following the overwhelming response to the movie's trailer.
During the trailer launch, NTR spoke at length about his long-standing friendship with director Koratala Siva and the unique themes of the film. “Koratala Siva and I have known each other since Brindavanam, where he worked as a writer. Our friendship has grown over the years, and so has my respect for his craft. Sustaining the level of blockbusters that Siva delivers is no easy feat. His dedication to storytelling is unmatched—he constantly has the film's story running in his head and just needs the right space and people around him to excel.”
NTR further elaborated on the movie's main theme, which breaks away from the usual heroic arc. "Typically, in films, the protagonist emerges to give courage to the downtrodden. But in Devara, the story flips this idea. The protagonist comes when courage is already filled to the brim, and he instils fear," NTR explained.
The actor also praised the grand vision and scale of the film, particularly its intense action sequences and visual effects. He shared his experience of showing Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar some of the film's visuals. “When Karan sir saw a few visuals, his reaction shocked me—that’s when I realized this movie would really work. It’s an action drama, and it’s extremely high on action. We spent 38 days filming underwater and 60 days shooting over the water. The action scenes, combined with the CGI, are truly phenomenal.”
Devara also features Saif Ali Khan as the main villain, and it marks his debut in Telugu cinema. The film is due in cinemas on September 27.