Director A Harsha likes his facts but he also likes to keep the humane touch intact. And that is what makes his films relatable to the audience. After Vajrakaya, the director who believes in his gut instinct and does not shrink when challenges come by, is going on floors with his next, Jai Maruthi 800, this Friday.
Made under Jayanna Productions, Harsha has roped in Sharan to play the lead and reveals that he does not mind joining the bandwagon of those who believe in the power of star persona. “Sharan will be sporting a six-pack. I am a commercial director who believes that a mix of comedy, emotions and action is escalated to a new level if you add a surprise element in the form of presentation of the lead actor. His six-pack does not entail that we are working on an action film. In fact, he has just one major action sequence, which in itself will be a breathtaking segment,” he says.
Interestingly, Harsha will be starting with the climax schedule and he has chosen Ravi Varma to choreograph the stunts, which will go on for six days.
“I wanted to complete the action episode first so that Sharan can relax and come back to his normal shape,” he says. Sharan is waiting for the release of his next, Bullet Basya, directed by Jayatheerta.
According to the director, who is known for choosing distinct titles mainly referring to Lord Anjaneya, he has gone for Jai Maruthi this time and has added 800 to catch the pulse of the audience.
“After Bhajarangi, I made Vajrakaya and I wanted to be careful with my next title. Jai Maruthi is a common name to which people can connect. But people will have various assumptions about the number 800, which will be revealed when the film nears the interval,” says Harsha.
This time the director has also kept some funny taglines along with his title. ‘Happy Laughing Day’ and ‘No logic, only Magic’ are lines that he has chosen and according to him, they are there to reassure the audience that when it is Sharan, it will be pure comedy.
Breaking away from his previous films - Chingaari, Bhajarangi and Vajrakaya, which were either serious, historic or family oriented, Jai Maruthi 800 will break away from the director’s established image. “I wanted to break the monotony that I am going on a single track. And the reason for me to pick the subject was because of the script which has been penned by a renowned Telugu writer whose name I will not be able to reveal now. I am glad that after films like Bhajarangi and Vajrakaya, Tollywood technicians and heroes are recognising our work,” says Harsha, who also disclosed that he had the opportunity of meeting SS Rajamouli’s father Vijendra Prasad who was impressed and surprised about Sandalwood’s way of making commercial films with a moderate budget. “It is good to know that our body of work is noticed by bigwigs of other industries,” he remarks.
Determined to complete the film at the earliest, Harsha says that the film will have an ensemble cast of around 25 artistes with two major villains.
“I will open the film with a 16th century sequence and link it to the modern day. There will be lot of elements in this comedy film,” he assures.