Dhoni is a film that deals with one of the most sensitive issues of our country – the educational system. It highlights the manner in which parents’ greed kill their children’s passion. On the brighter side, it also tells of the great love a father has for his son.
Responding to the view that the same facts have been told before through other films, Prakash Raj says, “This is Prakash Raj’s film. I have told it in my way. I’m not sure if all other films have talked about our educational system. My film Dhoni tells you what happens in every middle-class family. The pressure put on hapless children and how their passion goes unnoticed.”
Prakash Raj, who is the producer of this film, has for the first time donned the director’s cap too. And it seems, he’s enjoyed the experience. Says he, “Though I had three roles to play – director, producer and actor, I feel acting was the role that I had to concentrate on. I’m an actor first. The other two follow. Being a director is not a role. Also, it wasn’t hectic, because I love what I’m doing.
“The reason I chose to play the lead was because I couldn’t find another actor to play this role.”
Apparently, the Telugu-Tamil bi-lingual, which is slated to release on February 10, is based on Mahesh Manjrekar’s Marathi film, Shikshanachya Aaicha Gho.
The director, who was impressed with the Marathi story, decided to remake it in Tamil and that’s how Dhoni happened, he says. But why Dhoni? “If you see, these days, children aspire to become a cricketer like Dhoni, after India won the World Cup. And in this film, Aakash (son of director Puri Jagannath), who plays my son, wants to be a cricketer like Dhoni, hence the title.”
With expectations soaring high for the film, Prakash Raj wants his audience to believe in his story, before they come and watch his film. “I want to deliver quality cinema to my audience.”