A remake is the last thing Prashanth Raj ever wanted to attempt. That was before the Kannada director had watched Tamil film Pizza. So charmed was Prashanth by the love thriller that he decided to retell its story, his style. “I was offered to direct a lot of remakes after my film Love Guru but I did not take any up. Now, I have to admit that I have simply been driven crazy by Pizza. It will be a trendsetter. And I know I can make a better film than the original in terms of narration, dialogues and other technicalities. This is why I am finally ready with the remake,” says Prashanth.
The Kannada version of Pizza is being called Whistle. The buzz around the film built up to such a crescendo that Prashnath was inundated by enquiries from eager producers and actors. And he chose Chiranjeevi Sarja for the film. “Chiru makes for a classy hero who appeals to the masses as well. That’s the best part about having chocolate boy looks with a macho edge. For Pranitha Subhash, this movie will take her to a different level as it will give her the scope to showcase her acting talent rather just play a glam doll,” he says.
Prashanth has also experimented with the film’s genre. Where Pizza is more like a documentary, Whistle is going to be ‘pucca filmy style’. He says, “Both the hero and heroine spent 30 days in a workshop. It was necessary because this film is a love thriller and not a horror show. The body language of the artistes has to be moulded such that it doesn’t end up looking comic on-screen.”
Forty minutes of the movie was shot in a bungalow, using an expensive torch light bought especially from New York. “It is a torch used mostly by the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation). You can’t hold it for more than five minutes because it heats up fast,” says Prashanth, adding, “This was the most challenging part.’’
Interestingly, the Kannada remake will be released in one of the most famous theatres in Chennai. “We will simultaneously release Whistle in Satyam Cinema in Chennai and in several other multiplexes across the country. I am happy that we are going to release the film on such a grand scale. I hope the trend continues and is encouraged by film lovers,” he says.
Meanwhile, Pizza is already set for a sequel. Does that encourage Prashanth to follow suit with Whistle? “Whistle will be the first and last remake in my film career. I don’t intend to make it a habit. I am more inclined towards original scripts,” says Prashanth, setting the record straight.