SS Rajamouli promotes his latest movie RRR in the US. Western audiences seem to have been overwhelmed by the “rich imagination” of the filmmakers. Rajamouli was very happy to win the Oscar during a question and answer session at the IFC Center after the film starring Ram Charan and Junior NTR, but it changes the way the story is told. I made it clear that I wouldn’t.
“Whether RRR wins an Oscar or not, my plans for the next film will not change. I’m not going to change my ways.As a filmmaker I have to constantly upgrade myself.I have to update my storytelling tools.It goes sideways.What I mean, what I mean is No change,” said Rajamouli.
SS Rajamouli is in the US to attend multiple screenings and address audiences as part of an effort to increase RRR’s chances at the Oscars. It’s worth noting that no Indian film has been nominated for an Oscar in the last 21 years since Aamir Khan’s Ragan.
Interestingly, like Ragan, RRR is also set against the backdrop of the British Empire, highlighting the courage of the Indians who refuse to follow colonial rule. Rajamouli was also asked how he feels about RRR.
“There’s a disclaimer card at the beginning of the movie. If you miss it, it’s not a history lesson. It’s a story. Audiences generally get it. They understand that I’m not saying that all British people are villains, if my hero is Indian, they understand that all Indians are heroes. So, certain guys are villains, certain guys are heroes, they automatically understand, they don’t know everything, but they have very high emotional intelligence.As a storyteller. Once you understand that, you don’t have to worry about other peripheral things,” he explained.
