Dramatic music. Sepia tones. A son trying to step out of his father’s shadow and yet voluntarily choosing to go back to it? The trailer for NTR: Kathanayakudu has all of these.
The first scene kind of proves why NTR was so iconic as Krishna. A voice in the background tells us that NTR had that mischievous twinkle in his eyes – a curious combination of genes that gave him the face of a sage and the twinkly eyes of a prankster. Balakrishna, as his father NTR, has the face. But that twinkle is missing.
That this is a star vehicle, in the guise of a biopic is very apparent. Balakrishna takes centre stage even though there is the occasional glimpse at Vidya Balan as Basava Tarakam, NTR’s spouse.
Kathanayukudu’s trailer does not dwell too much on the rise of an actor per se. In fact, it quickly races over these portions to focus on NTR’s soul searching moments. He is 60. He wants to live for the people.
His wife reminds him that people think of him as God.
But no. He wants to be one among the people.
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The three minute long trailer offers a thorough glimpse, if one could say that, at what the movie has in store. Hansika Motwani as Jayasudha and Rakul Preet Singh as Sridevi make appearances. But the spotlight is reserved for Balakrishna as he relies on heavy theatrical makeup and a resemblance to his legendary father to carry him through.
Krish Jagarlamudi directs this film that has music by MM Keeravani. Balakrishna produces this movie himself. Set for a release in January 9, 2018, the film boasts of an ensemble with the likes of Rana Daggubati, Kalyan Ram, Hansika Motwani, Tamannaah Bhatia, Vidya Balan in important roles.
The second part of the biopic, Mahanayakudu, will focus on the political life of NTR. It is scheduled for a release in 2020.