Bankim Chandra's Anandamath will be brought back to life on screen by none other than SS Rajamouli’s protégé Ashwin Gangaraju. The accla...
Bankim Chandra's Anandamath will be brought back to life on screen by none other than SS Rajamouli’s protégé Ashwin Gangaraju. The acclaimed director will be helming the magnum opus “1770” based on Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's Bengali novel Anandamath. Internationally acclaimed author and filmmaker Ram Kamal Mukherjee is the creator of “1770”. Produced under the banner of SS1 Entertainment and PK Entertainment, producers Shhailendra Kumar, Sujayy Kuttiy, Krishna Kumar B and Suraj Sharma released the motion poster, marking 150 years of Vande Mataram.
The film will be made in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannad and Bengali. The team will lock the main lead before Dassera, and by Diwali, they will announce the star cast. Ashwin along with his team has already started researching the period and trying to create a visual tapestry that will be unique.
Ashwin Gangaraju, had assisted SS Rajamouli in “Eega and Baahubali” (both series). He made his debut as a director with the critically acclaimed “Aakashvani” in 2021.
"This subject
was a huge challenge for me, but with legendary V Vijayendra Prasad sir writing
the adapted story and screenplay, I think what we have on paper is a
blockbuster cinematic experience," said Ashwin Gangaraju.
"As a filmmaker, I’m more drawn towards stories which have periodic setups, bigger emotions, the scope for larger-than-life action, etc and this is something that sits in perfectly for me. Initially, I was a little skeptical. but I spoke to Ram Kamal Mukherjee and after listening to his vision I gained confidence," he added.
"I met producers Shhailendra ji, Sujayy Kuttiy sir, Krishna Kumar sir, and Suraj Sharma in Mumbai shortly after that. We had a long discussion on the film and how they wanted to take it forward. Their warmth and attitude of working as a team made me connect to them instantly," shares Ashwin.
Incidentally, this year too marks 150 years of Vande Mataram, the song that appeared first in Bankim Chandra's novel Anandamath, which almost shook the roots of the British Empire. India's celebrated storyteller V Vijayendra Prasad who has penned the screenplay says, "I feel that Vande Mataram was a magical word. It was a mantra that was given by Maharishi Bankim Chandra for a nation to unite against tyranny and injustice. In 1770, we deal with the story of unknown warriors who ignited the fire of the freedom movement."
Ram Kamal Mukherjee says, "I am grateful to my producers for having faith in my vision. I instantly liked the vibe of Ashwin as a filmmaker. He came prepared, with his own ideas, that enhanced the narrative visually. I loved his film Aakashvani and appreciate his skill as a storyteller. But the most important aspect of 1770 lies in the magical words written by Vijayendra Prasad sir, who is known for his unique ideas. His way of storytelling connects with the audiences, beyond linguistic boundaries. I am truly blessed to have a passionate team like this."
Shhailendra Kkumar from SS1 Entertainment feels that this is the right time to make larger-than-life cinema. He collaborated with Suraj Sharma from PK Entertainment and former Zee Studio head Sujayy Kuttiy and producer Krishna Kumar B to make this dream come true. "As a singer from Jhansi, we have grown up singing Vande Mataram in our schools and colleges. But when Ramda (Kamal) mentioned the story of Anandamath and Vijayendra sir gave his version, I was completely bowled over. I am grateful to Sujayy Kuttiy and Krishna Kumar B for making this impossible task possible. It's not a film, it’s a dream to create one of the finest entertaining cinemas for the big screen."
Suraj Sharma from PK Entertainment says, "Being the youngest in the team, I am glad to be a part of this dream project. I am so fortunate to learn so much from experts and legends who created such blockbusters."
Producer Sujayy Kuttiy, who is known for making historical sagas like Manikarnika-The Queen of Jhansi and many other prestigious films under Zee Studios, collaborated on 1770 because he could see the potential in the narrative. "My equation with Vijayendra Prasad sir is beyond work. He is an inspiration. I was sure that if I ever make 1770, then this has to be written by sir, or else I am not doing this film," he said.
"Sujayy sir is
absolutely right," seconds producer Krishna Kumar B, "A film as huge
as Anandamath needs an extremely able shoulder. We have grown up singing Vande
Mataram, and now we will witness the birth of this mantra. I have closely
worked with Ashwin and his associates, and when Ram Garu (Kamal) narrated the
story to me, I had Ashwin in my mind."
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