NEW DELHI: Actors Jr NTR and Janhvi Kapoor began shooting for their upcoming film 'NTR 30' with a pooja ceremony on Thursday.

Pictures and videos from the launch ceremony have surfaced on social media.

In one of the pictures, Jr NTR and Janhvi can be seen joining filmmaker SS Rajamouli on stage as he gave the clap for the first shot and announced the commencement of the shoot.

అన్న గారి ఆశీస్సులతో..href="https://twitter.com/tarak9999?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tarak9999 @NANDAMURIKALYAN @NTRArtsOfficial @YuvasudhaArts @anirudhofficial #NTRKoratalaSiva2 pic.twitter.com/EdplWRdCsz

— NTR Fans Anantapur Official (@NTRFansATP39) March 23, 2023

Cute moment capture of NTR and Janhvi from the event.

Awwe cute@tarak9999 #jahnvikapoor #NTR30 #NTR30StormBegins #ManOfMassesNTR #NTRKoratalaSiva2 pic.twitter.com/1x457aZM4b

— SandhyaRag(@KSRagam) March 23, 2023

Janhvi who is set to make a debut in the South industry also shared a glimpse of her special journey.

In the first picture, she can be seen dressed in a beautiful green saree and matching accessories. In the next picture, Janhvi shared a picture of the 'NTR30' clapboard image.

Sharing the pictures, she wrote, "Happy day. The start of the most special journey #NTR30."

After 'Janatha Garage', Jr NTR is reuniting with Koratala Siva for this film.

As soon as the news was uploaded, Janhvi's fans and industry friends chimed in the comment section.

Maheep Kapoor wrote, "Congratulations my love."

Shanaya Kapoor reacted with red heart emojis.

Anirudh Ravichander will be in charge of the music, R Rathnavelu will be manning the camera, Sabu Cyril will lead the art and Sreekar Prasad will be the editor of the film 'NTR-30'.

Meanwhile, Janhvi has an interesting line-up of movies in her kitty. She will be seen in director Nitesh Tiwari's film 'Bawaal' alongside Varun Dhawan. She will also feature in a sports drama film 'Mr and Mrs Maahi' opposite Rajkummar Rao.

MUMBAI: Actress Rashmika Mandanna has said that she will not be dancing to the popular number 'Saami Saami' from 'Pushpa: The Rise' anymore.

Rashmika interacted with her fans in a question and answer session.

When a fan told her that he wants to groove with her to her famous Saami Saami song, Rashmika said she's danced too many times to the song.

She wrote back: "I've done saami saami step tooooo many times.. that now I feel like I'll have issues with my back when I get older.. why you do this to me re.. ?? let's do something else when me meet."

She was also asked if she would be working with Thalapathy Vijay, to which Rashmika replied that she is manifesting that.

One even asked her if she likes Malayalam cinema, to which Rashmika replied: "Are you kidding.. loveeeeee Malayalam cinema..Malayalam films are just so pure and people are fullllll love."

The actress also told a fan, who enquired about her performing Lavani at an award event, that she will speak Marathi "little little".

"It was surreal. Learnt some new Marathi phrases well.. soon I'll manage to speak like little little.. ?? hopefully!," Rashmika said.

Rashmika is now looking forward to the release of 'Pushpa: The rule' starring Allu Arjun.

Making her debut in the Telugu film industry in 2015 with 'Hora Hori', Daksha Nagarkar has done a string of small-yet-significant roles in films like Husharu (2018) and Zombie Reddy (2020), registering her presence with the audiences here.

Ahead of Ravanasura, her biggest feature so far, Daksha talks to CE about her career, acting choices and aspirations — all while being tight-lipped about her role in the film

What made you want to be a part of Ravanasura? 

I was initially approached by the producer of the film. As soon as I heard that this project was directed by Sudheer Varma, I was excited. While narrating the film’s story to me, Sudheer sir explained to me the colour palette of Ravanasura and how the film will be painted in hues of neon. As an artist myself, I was instantly attracted to this world.

Every actor wishes to be a part of a film that has its own visual style, at least once in their career. For me to be a part of such a film, especially so early in my career, feels great. I have seen Keshava (2017), one of Sudheer sir’s earlier films, and I felt very instinctively, that is the kind of films I should be a part of. Of course, I heard that it was Ravi (Teja) sir’s film later and it was just the cherry on top! When you get a film that is both commercially viable and satisfies you as an artist — what more do you want? 

Could you speak a little about your role in the film?

I can’t reveal too much about my role in the film, we really want audiences to walk into the theatre with whatever preconceived notions they have of my role and then totally be surprised. But I will tell you a bit about how I got this exact role.

When Abhishek Nama, the producer first approached me for the film, he actually gave me a choice between a bunch of characters in the film. He felt that I could fit in well in any role that they have offered me. I later heard Srikanth Vissa (screenwriter of Ravanasura) narrate the story, following which I made a decision about the role I eventually ended up playing in the film.

The role I chose has a lot of scope for me to perform, especially considering my character in Ravanasura is a total contrast to me. 

It has been seven-odd years since you made your debut in the Telugu film industry with the Teja directorial 'Hora Hori'. Could you reflect a bit on your career and how things are then vs now?

I was 15 when I did my first film with Teja sir. He casted me after seeing my photos from a junior pageant. That is how I got my debut film. I am from Delhi, and as a North Indian, you always hear about how open and accepting Telugu audiences are, and how they lift you up. I am very glad to be a part of this industry, it is a very happy space to be in. 

There is a four-year gap between your first and second films. Why did the long break happen?

I was all of 15, when I did my first film and since I come from an academically inclined family, I had to take a break from films to complete my studies, following which I signed my second film. Acting is a physically and mentally taxing profession and I felt strongly that I needed to be stable and strong, which I would not have been as a teenager. So I just took that time off, to grow up and mature a bit. 

How did it feel, to work in the crime genre for the first time? 

I have always been open to tackling new themes and fresh stories in my career. I played the role of a mentally disturbed girl in Hora Hori. Husharu, my second film, had this Dil Chahta Hai (2001), buddy comedy vibe to it. And as you all know, Zombie Reddy was the first zombie film in the Telugu film industry.

Ravanasura is a very different kind of film, you cannot put it in any boxes or categories as such. I want to do all kinds of films, even the ones where a girl is dancing behind trees, but I am choosing whatever catches my interest at the moment. I am very young and I can be moulded into anything a director visualises. 

Could you speak a bit about your experience working with Ravi Teja?

Till my first day on the sets, only till I met him for the first time, I was under this cloud, of working with the ‘great Ravi Teja’, the ‘mass maharaja’ and whatnot. The few seconds after I met him, all those illusions fell apart in the best way. Sir is just like us, he would crack jokes, lightening up the atmosphere on the sets.

He would switch on and off between action and cut effortlessly, he is not one of those serious method actors. In addition to being extremely humble, he is also a very secure and giving actor. When you do a scene with him, he will not hog your space, he will let you have your moment. 

What kind of future do you see for yourself in the industry?

Growing up, I was a huge fan of Madhuri Dixit. Among contemporary actresses, I really like Alia Bhatt. These are the actors known for their versatility, they do all kinds of roles. That is also the kind of career I see myself having, where I do both commercial and author-backed roles. 

MUMBAI: Being part of a troupe dancing to "Naatu Naatu", moments before the popular "RRR" song won an Oscar, was a dream-come-true moment for Lauren Gottlieb, content with the act she described as the "important performance" of her life.

The who's who of Hollywood clapped and stood up after dancers belonging to different ethnicities shook a leg to the hook step of the Academy Award-winning track, sung live on the Dolby Theatre stage by singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava during Sunday's ceremony in Los Angeles.

Gottlieb, an India-based actor-dancer, said the team achieved their goal with the thunderous response to the performance, originally picturised on "RRR" leading men Ram Charan, Jr NTR, and British actor Olivia Morris.

"We accomplished what we set out to as we were met with a standing ovation from thousands of the biggest names in Hollywood at the Academy Awards. It was the most important performance of my life and it truly made history at the Oscars," she said in an email interview.

The smiles on everyone's faces during the performance, for which they only had 18 hours to rehearse, was thrilling to see, she said.

"At the end of the performance, I was standing centre stage joining my hands together in 'namaste', bowing in front of all of Hollywood giving a standing ovation! As a performer, it cannot get any better than receiving a standing ovation at the Oscars," added the American dancer.

The over two-minute performance was introduced by Hindi cinema star Deepika Padukone, who had to pause at least thrice in between owing to the loud cheers from the A-list audience.

The organisers of the act recreated the set of the song, originally shot on the lawns of the Presidential Palace of Kyiv, Ukraine.

Gottlieb, who was the female lead of the performance, said her heart was full of pride when she got an opportunity to honour India and the Telugu film industry on the global stage.

"My heart was racing with excitement hearing Deepika Padukone introduce us. To be on stage with singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava was monumental. Original performers Ram Charan and Jr NTR greeted us after we got off stage and said we rocked it. It made me tear up," the 34-year-old said.

When "Naatu Naatu" composer MM Keeravaani and lyricist Chandrabose have announced the winners of the Best Original Song Oscar, the actor-dancer said she erupted with joy with the group.

"I was in our wardrobe room when I heard 'Naatu Naatu' being called for winning Best Original Song. Me and the other dancers screamed!" said Gottlieb, who describes India as her "second home". When M M Keeravani and Chandrabose were given their Oscar trophies and delivered acceptance speeches, we all grabbed hands and were beaming with pride. See, what we put together was an extension of what the 'RRR' team spent years working to create. All week we worked towards honouring the excellence of 'RRR'," she added.

ALSO READ | We shot for 'Naatu Naatu' in peak pandemic time: Veteran line producer Natarajan Ramji

The actor, who has appeared in Remo D'Souza's 'ABCD' film franchise, said India's Oscar win feels like a personal victory.

"I'm so thrilled India and the Telugu film industry has got the recognition it rightfully deserves. I'm looking forward to many more nominations and awards to come for India," she added.

Post her "Naatu Naatu" performance, Gottleib said she is looking forward to featuring in a Telugu movie song.

ALSO READ | Naatu naatu rocks the Oscars: Messages of love pour in

"I've had such a wonderful time the past 10 years performing in songs and in stage shows in India. This was the first track from Telugu films that I performed. South Indian songs, like Deepika Padukone said, are a total banger. I would love to feature in one in the future," she added.

At the 95th Oscars, India also bagged another award with Kartiki Gonsalves' "The Elephant Whisperers", taking home the trophy for Best Documentary Short.

The trailer of Dasara has been the talk of the town ever since its online premiere on Tuesday. The promo, which establishes the mood and the world of the film, gives away little about the conflict, leading to numerous theories and predictions among movie buffs. With the Telugu trailer singularly amassing close to 6 million within a day of its release, it is clear to say that expectations and hype are touching the sky. But debutant director Srikanth Odela, however, has chosen to remain oblivious to the outside world as he is occupied in the final stages of post-production. “I have no idea what’s happening outside, to be honest. I have been busy with sound mixing and other post-production activities,” Srikanth says.

While it’s fair to say that the rawness on display in the trailer does remind one of the films like Rangasthalam, Karnan and Pushpa, Srikanth says, “There will be more surprises in the film.” Speaking about the film’s core, the debutant, a man of few words, adds, “More than being an action film or a love story, Dasara is a proper, intense drama.”

Another factor that has generated intrigue and a fair share of apprehension from the trailer is the sheer volume of bloodshed. One particular shot features what looks like a decapitated head wrapped in a gunny bag being thrown against a wall, splattering blood on the poster on it. Is Dasara going to be heavy on violence? Expressing his surprise about reactions to violence, Srikanth shares, “There will be violence, but it won’t be at a level that shocks the viewer.

Whatever you have seen in the trailer, it’ll be in that range and won’t go beyond that. The mood will be intense, for sure. But I guarantee that it won’t be disturbing for the viewers. Violence wouldn’t be a problem at all. Likewise, there will be no vulgarity in any form.” Dasara, also starring Keerthy Suresh, Shine Tom Chacko and Sai Kumar in prominent roles has cinematography by Sathyan Sooryan and music by Santosh Narayanan. The film is set to release in theatres on March 30 in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada and Malayalam.

The trailer of Dasara has been the talk of the town ever since its online premiere on Tuesday. The promo, which establishes the mood and the world of the film, gives away little about the conflict, leading to numerous theories and predictions among movie buffs. With the Telugu trailer singularly amassing close to 6 million within a day of its release, it is clear to say that expectations and hype are touching the sky. But debutant director Srikanth Odela, however, has chosen to remain oblivious to the outside world as he is occupied in the final stages of post-production. “I have no idea what’s happening outside, to be honest. I have been busy with sound mixing and other post-production activities,” Srikanth says.

While it’s fair to say that the rawness on display in the trailer does remind one of the films like Rangasthalam (2018), Karnan (2021) and Pushpa (2021), Srikanth says, “There will be more surprises in the film.” Speaking about the film, the debutant, a man of few words, adds, “More than being an action film or a love story, Dasara is a proper, intense drama.”

Another factor that has generated intrigue and a fair share of apprehension from the trailer is the sheer volume of bloodshed. One particular shot features what looks like a decapitated head wrapped in a gunny bag being thrown against a wall, splattering blood on the poster on it. Is Dasara going to be heavy on violence? Expressing his surprise about reactions to violence, Srikanth shares, “There will be violence, but it won’t be at a level that shocks the viewer. Whatever you have seen in the trailer, it’ll be in that range and won’t go beyond that. The mood will be intense, for sure. But I guarantee that it won’t be disturbing for the viewers. Violence wouldn’t be a problem at all. Likewise, there will be no vulgarity in any form.” Dasara, also starring Keerthy Suresh, Shine Tom Chacko and Sai Kumar in prominent roles has cinematography by Sathyan Sooryan and music by Santosh Narayanan. The film is set to release in theatres on March 30 in Telugu, Tamil,Hindi, Kannada and Malayalam.

Two days after MM Keeravani sang The Carpenters hit 1970s track 'Top of the world' during his Oscar acceptance speech, Richard Carpenter, the remaining Carpenter. responded to Keeravani through his Instagram handle. 

He has shared a video on his profile in which he along with his daughters are seen performing an improvised version of the hit track.

They can be heard singing, "We're on the top of the world for your winning creation and we hope you know how proud of you we are. You're the best there is around and we hope you know it now, your win puts us at the top of the world."

Richard wrote in the caption "To MM Keeravaani and Chandra Bose: Heartfelt congratulations on your win for Best Original Song. Here is a little something from our family to you and yours."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Richard Carpenter (@richardcarpenterofficial)

During his speech, the  61-year-old, who made the world dance to the hit number from S S Rajamouli's blockbuster said "There was only one wish on my mind, so was Rajamouli's and our families'...'RRR' has to win, the pride of every Indian and must put me on the top of the world," Keeravaani sang to thunderous applause from the audience gathered at Los Angeles' Dolby Theatre on March 12th.

Naatu Naatu started as a Telugu song, became an Indian phenomenon and then a worldwide rage, gaining momentum in the lead-up to the Oscars, where it has won the ‘Best Original Song’ award, over the likes of famous artists Rihanna, and Lady Gaga.

ALSO READ | Lost in translation: Malayalam media mistakes Keeravani's inspiration 'The Carpenters' for singing carpenters!

The words which come right before the chorus of Naatu Naatu, ‘Naa paata soodu’ is rather telling of the impact the song made across the world. The words, which roughly translate to, “watch my song” sets a distinct tone from the word go, indicating to the audience that this song is meant for listening as much as it is for watching.

This is also the defining characteristic of the unique, colourful genre of filmy music at large, which is synonymous with dancing and visual spectacle. From the dream sequences of yore to abstract visualizations employed to levitate a film’s underlying themes to numbers that amplify dramatic conflicts like Naatu Naatu, Indian cinema’s song and dance provide immense entertainment, in addition to being a rich source of our nation’s soft power and cultural diplomacy.

While composers and choreographers of songs are rightfully at the forefront of the list of credits when it comes to film songs, line producers, who go to great lengths to source beautiful, production-friendly locations for these songs and marshall an army of extras are the unsung warriors of Indian film music. one among them is veteran location scout Natarajan Ramji, whose primary job is to source foreign locations used in Indian films for a living. From the picturesque New Zealand seen in Chiranjeevi’s Bavagaru Bagunnara? (1998) to the exotic Salar De Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia used for a dream sequence song in Sarrainodu (2016) to the Mariyinsky Palace of Ukraine, where the Oscar-winning Naatu Naatu from RRR was shot, Ramji is the man behind it all.

Joining CE on a telephonic interview from Marrakech, Morocco, Ramji expresses his happiness at being a part of an Academy Award-winning film. “I am totally speechless and overwhelmed with gratitude. I was on a flight when the ceremony took place and my phone was buzzing with countless congratulatory messages once I landed. To have our cinema reach this pinnacle of global success is truly an act of god. I will attribute all of this success to Rajamouli. His vision got us all here.”

Speaking to us about how he locked in on the location of the Presidential Palace in Ukraine, Ramji continues, “It all started in June 21, 2021, we shot for Naatu Naatu in peak pandemic time. Rajamouli wanted a palace for a song sequence. The requirement was pretty specific, he wanted a huge property that looked like it was from the New Delhi of the 1920s. We don’t have locations reminiscent of that time anymore, in that same pristine condition. So, we began to look overseas for a location that will provide a perfect backdrop for our song sequence. It is important to note that the locations we find should not only match the director’s original vision but should also be economically feasible for the producer. We had shortlisted three locations and locked in on the Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Despite decades of experience in the arcane business of international location scouting, the pre-production and shoot of Naatu Naatu, which happened in the middle of the second wave of covid, gave Ramji unprecedented logistical challenges. Speaking about the personal and professional challenges he endured whilst shooting the song, Ramji said, “The entire process, from doing a recce to arranging travel for the team to ensuring a smooth shoot in Ukraine was a huge challenge. I hadn’t worked for a year-and-a-half due to the pandemic. This film had cast members from both India and the UK. The Brits could not go to India, the Indians could not leave the country. International flights were all closed at that time. I had to leave the country on for a recce on June 24, a week before my daughter’s engagement. If I had got Covid, I would have ended up missing her big day. With a lot of hesitation, I told my wife that I will be going to Ukraine for the location recce. She did not want me to leave the country until I told her that it was a Rajamouli film.”

It took a year and a half to make this song and Ramji is rightfully happy with the global success of Naatu Naatu. But he is also quick to reflect that the famous song was shot in a country that is currently in the middle of a deadly war with Russia. Anna Palunchuk, who helped Ramji to coordinate the Ukraine schedule of RRR, has taken asylum in Canada. The rest of the Ukrainian crew is still stuck in the war-ravaged nation. Ramji is hoping that Ukraine’s president Volodmyr Zelenskyy, outside whose residence Naatu Naatu was shot, will get the Nobel Peace Prize soon.

Ramji closes the interview with some insights on how his profession is evolving at a swift pace. “For the longest time, the West represented aspiration for us, which is why a lot of the songs in the past were shot abroad. But things are changing now; these days we go overseas to recreate India. Rajamouli is a game changer, in that regard. Every day brings forth a new opportunity and a new challenge to scale.”