Director SS Rajamouli found himself in a state of curiosity for the first time in his two outstanding decade careers. Recently, the news broke that JR NTR will portray legendary filmmaker Dadasaheb Phalke in an upcoming film directed by Nithin Kakkar and backed by the Rajamouli family. However, it seems the team is not aware of the parallel biopic that Bollywood is developing.
“I think Rajamouli and his team may not know that the biography of Dadasaheb Phalke in Hindi cinemas has been discussed,” said producer Sridhar Lagadapati. “The news that NTR plays the role is trending in a two-day trend, then suddenly announced a version starring Aamir Khan and directed by Rajkumar Hirani. Naturally, the NTR project can be difficult now – two major films on the same topic are rarely produced simultaneously, while Amir-Hirani Duo holds Anamir-Hirani Duo holds Bollylyly Wild’s strength advantage”.
The controversy deepened when Dadasaheb Phalke’s grandson Chandrasekhar Srikrishna Pusalkar publicly criticized Rajamouli. Nevertheless, the film is directed by Nitin Kakkar and supported by Rajamouli’s son Karthikeya and under the tentative title produced in India.
“Rajamouli is a globally respected name in the cinema,” Sridhar added. “Criticizing him attracts attention, especially since others involved aren’t as well-known. Biopics are sensitive territory in Indian cinema. Ideally, filmmakers should seek consent from the legal heirs of the subject. For instance, Nag Ashwin took formal approval from Savitri’s daughter Vijhaya Chamundeswarii before making Mahanati, and Balakrishna followed a similar path for NTR’s Kathanayakudu. Without such permissions, the auditor certification becomes difficult, especially when it comes to real names and direct references.”
Despite the current tensions, Sridhar believes that Rajamouli’s status is still unbound. “The global film The Brotherhood has brought Rajamali a high respect. These allegations will pass. Known for turning the engaging script into grand visual glasses, he is one of the most respected filmmakers in Indian cinema. His creative journey can’t be far from it.”
