The drive from the north of Bengaluru to the south takes half a day. We are on the way to Sterling Terrace, 3rd Stage Banashankari, one of the locations where the shoot of Premier Padmini is on. The film features Jaggesh, Sudha Rani and Bollywood actress Madhoo in lead roles.
It is produced by Shruti Naidu is venturing into film production with Premier Padmini. The film is directed by Ramesh Indira. We reach the venue just minutes before the lunch break. The film is being shot in the apartment’s garden, where Jaggesh is supposed to walk with Pramod into the building. The scene is perfected in just one take and Ramesh calls for a “break”.
Everyone disperses. Most actors take off to their respective resting places, while we sit at Shruti’s office in Sterling Terrace, which is also one of the locations.It is elegantly designed with carved furniture, plants, a hand-crafted veena and a smart TV.
There is absolute silence in the apartment where the actors are resting. At 2.30 pm the shoot resumes in the garden. Sudha Rani is getting her hair set and finds it a task to keep it in place as it is windy. Advaitha makes a proxy actor stand-in Sudha Rani’s place and finalises the camera angle, light and immediately says the shot is ready. Sudha Rani takes her position.
She is supposed to walk a few steps, look back, wave and get into her car, which she does with ease. But a retake has to be done as the wind creates havoc with her open hair. Finally, everything goes well and Ramesh gives a thumbs up.
The maker
Shruti says the film is her first banner. “I have been in the television industry for 12 years and have brought out 12 serials. Currently, we have three serials on air. Ramesh wrote a brilliant screenplay and script of Premier Padmini . All of us loved the script. We got Jaggesh on board and roped in Pramod. The story revolves around the car, Jaggesh and his driver and their relationship. Sudha plays a single woman and Madhoo esays the role of Jaggesh’s wife. The film looks at life from Jaggesh’s and the driver’s viewpoint. The latter is from a village and the film explores the manner in which he looks at the fast-paced cosmopolitan city life –with struggles in relationships and divorce,” explains Shruti, who plans to release the film in December.
The actor makes a point
Sudha Rani says she is lucky to have played different characters in her last 10 films.
“I loved this story. It is not the usual formula and has middle-aged characters in lead roles. I love the way Ramesh has captured the small nuances of relationships, especially the one between the characters of Vinayak (Jaggesh) and Spandana (Sudha Rani). People accept friendship between a young man and a woman, but how does it look when two older people become friends? I am thrilled to be a part of this project.”
Perfect cut
Director Ramesh Indira has written the story and has been in the industry for 12 years. “Though I have dabbled in serials, I don’t find any difference between them and films. The technical aspects are almost the same in both mediums. It is only the vastness that is different. The characterisation is what is important. Once the audience connects to the characters on screen, they will not be bothered about the technicalities of how the film is made. Serials take months to end, but films have to end fast. Yet, nothing is difficult if you are well prepared and have done your homework — no matter what the medium you use to create a story.”
“I first wrote the script with just two characters — the driver and the owner. It was meant to be a conversation between them, followed by an incident, more conversation and so on. I felt people would get bored and wove in other characters. The presentation of characters is very different here. Actors are playing the characters their own age, so it will be close to reality.”
Star attraction
Jaggesh chose the film as the “story is different.
“This is about a middle-aged couple, their struggles and divorce. This film will bring families out to the theatres to watch it. Competition is tough with streaming platforms and TV. We have to make films that are really good. This team is good to work with."
