Advent of a new don

'Don Seenu' is set to be an action packed entertainer featuring Raviteja and Shriya Saran.

Scene from Don Seenu

Philanthropist producer Venkat's R.R. Movie Makers kick-started one more movie with Raviteja playing the title role, Don Seenu . Shriya Saran makes a come back to Telugu films as his love interest. The unit helmed by first time director Gopichand Malineni was filming the climax portions at the aluminium factory on the outskirts of Hyderabad last week.

Apart from the lead pair, Srihari, Sayaji Shinde and Mahesh Manjrekar, and a few other artistes were part of the emotion and action mixed sequence laced with a liberal dose of Raviteja's light banter. Cinematographer Sameer Reddy is using the Super 35 camera to film the scene. “This fast paced entertainer is shot entirely with this camera,” says Gopichand during the break.

In some children certain impressions make a strong impact and are carried forward into adulthood. In the movie at age five Seenu had seen Amitabh Bachchan's

Don and ever since then he nurtured an ambition of becoming a don. In high school he called himself one and bullied others. Later this passion led him to some of the dreaded dons – Srihari a don from Hyderabad city and Sayaji Shinde a rival don, and Mahesh Manjrekar. “There are many dons in this world, but they do not know that one is coming to challenge them” smiles Gopichand withholding the lead scene to the climax.

He says the film is a typical Raviteja mark entertainer set in a different ambience. “His energy levels are superb and inspiring. It is a blessing for any first time director to work with him and producer Venkat. Raviteja respects the director even if he is a debutant and gives exactly what the director wants. Though he has given many super hits he has no attitude problem. It is a boon to make my debut with him.”

Raviteja reciprocates, “Gopichand has clarity of thought and naturally the work goes at a fast pace.” Gopichand had worked as an associate with Srinu Vytla (for Venky and Dhee ), Murugadas (Gajini and Stalin ) and Meher Ramesh ( Kantri and Billa ).

The director returns to talk about Shriya's role. “She is a student in Germany. The hero goes there on a mission, meets her and falls in love with her. We shot for 40 days in Germany to film major talkie portions. We also shot two songs in Spain and Switzerland. Manisharma has composed peppy tunes.” The film's presenter K. Achi Reddy adds, “The other day we filmed a song on the lead pair and with 30 dancers in huge sets created at Ramoji Film City choreographed by Prem Rakshith.”

Releasing on August 6, Don Seenu co-produced by V. Suresh Reddy, has an impressive star cast- Nasser, Brahmanandam, Ali, Sunil, Raghubabu, Krishna Bhagwan, Brahmaji, Satyam Rajesh, Duvvasi Mohan and Delhi Rajeswari.