As one steps into the spacious floor at Sarathi Studios, one wonders whether he had stepped onto the right floor – the decor belies expectations of a massively done up set, in tune with the making of a socio-fantasy.
Instead one finds green screens splashed with plus marks in white covering the four walls of the floor that is left vacant in the middle. Filmmaker Jithender Y smiles and let you know that it is the green matte screen that covers the floor and since it is a fantasy subject, loads of graphics are involved in its making.
Srihari enters in the costume of Lord Yamadharmaraja and the shoot commences.
As he moves around with his mace in one hand and pasupathas in the other, he delivers the dialogue (by Veligonda Srinivas) in his characteristic style. You admire his impeccable diction because few actors today are capable of delivering such lengthy dialogue with a perfect pronunciation, especially for mythology characters.
It is not easy to wear such gargantuan gear, emote and talk with such ease. Cinematographer Bharani K. Dharan captures the versatile actor's expressions as the director checks the scene on the monitor.
During the brief recess Jithender talks about the scene and how the story idea germinated.
Yama on Earth
“This is actually Yama's introduction scene. He descends on Earth to take the life of an aghora who is a mrithyunjaya which means that he had conquered death from a boon. But every living being has to die and Yama has a duty, his dharma to perform. What we are shooting now on Yama will be mixed with the actual location, a crematorium giving an impression as if the scene was shot there. This is the first time Srihari is essaying the role of Yama and for Ali also it is the first film as Chitragupta. The scenes between them and the hero Sairam Shankar offer wholesome entertainment. Normally we do not find any devotee for Yama. But in our story there is an ardent devotee (Sairam Shankar) for him, and he lives in USA. Yama is naturally pleased with his devotion. How he will react when he had to take the life of his only devotee is the central point of this entertainer. Six months ago, this story idea struck while I was in USA. Till now all the films featuring Yama were hits in Telugu and they were all located in India; what if Yama travels with his assistant to the Big Apple and creates hulchul there? That is the line on which the rest of the story is developed. On my return I narrated it to producer G. Vijayakumar Goud and he liked it.”
Parvati Melton plays the hero's girlfriend , Kovai Sarala his granny and (Master) Bharath his accomplice in the USA.
“We have to select one more heroine,” says the director. He plans to have a long schedule in USA from October. “There are loads of computer graphics, besides the lead actors' performances, that thrill the audience,” signs off Jithender.
Yamaho Yamaha
Cast: Srihari, Sairam Shankar, Ali, Parvati Melton
Story, screenplay, direction: Jithender Y
Music: Mahati
Banner: G V K Arts
