We may have our own Clint Eastwood after all. Like the 95-year-old American legend, one of Indian cinema's most unparalleled visionaries, veteran director Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, is set to get behind the camera after a long hiatus.
The man behind iconic classics such as Pushpaka Vimana, Aditya 369, Michael Madana Kama Rajan, and Apoorva Sagodharanagal has announced what is reportedly his biggest, most ambitious project yet. It was launched in a formal pooja event on Saturday.
It would mark Rao’s first directorial venture in over a decade since 2013's Welcome Obama.
The as-yet-untitled feature, tentatively titled SSR61, is being backed by Nag Ashwin under the Vyjayanthi Movies banner. Nag is also expected to be involved as a creative supervisor and assist Rao on this project.
The filmmaker behind Mahanati and Kalki 2898 has previously sought Rao's creative inputs for his big-scale sci-fi fantasy epic Kalki 2898.
Notably, Rao is known for creating such pathbreaking endeavours in South Indian cinema. He is credited for making India's first time-travel film, Aditya 269, starring Balakrishna as well as making India's first silent mainstream film in the form of Pushpaka Vimana (Pushpak in Hindi), starring Kamal Haasan, with whom he also went on to make immensely successful entertainers such as Michael Madana Kama Rajan and Apoorva Sagodharanangal, which saw the thespian playing multiple roles.
The title and casting details are expected to be revealed soon. As of now, "Rockstar" Devi Sri Prasad is the only confirmed technical crew member on board.
