Baahubali, Bajrangi Bhaijaan: Meet the Rs 500 crore writer
If you have watched the dubbed Magadheera or the Hindi remake of Vikramarkudu Rowdy Rathore, you know KV Vijayendra Prasad can create screen magic with his stories.
Which one will be the bigger blockbuster- the epic-scale Baahubali or the sweet Bajrangi Bhaijaan? There is one man who will be proud in either case - KV Vijayendra Prasad. The man who wrote both the films' stories has more than one reason to be happy. The bigger brother of the two, Baahubali, is directed by his son, SS Rajamouli.
Prasad spoke exclusively to India Today Television's Rajdeep Sardesai.
The secret formula to his success
The veteran Telugu writer has a one word answer to his secret: "Simplicity."
"Take any complication out of the story, and make it as simple as possible," he elaborated when goaded further.
On Salman Khan
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has publicly acknowledged Prasad, saying that the credit for Bajrangi Bhaijaan's success goes to the story writer, who is the true hero.
"So nice of him to say that. But in fact, credit also goes equally to Kabir Khan, who so expertly put it on celluloid and the efforts of Salman Khan as himself and not of a star, as a human being, he has portrayed what he is."
"I did not have Salman Khan, or any person, in mind when I wrote the story. But when I actually interacted with him, I found out what a nice human being he is. What a great person he is in his heart. What he has done in the movie is he himself."
Violence and non-violence
While his super stardom as a writer was established long time ago, the two simultaneous blockbusters are likely to make him the Rs 500-crore writer. Baahubali has epic violence and Bajrangi Bhaijaan is a sweet story promoting non-violence. How does he feel about two films smashing the box office at the same time while being as different as chalk and cheese? "You love sweets. You also love spicy food," the writer told India Today Television's TS Sudhir.
Bajrangi Bhaijaan's story
How did the Bajrangi Bhaijaan story come about? Well, the man was inspired by a good news item. A Pakistani couple had come to Chennai to get their little child's heart operated upon. The surgery could have cost them Rs 15 lakh in Pakistan. In Chennai, that could be done in just Rs 3 lakh. The couple was in for a pleasant surprise when the Apollo Hospital waived even that off. They spoke about how India was not the country they have been made to believe it was: Out to finish Pakistan. A similar fear is kept alive in India about Pakistan.
Vijayendra Prasad wanted to show that the people of both the countries wanted peace and harmony, not talk of war. The little story he weaved around that news is today running to packed houses, and critics are saying that it's the best Salman Khan movie yet.
He has given Bollywood some other hits as well. If you have watched the dubbed Magadheera or the Hindi remake of Vikramarkudu Rowdy Rathore, you know the man can create screen magic with his stories. Rajanna, another historical penned and also directed by him, has won him many accolades including a best director's award.