The popular Tamil action thriller "Thani Oruvan," which later saw a successful Telugu remake as "Dhruva," was initially envisioned for a different leading actor. Director Mohan Raja recently disclosed that Telugu superstar Prabhas, globally recognized for his role in the "Baahubali" film series, was his original preference for the protagonist. This revelation offers a fascinating look into the film's development before it became a major cinematic success in both Tamil and Telugu languages.
The Genesis of a Blockbuster Story
"Thani Oruvan," meaning "The Sole One," is a 2015 Indian Tamil-language action thriller. Director Mohan Raja co-wrote the script with Suresh and Balakrishnan. The film was produced by Kalpathi S. Aghoram, S. Ganesh, and S. Suresh under AGS Entertainment. The story centers on an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer determined to apprehend an affluent scientist who engages in secret, illicit medical practices for profit. Unlike many of his previous projects, "Thani Oruvan" was Mohan Raja's original story concept.[en+2]
Principal photography for the film began on December 6, 2013, with shooting locations including Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Dehradun, and Mussoorie. Hiphop Tamizha composed the music for the film, while Ramji handled cinematography and Gopi Krishna was the editor. The film was released on August 28, 2015, receiving critical acclaim for its direction, screenplay, storyline, soundtrack, and pacing. It also proved to be a significant commercial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of 2015. The movie was made with a budget of 15 crore rupees.[en+4]
Prabhas's Near Involvement
Director Mohan Raja publicly shared that he initially wrote the script for "Thani Oruvan" with Prabhas in mind for the lead role. However, the project did not proceed with the "Baahubali" star for various undisclosed reasons. Following this, actor Jayam Ravi was cast as the protagonist in the Tamil version. Jayam Ravi starred alongside Arvind Swamy, who played the powerful antagonist, a combination that contributed to the film's massive success in Tamil cinema. Nayanthara played the female lead in the Tamil original.[123telugu+5]
The Telugu Remake: Dhruva
The success of "Thani Oruvan" quickly led to its remake in Telugu. Producer D. V. V. Danayya acquired the remake rights in September 2015 for 5.5 crore rupees. At that time, it was announced that either Mahesh Babu or Ram Charan would take on the lead role. Ultimately, Ram Charan was finalized for the role, as he was impressed with the script. The Telugu remake, titled "Dhruva," was directed by Surender Reddy and produced by Allu Aravind under his banner Geetha Arts.[en+4]
"Dhruva" features Ram Charan in the title role, with Arvind Swamy reprising his role as the antagonist from the original Tamil version. Rakul Preet Singh was cast as the female lead, replacing Shruti Haasan who initially joined but later opted out due to scheduling conflicts. Navdeep also played a pivotal supporting role as one of Dhruva's friends. Hiphop Tamizha, who composed the music for "Thani Oruvan," also worked on the soundtrack for "Dhruva". P. S. Vinod handled the cinematography, and Naveen Nooli was the editor.[en+8]
Production and Reception of Dhruva
The launch and principal photography for "Dhruva" began in February 2016. Filming took place in various locations, including Hyderabad and Jammu and Kashmir. Director Surender Reddy spent three months adapting the script, with two months dedicated to the Telugu adaptation and another month for the final draft. The film was released worldwide on December 9, 2016, after facing multiple postponements.[en+4]
"Dhruva" garnered positive reviews, with critics praising the performances of the cast, particularly Ram Charan and Arvind Swamy. The writing, direction, action sequences, and cinematography also received appreciation. Firstpost stated that "Dhruva" is an "edgy action thriller tale" and a "very well adapted remake". The Indian Express highlighted Ram Charan, Arvind Swamy, and the script as the film's three stars. The remake was also a super hit at the box office.[en+4]
The journey of "Thani Oruvan" from an initial concept for Prabhas to a successful Tamil film with Jayam Ravi and its subsequent blockbuster Telugu remake "Dhruva" starring Ram Charan, highlights the interesting twists and turns in film production.
