Dhruva (2016 film)

Development

In September 2015, producer D. V. V. Danayya had bought the remake rights of Thani Oruvan (2015), for a sum of ₹5.5 crore (US$570,000),^[4][5] and announced that either Mahesh Babu or Ram Charan will play the lead role,^[6] with the latter being finalized,^[7] as Charan was impressed about the script.^{[citation needed]} While, Surender Reddy, Vamshi Paidipally, Mohan Raja, the director of the original film, were supposed to helm the remake,^[8][9] Surender was chosen as the film's director.^[10][11] In an interview with, The Times of India, Surender revealed that, it took him three months to complete the script, with two months for adapting the script in Telugu, and another month for the final draft being prepared.^[12] Following the poor performance of Charan's Bruce Lee: The Fighter, Danayya stepped out of producing the venture, and subsequently Allu Aravind, bankrolled the project under the home studio Geetha Arts, collaborating with charan for the second time after Magadheera (2009).^{[citation needed]} The film was tentatively titled as Rakshak, before the title Dhruva was announced.^[13] For his role in the film Ram Charan, had undergone rigorous training with an array of fitness experts.^[14][15][16] Singer Vedala Hemachandra provided voiceover for Arvind Swamy.^[17]

Casting

Ajith Kumar and R. Madhavan were both offered to play Swamy's role from the original, however, they both declined.^[18] Rajasekhar had also been approached for the role, but also declined.^[19] Arvind Swamy was later chosen to reprise his role from the original film.^[20] Sources claimed that, Swamy had charged ₹1 crore (US$100,000) as remuneration.^[21] Shruti Haasan, was cast as the female lead, reprising Nayanthara's role,^[22] collaborating with Charan after Yevadu (2014),^[23] however due to schedule conflicts, she opted out of the project and was replaced by Rakul Preet Singh.^[24][25] Navdeep was cast as one of Charan's friends.^[26][27]

Hiphop Tamizha, who composed for the original film, were signed to compose the soundtrack for the film.^[28][29] Aseem Mishra, who worked in Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015), was initially chosen as the film's cinematographer,^{[citation needed]} but due to his inavailability, was replaced by P. S. Vinod.^[30] Naveen Nooli, Rajeevan and Nagendra were chosen as the editor, production designer and art director respectively.^{[citation needed]} The stunt sequences were choreographed by Ravi Varma.^{[citation needed]} Bosco-Caesar, who previously worked for Charan in Orange (2010), choreographed the song sequences.^{[citation needed]}

Filming

The film was scheduled to be launched on 16 January 2016,^{[citation needed]} however, the launch was tentatively delayed to 10 February 2016.^[31] The film was launched at the office of the production house Geetha Arts on 18 February 2016,^{[citation needed]} and it was announced that the regular shooting of the film would commence on 22 February 2016.^{[citation needed]} However, the principal photography was commenced without Ram Charan,^[32] and it was announced that he would join the shooting from 1 March 2016.^[33][34] As the second schedule of the film was scheduled to be held on 10 March, Ram Charan undergone image makeover and look tests for the film, and was reported to join the sets from 14 March 2016.^[35]

On 11 May 2016, the makers planned for a shooting schedule in Jammu and Kashmir, to film an important sequence and a song,^[36] and it also reported that Ram Charan may join the schedule.^[36][37] Later Ram Charan and Rakul Preet moved to Kashmir, for its second schedule,^{[citation needed]} which was completed on 29 June,^{[citation needed]} Following the second schedule, the team moved to Hyderabad, in July 2016 to shoot important sequences, and later planned to shoot the songs in August.^{[citation needed]} An exclusive making video of the film was released, in which Ram Charan was performing risky stunts, all by himself, without using any body doubles.^[38]

In August 2016, the makers revealed that, the talkie portion of the film has been completed, and later planned to shoot two songs, along with the completion of post-production works.^[39] A special set for the introduction song of the film was erected on a huge scale.^[40] For the song shoot, Ram Charan reportedly got training himself under Sultan and Dangal fame bodybuilder Rakesh Udiyar.^[41][42] The song shoot was completed on late October.^[43] Later, Aravind Swamy completed his portions for Dhruva.^[44] The song "Pareshanura" was shot at the Krabi Islands in Thailand, which featured Ram Charan and Rakul Preet Singh.^[45] The song "Neethoney Dance" was filmed at a huge set erected at Annapurna Studios, which was choreographed by Bosco-Caesar duo.^[46] Following the song shoot, the principal photography was wrapped up on 11 November 2016.^[47][48]

Theatrical

Ram Charan planned to release the film on 7 October 2016,^[53] coinciding with the Dusshera festival,^[54][55] but the makers postponed its release to avoid clash with Naga Chaitanya-starrer Premam (2016);^[56] later pushed its release to 25 November 2016, which clashes with the Telugu version of Sivakarthikeyan-starrer Remo (2016), however, the release was postponed.^[57] The producers claimed that the 2016 Indian banknote demonetisation, has postponed the film's release.^[58][59] The makers finally announced that the film will be released worldwide on 9 December 2016.^[1] The film completed, the censor formalities on 21 November 2016.^[60]

Marketing

Ram Charan released the pre-look of the film on 12 August 2016,^[61] The first look of the film was released on the occasion of Independence Day, 15 August 2016.^[62][63][64] The teaser was initially supposed to be released on 5 September 2016, coinciding with Vinayaka Chathurthi.^[65] However, the teaser was released on 11 October 2016, coinciding with Dusshera.^[66] The teaser crossed 1 million views within 24 hours of its release.^[67][68] The making video of the film was released in October 2016.^[38] The theatrical trailer of the film was released on 25 November 2016, and crossed 5 million views within release.^[69][70] The pre-release event of the film was held on 4 December 2016,^[71] at Yousufguda Police Lines in Hyderabad,^[72] where the promo videos of two songs "Pareshanura" and "Neethoney Dance" was released.^[45] The promo of "Neethoney dance" featured appearances of Chiranjeevi, Allu Arjun, Allu Sirish, Akhil Akkineni, Shruti Hassan, producer Allu Arvind, directors Koratala Siva and V. V. Vinayak respectively.^[46]

Box office

Within first week, the film earned ₹85.4 crore (US$8.9 million) worldwide,^[73]

Critical response

The Times of India, gave 4 out of 5 stars and stated "Dhruva promises to be an edge-of-the-seat entertainer and it delivers impeccably. You won't find yourself looking away from the screen through the two-hour-forty-minute runtime. A remake done right."^[74] Firstpost gave 3 out of 5 stating "Dhruva is an edgy action thriller tale about a smart cop (Ram Charan) pitched against an evil mastermind scientist (Arvind Swamy) and is a very well adapted remake of Thani Oruvan."^[75] The Indian Express gave 3.5 out of 5 stating "This film has three stars -- its hero Ram Charan Teja, its powerful villain Arvind Swamy and its script."^[76]

The Hindu rated "‘Dhruva’ leaves you with the feeling of having read a fast-paced, unputdownable thriller."^[77]

In contrast, Hindustan Times rated 4 out of 5 stars and commented "Ram Charan's performance is so physically and mentally fit that it scream for attention while Arvind Swamy balances his viciousness and cunning intellect equally, which is enough to destroy any protagonist. Perfect combination for the film."^[78] Deccan Chronicle gave 3.5 out of 5 stars and stated: "Dhruva's makers had a ready, proven, super-hit script in front of them which is pretty fruitful."^[79]