Rana is shooting currently for his Telugu film “Naa Ishtam” and was unable to collect the award in person. Rana’s buddy Ram Charan Tej accepted the award on behalf of Rana. Charan also shared some anecdotes about his childhood days with Rana, when they used to share lunch boxes together.

‘Ye Maya Chesave’, ‘Maryada Ramanna’, ‘Vedam’, ‘Prasthanam’ and ‘Leader’ dominated the selection. Industry sources say that the 2011 Lux CineMaa Awards were an appreciation for all the truly deserving.

Nandamuri Balakrishna was awarded the Best actor for his stupendous performance in ‘Simha’. Gautham Menon was selected as ‘Best Director’ for ‘Ye Maaya Chesave’ and Kajal Agarwal was bestowed with Best Actress award for her performance in the movie ‘Brindavanam’.

Rana said, “Congratulations to Mr.Balakrishna SS Rajamouli, Gautham Menon, my favorite Samantha Ruth Prabhu and all the other winners. Thank you MAA for the best debut award. A start like this always keeps us charged for our nxt. Sorry couldn’t be there. And a big hug and much love to Bunny and Cris J for Vedam.

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

The 1st schedule of the film is expected to go on till the end of the May after which the team leaves for Malaysia for an extensive shoot. Cinematographer Venkata Prasad, music is by Chakri and Art Direction by AS Prakash.

“Nenu Naa Rakshasi”
Music Launch a different affair

Hyderabad, India, April 12, 2011: Rana Daggubati and Ileana starrer “Nenu Naa Rakshasi” is ready to release and the promotions started with a high note with the makers doing a star-studded music launch. What made this affair different was a panel like interaction with the cast and crew of the film and well-known film makers and actors revolving around the movies theme.

Rana Daggubati riding high on his debut movie Leader plays the lead role in “Nenu Naa Rakshasi” said – ”I didn’t want a regular music launch, I wanted to do something unusual where everyone gets to interact, participate and enjoy the whole experience”.

Ace director Puri Jagannadh numerous blockbusters have always been known for their mind-blowing star performance, story and songs. Over the years Puri has amply proved just how seriously he takes his film’s music. The glittering unveiling of their latest film, “Nenu Naa Rakshasi”, and its music launch appeared more like a film’s release!

“Making music especially with three young talented music directors was refreshing. We thoroughly enjoyed it and hope this music strikes a chord with music lovers instantly,” said Puri. Music is by Vishwa and Rehman. Anoop Rubens provides the background score.

Quizzed about the movie and its title Puri said the movie is set against a backdrop of suicide. But the message the movie would like to send out is that suicide is not a permanent solution to a temporary problem. “Nenu Naa Rakshashi” is a romanctic thriller between a professional killer and a rakshasi and how they deal with their complexities of life and overcome the challenges. Both the lead actors Rana and Ileana too shared their exciting moments while shooting the film and the roles they portrayed in the film.

Popular film personalities and stars Venkatesh, Ravi Teja, Gopichand, Ram, Sunil, Ali, Subbaraju, VV Vinayak, Sekhar Kammula, Nandini, Sushanth, Lakshmi Manchu, and Richa Gangopadhyaya graced this exclusive and interactive event – “The event was unique experience for the participants and all of us including everyone overwhelmingly supported the music launch concept,” said the producer Nallamalupu Bujji.

The movie stars Rana, Ileana, Ali, Mumaith Khan, Subbaraju, Abhimanyu Singh and others. Cinematography is by Amol Rathod, editing by Shiva, action by Vijay, art by Chinna, dances by Raju Sundaram and Pradeep Anthony. Madhura Music is audio partner and the movie is slated for release on April 29, 2011.

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

12►

IPL Cricket Fans Joins Rana and Ileana to cheer Deccan Chargers

The music and the first look of the film Nenu Naa Rakshashi added glitter to the first match of IPL Season 4 held at the Hyderabad cricket stadium. Actor Rana Daggubati and Ileana Dcruz joined thousands of fans at the stadium to cheer the home team and join the cricket festivity.

The music of NNR rocked the stadium and fans had the opportunity to experience a movie trailer and the songs from the film at the cricket stadium. This was part of NNR promoters unique on ground, which kicked off from the game between Deccan Chargers and Rajasthan Royals. Supporting the local team, Rana said, “Cricket is a religion in our country and millions of fans around the world play one anthem – Cricket. It was a fantastic to share the zeal with fans and give them a unique entertainment experience along with cricket. The response from the stadium was overwhelming and we hope this encourages our team to perform better.”

Nenu Naa Rakshshai is a love story between a professional killer and a rakshasi, and the complexities in their relationships. The film is produced by Nallamalupu Srinivas (Bujji) and directed by Puri Jagannadh. The foot tapping and soul stirring music scored by Vishwah and Rehman has already started topping the charts.

The team’s first press interaction happened in Hyderabad, with Rana, Bipasha and Rohan addressing the Conference.
“It’s my second debut (the first was the Telugu film Leader). I did it because I won’t get this kind of experience in regional cinema,” Rana Daggubati said. “I had little experience as compared to Bipasha and I had not even met her but she made me comfortable and we became friends. The Dum Maro Dum experience will stay with me forever.”

“It’s a great product and it was wonderful to have worked in it,” Bipasha said, adding “I made great friends too.”

When Rohan was asked whether we would see another Sholay, he quipped “The film industry has not seen another Sholay. I have the blessings of my father, who is there at every stage. He is creatively involved besides being the producer. I have a massive advantage over others.” 

Dum Maaro Dum (Hindi: दम मारो दम) is an upcoming Hindi language Thriller film being directed by Rohan Sippy, starring Abhishek Bachchan, Rana Daggubati, Bipasha Basu and Prateik Babbar. Aditya Pancholi will also be in the film. The film’s shoot has been progressing for several months in Goa. Deepika Padukone will be seen doing an item number for the film, on the remix version of the hit song “Dum Maro Dum”. The song has been composed by Pritam. This is the first Bollywood film to be mixed in Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound After delivering a superhit in the form of Bluffmaster, Abhishek Bachchan and Rohan Sippy are coming together in this film. The film is set to release on April 22, 2011, in both India and the United States.

Check out Rana as Joki in the latest Dum Maro Dum trailer.

After splendid tollywood debut film ‘Leader‘ next Rana bollywood debut film ‘Dum Maaro Dum’ in Ramesh Sippy Entertainment’s is all set to hit theaters worldwide on April 22nd. Distributed by Fox Star Studios, the film stars Abhishek Bachchan, Rana Daggubati, Aditya Pancholi, Prateek Babbar, Bipasa Basu and Govind Namdev. Rohan Sippy is the director.

As a part of film promotion a press meet was organised at Taj Deccan Hotel in Hyderabad today. This programme was attended by Rana Daggubati, Bipasa Basu and Rohan Sippy.

Rana, Rohan and Bipasa launched the T-shirt and tea mug with the logo of the movie on it at the press conference.

Bipasa remined that she acted with Mahesh Babu in the movie ‘Takkari’ and Ranas the second Telugu hero she is acting with.  She was all praise for Rana and said that he is a handsome guy.

Addressing the media Rana said, “I agreed to do this film even before ‘Leader’. My role in this film will be impressive. On this occasion I thank the director for giving this wonderful opportunity. ‘Dum Maaro Dum’ is being made on Goa backdrop and there are three stories in this film and mine is one. I never expected that I would do a Bollywood film so early. Although this is my 2nd film, it’s my first film in Hindi. Abhishek and Bipasa Basu were very friendly throughout the making period.”

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

123►

DUM MAARO DUM
Goa. Paradise on Earth. But every Paradise has a few snakes.
Multiple lives collide brutally one day at Goa Airport… and change forever.
Lorry (Prateik Babbar)
A student on the verge of following his girlfriend to a US University. But when his scholarship gets
rejected, his life threatens to spiral out of control, until he meets a smooth talking hustler who
promises to get it back on track. For a small price. His soul.
ACP Vishnu Kamath (Abhishek Bachchan)
A self destructive cop fleeing his own past, Kamath is given the job of destroying the brutal local
and international drug mafia in Goa. As he begins his ruthless, relentless campaign and takes on
the murky drug world… he discovers nothing is what it seems.
DJ Joki (Rana Daggubati)
A local musician and mute spectator to what is happening around him, Joki drifts aimlessly through
life after an encounter with the drug mafia cost him everything he held dear. Today he discovers
history has a nasty habit of repeating itself. Will he finally have the guts to take a stand?
Zoe (Bipasha Basu)
An aspiring airhostess who saw her dreams turn to dust, Zoey in a way represents Goa itself. A
child of the hippy generation, a mix of local and foreign culture, innocence and beauty have
gradually been replaced by cynicism and abuse.
Lorsa Biscuta aka the Biscuit ( Aditya Pancholi)
A ruthless local businessman, the Biscuit has his finger in every Goan pie, legal or illegal.

The point person between all the various Mafias operating in Goa, the Biscuit finds himself pushed to the extreme limit with Kamath’s arrival. But he knows who to turn to: A mysterious shadow
The ultimate drug kingpin. Many names, many identities but no one knows who he is….We hurtle into the bylanes, beach shacks and raves of Goa with Lorry as his life spirals out of control, with Joki as he tries to redeem the past and with Kamath as he goes no-holds-barred after the mysterious shadow figure behind it all… Punctuated with a soundtrack that moves from pulsating dance tracks to haunting Konkani songs,shot right in the midst of the teeming international tourist hotspots, Dum Maaro Dum takes you on
a dramatic, thrilling trip filled with twists, turns, suspense… and a shocking finale!

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

12►

‘Kya Hai Kahaani Tere Paap Ki’ (To face the future, they had to redeem the past!)

PRODUCTION NOTES

The ProductionDum Maaro Dum races through the bylanes and shacks of Goa to bring you the stories of four characters whose lives collide brutally at Goa airport.  ACP Kamath- a tough as nails cop, who has a past to redeem and is going to go no holds barred after the mysterious drug kingpin in Goa, who rules all the drug mafia there.Lorry- a young innocent student who will find that shortcuts in life often come with a heavy price.DJ Joki- a Goan musician, who once lost everything dear to him and stood by silently.  Now he has to make sure history does not repeat itself.Zoe- A free spirited Goan girl, whose innocence and beauty was marred when she let her ambition take her down the wrong lane.In the midst of international tourist spots, we chase these four characters as their stories culminate in a shocking finale through a trip filled with dramatic, thrilling twists and turns.

The Cast

Of course Abhishek has played a cop before, but never like this.  The beauty of ACP Kamath’s character lies in his shade of grey. Laughing outside, seething inside. The film is as much his fight against external demons as his own internal ones which are much more terrifying. ‘I think people will really like ACP Kamath’s character’ says Rohan.  ‘I had initially met Abhishek for the role of DJ Joki, but he felt an instant connection to the character of ACP Kamath and has delivered a fine performance.  There is something so empathetic about ACP Kamath, that you just want to be on his side.’

ACP Kamath having been cast, the next challenge was to find DJ Joki.  ‘This was a very difficult character to cast, you needed someone who looked Goan, which ruled out all the Punjabi faces right away’ jokes Rohan.  You also needed someone a little younger than Abhishek, because ACP Kamath plays an integral role in DJ Joki’s life, almost like a mentor. From our Associate producer

Roopa De Choudury and Telugu director Prakash Kovelamudi we heard of Rana Daggubati, an actor from Hyderabad who had completed a Telugu film called ‘Leader’.  Rana has great screen presence, a real life relaxed and happy presence, which so exemplified the Goan spirit of Susegaad (be chilled out, take it easy). The moment we met him, the moment he smiled his contagious smile…. we knew we had found our Joki.”

Casting Lorry was fairly easy, Prateik was always the first choice and he has essayed the innocence Lorry needs to perfection. His was perhaps one of the hardest roles to play in the film

— a 17 year typical middle class kid fighting failure, jealousy, loss, lust, temptation, hormones, sheer abject terror. He had a formidable brief – to balance all these elements – and he pulled it off outstandingly. His story is the heart, the driver of the film, the trigger that sets Kamath and  Joki in motion.

Casting Zoe was again a challenge.  Zoe’s character graph undergoes a complete transition in the film, you needed someone very attractive and someone who could suffuse her character with the depth and vulnerability that Zoe’s transition in the film needs.  Bipasha came on board and delivered one of the finest, most poignant, performances in the film.  She brought a grace to Zoe’s character that no one could envision.

Any discussion of the film would be incomplete without mentioning the crucial invaluable roles

played by Aditya Pancholi and Govind Namdev. Aditya, as the ultimate puppet master, the suave businessman who has to precariously balance the various foreign criminal elements and keep his calm as he takes on the ruthless Kamath, and Govind, as the veteran textbook cop who is a guide and cynical mentor to ACP Kamath, both brought a deadly gravity to their roles as perhaps no one else could. Ramesh Sippy, Producer of ‘Dum Maaro Dum’ mentions that a fellow Producer from New York had first read the script, loved it and taken it to Fox Star Studios, who in turn saw immense potential in it.  Fox Star Studios wanted to come on board as the co-producers and distributors and have been a pleasure to work with.  He believes their experience internationally and in handling distribution of a mammoth film like ‘My Name Is Khan’ will come in handy for ‘Dum  Maaro Dum’.

‘We hope that with our potpourri of exciting elements, and very talented cast and crew, this film  will succeed in exciting audiences worldwide’, says Mr. Ramesh Sippy.

‘Ultimately this film was just so much fun to work on, because of the excellent chemistry the  cast and crew shared’. signs off Rohan.