From Rediff & NDTV News
Ajith Billa Movie, Ajith in Billa, Billa Movie 2007 Ajith Rajini, Thala Rocks in Billa 2007
Cinematographer Neerav Shah can be called an action specialist. After the Dhoom series, his other action-packed film is a Tamil one -- Billa.
A friend of Vishnu Vardhan, Neerav Shah has cranked the camera of all of Vishnu's films.
Listen to him as he talks about the experience of shooting Billa.
Billa is the remake of a very successful Rajnikanth film. What was in your mind when you were asked to shoot the new Billa?
In the beginning, I was actually very scared. That was because I want all my movies to be successful.
Why were you scared?
There is a lot of difference between remaking the Hindi Don and the Tamil Billa. Amitabh Bachchan is not the leading man in Hindi today but Rajnikanth is still the super star here. His Sivaji is the biggest grosser this year. So, people will definitely compare his Billa with the Ajith's one.
From NDTV
It is a belated birthday gift for the original Billa, Rajinikanth.
Billa, the remake of the 1980 Rajinikanth starrer with Ajith in the lead, is billed as one of the biggest releases in South Indian cinema in recent times after the superstar's hit Sivaji.
Billa is said to be a Rs 12 crore technically grand film with special inputs from Hollywood stunt master Wilyung Aang.
The producer wants it to have a Rolls Royce like start! There's enough indication of that already.
According to industry sources Pyramid Samira has coughed up Rs 15 crore for the Tamil Nadu theatrical rights alone.
It opens with 10 screens in Chennai, eight in Coimbatore and almost 50 in Chengalpet. The film's audio cassette sale has already touched the 40,000 mark.
For a controlled run, about 250 prints are being released nationwide and 50 overseas.
"In 1980 the original Billa was released. 27 years on Rajinikanth continues to be the numero uno star here. So Ajith is daring and will be compared with the original Billa," said Sreedhar Pillai, Senior Film Journalist.l
Ajith has sought divine help from Lord Balaji in Tirupati. And he's already got the blessing of the superstar himself.
But the actor says he's like a nervous student anxious to make his guru - Rajinikanth proud.
"I hope we've done justice to the film. We haven't taken anything for granted," said Ajith, actor.
So on the ground there's the Rajini mania coupled with the frenzy whipped up by Ajith's 45,000 strong fan club. It is a sure recipe for box office success.
