Rana and Teja to recreate Madras of colonial India

Three years after the political thriller Nene Raju Nene Mantri, the duo of director Teja and actor Rana Daggubati are back with a brand new project - Rakshasa Raja. Billed as a period action drama, the film will delve into the dark and thrilling world of smugglers and gangsters in pre-independent India, says director Teja.

The film is based on a true story that took place in Madras in the 1930s. Beyond a true story, this film is an attempt to recreate Chennai’s forgotten past, says the director. “I’m a Chennai boy and this story is etched in my childhood memories. In fact, I grew up with some of the descendants of the gangsters. While respect for privacy will necessitate some name changes, I hope to reflect the essence of their lives,” shares Teja.

Madras, strategically located on the Bay of Bengal, was a major trading port in British India and attracted an array of smugglers. “The first elections in India were held in 1932. Rana plays a gangster in the film that plays out over a 10-year time frame traversing Jaffna, Colombo and Madras,” says Teja.

Actor Rajasekhar will play a crucial role in the film, and Ravi Basrur, known for Salaar and KGF, will handle the music composition. However, the filmmaker currently has no plans to make it a pan-India film. “The film will be shot in Telugu; if the producers and Rana consider a multi-language release, we’ll see,” he concludes.

The film is based on a true story that took place in Madras in the 1930s. Rana plays a gangster in the film that plays out over a 10-year time frame traversing Jaffna, Colombo and Madras
— Teja, director
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