A behemoth of an ‘Eega’

Announcing the Nandi Awards for the year 2012, the jury has made the housefly a colossus.  Even dinosaurs wouldn't be that humongous as much as 'eega' now is.

The 2012 film that starred Samantha, Kannada star Sudeep and Nani (in an extended cameo) has won Nandi awards in a range of categories, including the most important ones.  It's the Best Film, Rajamouli is the Best Director, Keeravani is the Best Music Director (sharing it with Ilayaraja of 'Yeto Vellipoyindi Manasu'), KK Senthil Kumar is the Best Cinematographer, and Makuta's VFX work is the best.

The idea of 'Eega' began as a small one.  When Rajamouli set out to do that, he wanted to make it on a small scale.  Vijayendra Prasad's idea was to be converted into a low-profile, experimental flick on a budget of Rs. 3 Cr.  Thanks to producer Sai Korrapati's support, the scale grew by leaps and bounds and went on to become a Rs. 30 Cr behemoth.

The fact that the premise was revealed well in advance helped the audience accept it fast.  They could digest the murder of Nani's character.  They fell in love with the fantasy of a housefly bringing the roof down, almost literally.  Sudeep, hardly a familiar face among the Telugu audience, found many takers.  A villain who came to be loved!

Five years later, the film Rajamouli wanted to do as a stopgap one before going the whole hog with 'Baahubali', is the favourite of the Nandi jury!