Nandamuri Kalyan Ram on Bimbisara: Always had a huge fascination for socio-fantasies and folklore films

Actor, producer Nandamuri Kalyan Ram is trying to reinvent himself as a performer with the first socio-fantasy in his career Bimbisara, that hits theatres on August 5. Ahead of the film’s release, the makers have come up with a series ‘Up Close with NKR’ where Kalyan Ram takes viewers through the many influences, experiences that shaped his career in the industry.

“I was born in a family that left a huge imprint on the Telugu land. Many people who made a mark in films - be it my grandfather NTR, father Harikrishna, babai Balakrishna and my brother Jr NTR. We grew up watching our grandfather’s films on VCR. However, the influence of babai’s films on us was huge - we grew up watching his films,” he said.

Among the many genres that actors from his family dabbled with, fantasy films and folklore fascinated Kalyan Ram the most. He cites that Pathala Bhairavi, Jagadeka Veerunikatha, Bhairavadweepam, Aditya 369 and Yamadonga were among his personal favourites. “When many kids from this generation are adoring superhero films like Avengers, I wondered why I couldn’t try something similar here.”

It was during the shoot of NTR Mahanayakudu when Bimbisara director Vassishta came to him for an appointment. The latter had even worked on Kalyan Ram’s Pataas before and the meeting went as per plan. “After the shoot of Mahanayakudu, when Vassishta came and narrated a script, the entire journey of Bimbisara started. How did the film materialise eventually? You’ll know soon.”

The third episode of Up Close With NKR is also expected to release shortly. The film produced under NTR Arts also features Catherine Tresa and Samyuktha Menon as female leads. MM Keeravaani provides the background score and Chirrantan Bhatt has composed the songs (two of them have already released). Vivan Bhatena plays the antagonist in the film.