After multiple postponements, the team behind Nani’s The Paradise is reportedly leaving no stone unturned to ensure the film finally arrives in September.
According to industry sources, the production is currently operating with two shooting units to speed up the schedule. While director Srikanth Odela is handling scenes featuring Nani, a senior co-director is overseeing the second unit, which is filming portions that do not require the actor. The parallel shoot is said to have significantly accelerated production, and the latest buzz is that the film is almost complete.
Only around five to six days of talkie portions and two songs are reportedly left to be filmed. One of them is said to be a special song. The makers are currently discussing who should feature in it. Pooja Hegde is believed to be one of the options. However, she is currently on a US tour, and the team is debating whether to wait for her return or rope in a Bollywood actress instead. Insiders say the remaining shoot is not expected to delay the film.
The bigger challenge now is post-production.
Since The Paradise is a period action drama mounted on a grand scale, it requires extensive CGI work despite the massive physical sets already constructed. The film’s large-scale climax has reportedly been completed and sent for visual effects.
In big-budget films, VFX often becomes the biggest hurdle. The work has to be delivered on time and also maintain high quality. Any delay in the CGI works could once again affect the release schedule.
Expectations surrounding The Paradise are already sky-high. The first song went viral, the trade response has been encouraging, and the film is generating strong pre-release business across markets.
For now, the production appears to be on track. However, whether the film finally makes it to theatres in September will largely depend on the VFX team meeting its deadlines. After a series of postponements, the makers will be hoping there are no more last-minute setbacks, especially with the previously announced August 21 release now virtually out of the question.
