Ashwin Gangaraju will be helming the upcoming multi-lingual film 1770 (2023), which is based on Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's 1882 Bengali novel Anandamath.
Produced under the banner of SS1 Entertainment and PK Entertainment, the film is backed by producers Shhailendra Kkumar, Sujayy Kuttiy, Krishna Kumar B and Suraj Sharma.
Ashwin, who made his debut as director with Aakashvani (2021), has assisted his mentor SS Rajamouli on Eega (2012) and Baahubali franchise.
He said in a statement, “This subject was a huge challenge for me, but with legendary V Vijayendra Prasad sir writing the adapted story and screenplay, I think what we have on paper is a blockbuster cinematic experience.”
He continued, “As a filmmaker, I’m more drawn towards the stories which have periodic setups, bigger emotions, scope for larger than life action, etc, and this is something that sits in perfectly for me. Initially I was a little sceptical but I spoke to [creator] Ram Kamal Mukherjee and after listening to his vision I gained confidence.”
“I met [with] producers Shhailendra ji, Sujayy Kuttiy sir, Krishna Kumar sir and Suraj Sharma in Mumbai shortly after that. We had a prolonged discussion on the film and how they want to take it forward. Their warmth and attitude of working as a team made me connect to them instantly,” he added.
This year also marks 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’, which first appeared in the novel Anandamath. Screenwriter V Vijayendra Prasad shared, “I feel that Vande Mataram was a magical word. It was a mantra that was given by Maharishi Bankim Chandra for a nation to unite against tyranny and injustice. In 1770, we dealt with the story of unknown warriors who ignited the fire of the freedom movement.”
Journalist-turned-filmmaker Ram Kamal Mukherjee thanked the producers for having faith in my vision and being passionate in regards to the project. He said, “I liked the vibe of Ashwin as a filmmaker. He came prepared, with his own ideas, that enhanced the narrative visually. I loved his film Aakashvani and appreciated his skill as a storyteller. But the most important aspect of 1770 lies in the magical words written by Vijayendra Prasad sir, who is known for his unique ideas. His way of story telling connects with the audiences, beyond linguistic boundaries.”
Shhailendra Kkumar from SS1 Entertainment stated this is the right time to make larger than life cinema. “Being a singer from Jhansi, we have grown up singing Vande Mataram in our schools and colleges,” he shared. “But when Ram da [Mukherjee] mentioned the story of Anandamath and Vijayendra Sir gave his version, I was completely bowled over. I am grateful to Sujoyy Kuttiy and Krishna Kumar B for making this impossible task possible. It's not a film, its a dream to create one of the finest entertaining cinema for the big screen.”
Producer Krishna Kumar B added, “A film as huge as Anandamath needs an extremely able shoulder. I have closely worked with Ashwin and his associates, and when Ram Garu [Mukherjee] narrated me the story, I had Ashwin in my mind.”
1770 is due to be released in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Bengali. The makers are expected to announce the main lead before Dussera, and the rest of the cast by Diwali this year.