A couple of days ago, the first song Chali Chali (Mazhai Mazhai in Tamil and Ilaa ilaa in Telugu) from Thalaivi was launched. The song, featuring Kangana Ranaut making some elegant dance moves, has since been trending.
But not many know of the pain the actress had to endure while shooting the now-hit song. Now here’s an interesting back story to the number. The song was shot last October after Kangana returned to the sets of film eight months after the pandemic.
Apparently, the actress got drenched in the rain for sixteen hours over the three days of shooting for the song. Interestingly, the actress wasn’t even feeling well but she’d turned up for the shooting through those three days, insisting that she completed that shoot.
Vishnu Induri, one of the producers of the biopic, confirms the report. “With so many restrictions it was difficult shooting for the song. But we’d asked Kangana to rest till she got better, but she insisted that she shoots,” he remarks.
For the song, the makers built a huge waterfall set over two floors at a private studio in Hyderabad, for which they had to bring in water via tankers.
Then adding that it takes a lot for any actor to work under bad health conditions, Vishnu praises her levels of commitment.
“In spite of not feeling well, she was in water throughout the song’s shoot. It just goes to show her commitment levels, which is truly admirable,” explains the producer. “Kangana never complained of anything and kept insisting on working even during those tough times.”
A homage to Jayalalithaa
The Chali Chali song is fashioned after Ammamma Kaatru, the introduction song from the former and late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s 1965-debut film Vennira Aadai. Chali Chali endeavours to replicate the iconic looks of Jayalalithaa to perfection, with Kangana embodying the persona of the legendary superstar of yesteryears.
“Jayalalithaa was sixteen years old when she shot for the number. And as Vennira Aadai was an ‘A’ certified film, even Jayalalithaa couldn’t watch the film in theatres back then,” Vishnu says. The song, which has been trending on social media since it was released online, was choreographed by Brinda Gopal.
