Choreographer Sandeep, aka Aata Sandeep, seems to be having a fantastic year. Earlier this year, in January, he choreographed the viral dance moments for the Hook Step song from Megastar Chiranjeevi’s Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu. The song went viral, and a couple of months later, Sandeep won a state award for Best Choreography for the song Gira Gira Gira from the film Champion. He continues to be in the news for choreographing the chartbuster number Yesha Nagula from the Nani-starrer The Paradise.

Yesha Nagula, a Dharkari-Style Song

The recently released Yesha Nagula is a Telangana folk song and has been generating considerable buzz for The Paradise. Shot on Nani and Keerthy Suresh over seven days on a special set on the outskirts of Hyderabad, the song took Sandeep around a week to choreograph.

“When I first heard the tune of the song (without lyrics), I instantly felt the vibe and believed it would be an instant chartbuster,” he says, speaking to Filmfare. The choreography was designed according to the lyrics, characterisation and body language of the performers.

“It’s a Pehlwan (wrestler) and Dharkari style of dance,” describes Sandeep, adding that such art forms are performed as part of celebrations at events. “The style of dance has vibe, royalty and showcases strength, and director Srikanth Odela wanted me to capture these emotions aesthetically.”

While Nani and Keerthy Suresh nailed the dance moves, Sandeep is thrilled with the overwhelming response to the song. Many fans are recreating the hook steps and making reels as a form of appreciation.

On Working With Megastar Chiranjeevi

Sandeep’s wife, Jyoti Raj, also works with him to choreograph dance sequences. The duo choreographed the Hook Stepsong from Megastar Chiranjeevi’s Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, which became an instant blockbuster.

A die-hard fan and strong admirer of Chiranjeevi, Sandeep has often expressed his respect for the legendary actor. “Working with Megastar Chiranjeevi Sir is a blessing,” says Sandeep. “It’s a dream come true and a once-in-a-lifetime milestone in our lives.”

The Challenge of Creating a Hook Step

Creating a memorable hook step can be challenging, particularly when a song needs to connect with the masses. Sandeep believes realistic dance moves and catchy beats are key.

“I choreograph the song based on hero’s character arc and the song context in the film. That gives me a chance to compose steps naturally and in sync with the film’s theme,” he explains. “Since dance is also a form of expression, a hook step should have the required vibe. I try to bring nativity in the lyrical dance for realistic approach; it helps the song travel fast thereby helping the film.”

Also Read: The Paradise: Nani, Keerthy Suresh’s Yesha Nagula Becomes an Instant Chartbuster

Filmmaker Mari Selvaraj has officially begun shooting for his next Tamil film, Manjanathi. The project marks the director’s sixth feature film and comes with a significant first for his career, as he collaborates with veteran composer Ilaiyaraaja for the first time.

The makers announced the commencement of filming today, while also unveiling additions to the already announced ensemble cast. Poornima Ravi, Vidhu and Kaaka Muttai-fame J Vignesh have joined Priyanka Mohan, Kayadu Lohar and Kathir in the film.

Manjanathi is particularly noteworthy for bringing Mari Selvaraj back together with Kathir. The actor headlined the filmmaker’s acclaimed debut Pariyerum Perumal in 2018, a film that established Mari as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Tamil cinema. The two are now set to reunite several years after their first collaboration.

Poornima Ravi, meanwhile, shares screen space with Kathir again following their appearance together in the JioHotstar crime drama Lingam. With a cast that brings together established performers and newer faces, Manjanathi has already generated curiosity around the world Mari Selvaraj is creating this time.

A new chapter in Mari Selvaraj’s filmmaking journey

Since making his debut with Pariyerum Perumal, Mari Selvaraj has built a filmography that frequently explores caste, social inequality, identity and marginalisation through emotionally charged narratives. His subsequent films, including Karnan, Maamannan and Vaazhai, have further established his ability to combine socially rooted storytelling with accessible cinematic narratives.

Manjanathi now adds another intriguing element to his body of work through his association with Ilaiyaraaja. The legendary composer has scored music for some of the most influential films in Tamil cinema over several decades, making his collaboration with Mari Selvaraj one of the film’s biggest talking points.

The technical crew features several familiar names from the Tamil film industry. Ezhil Arasu K has been brought on board as the cinematographer, while Selva RK is handling the editing. Ramu Thangaraj serves as the art director, with Dhilip Subbarayan choreographing the action sequences.

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Manjanathi also expands Mari Selvaraj’s production slate

The film is being produced by Mari Selvaraj and his wife, Divya Mari Selvaraj, under their Navvi Studios banner. Sushant Prasad is co-producing the project through Skanda Pictures, with Fortune also backing the film.

While details about the plot and the characters played by the ensemble cast are currently being kept under wraps, the reunion between Mari Selvaraj and Kathir is likely to remain one of the film’s key attractions. Their previous collaboration, Pariyerum Perumal, was both critically acclaimed and influential, making their return particularly significant.

Manjanathi is not the only project keeping Mari Selvaraj busy behind the scenes. The filmmaker is also producing Maakali, which stars Ameer and marks the directorial debut of SB Aravinth, one of his former assistant directors. With Manjanathi now entering production, Mari continues to expand his creative footprint both as a director and producer.

As filming gets underway, the combination of Mari Selvaraj’s distinctive storytelling, Ilaiyaraaja’s music and a promising ensemble cast makes Manjanathi one of the more anticipated Tamil films currently in production.

Also Read: Mari Selvaraj Confirms AR Rahman for Dhanush’s D56

The upcoming teaser for Ranabaali, dropping on September 9, promises a dramatic historical epic under the tagline, “The legend of the cursed land rises.” Directed by Rahul Sankrityan, the film stars Vijay Deverakonda as a “rebellious chieftain” inhabiting a domain steeped in “buried history”. Set against the backdrop of British India between 1876 and 1878, the narrative draws from Indian “folklore”. A “brute face-off” from the folklore of India is what the film promises.

From real life to reel life

The period action-drama Ranabaali, also starring Rashmika Mandanna, will release worldwide on October 16. The hero-heroine duo, who got married earlier this year, have previously worked together in Geetha Govindam and Dear Comrade. Their chemistry in the film, their first release after marriage, is expected to be a winner.

The Kingdom actor plays the formidable title character, alongside his wife as Jayamma, while Arnold Vosloo portrays the lead antagonist, Sir Theodore Hector. What the makers wrote on social media on Rashmika’s birthday in April gives a hint of what is to be expected from her. Opening with the poetic quote, “In a world painted in grey, she was his only color,” the BTS montage shared by the team ended with a playful moment between the newly married couple on set.

Rashmika plays a fierce partner

A glimpse of the film was released a few months ago. Rashmika, known for Animal and Chhaava in Hindi, plays the lead man’s fiercely supportive partner. Intense battle sequences, rich period aesthetics and powerful dramatic moments are to be expected. The central romance could be the icing on the cake amidst a brutal conflict against colonial oppression. Driven by an evocative score and grand visual scale, the glimpse also brought out the high emotional chemistry between the leading duo. The film features music by Ajay-Atul.

Ranabaali is coming from the director of Nani’s Shyam Singha Roy and the producers of the Pushpa duology.

Also Read: Ranabaali: Vijay Deverakonda, Rashmika Mandanna’s Film Gets a Release Date