Manam
marked the final cinematic journey of the legendary actor
Akkineni Nageswara Rao
, who bravely battled cancer to complete the film but couldn’t witness its final glory on screen. Recently celebrating its 10-year milestone, his son Akkineni
Nagarjuna
and grandson Naga
Chaitanya
warmly recollected their memories from the set.“It feels like the film was made just yesterday...
the emotion is really something. Many of dad’s fans wanted to see the film in theatres again, so we decided to re-release it recently,” said Nagarjuna.
The responsibility of making sure his last film was perfect fell on my shoulders: Nagarjuna
It’s an incredibly special film for me because of my father’s long and illustrious career. The responsibility of making sure his last film was perfect fell on my shoulders. I was determined not to fail; I wanted his legacy to shine. Although, I admit that it was a stressful time. Midway through filming, we learned of my father’s illness, which was a traumatic experience for us. But he kept reassuring us as watching our family together on screen was special for him. Despite his cancer diagnosis, he insisted on completing his dubbing from bed and kept smiling through it all. Looking back, it brings a smile to my face.
It was an experience like no other: Chaitanya on seeing ANR in his element on the sets
Manam holds a special place in my heart. It feels like we were shooting for the film just yesterday, going through post-production, and then watching it all unfold together on the big screen. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that the film hit the 10-year mark... it’s truly a timeless gem. It was truly an irreplaceable experience working with granddad. Seeing him in his element on set, observing and learning, was a beautiful journey for me as an actor. I was under the impression that he would be very serious on the sets, but he was always approachable and friendly.
Trivia
- Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan made a special appearance in the film
- Manam stands out as the only film to showcase stars spanning three generations from a single family
- The film made ₹62 crore at the box office
- Amala and Akhil Akkineni also had cameo roles
- ANR was diagnosed with stomach cancer during the shoot
- He continued shooting for his final film two weeks after a major laparoscopic surgery
I really look forward to collaborating with dad... we’re always on the lookout for scripts that we can work on together. But we’re also mindful of choosing projects that are unique and fresh, not just run-of-the-mill films. Manam and Bangarraju are examples of that uniqueness. Working alongside him is always an enriching experience. Sure, we may have our creative clashes on set, but that only strengthens our bond as father and son
Naga Chaityanya
My father’s ability to put everyone on sets at ease was remarkable. When Chay was struggling to address him as ‘Rey Musaloda’ for a scene, he reminded him that it’s just a film! He expressed gratitude towards the end, acknowledging the significance of Manam as his final film. I wish he could have seen the final product, but I’m certain he saw it through our eyes and thoseof his fans
Nagarjuna
- Shweta Watson
English (US) ·