Billa 2, the most awaited Tamil film of the year, will hit over 1,300 screens tomorrow. Ending weeks of uncertainty and long wait, Billa 2 is set to hit the screens tomorrow.
Fresh from the thumping success of Mankatha, Ajith’s film has created unprecedented hypeand buzz over the last few months, making it the most awaited Tamil film of the year. In Tamil Nadu alone, the Chakri Toleti directed film is releasing in over 600 theatres. In the US, it is slated in record 60 screens, next only to Rajinikanth’s Enthiran, which was released in 87 screens. Across the globe, the film will be shown in 1,300 screens, including countries like France.

According to trade sources, the advance booking has been phenomenal across all centres in Tamil Nadu. As usual, Ajith, fondly known as Thala, has stayed away from all the promotional activities though the makers have gone all out to promote the film. In terms of production value, technological highs, trailer record on YouTube and pre-sale records, the sale of music and gaming accessories included, Billa 2 has broken many records.

Ajith has reportedly revelled in risktaking as far as the action sequences are concerned. His daredevilry in dangling in mid-air at an altitude of about 10,000 feet from a helicopter is a much-talked about sequence in the film that has been breathtakingly choreographed by Stephen Richer from Germany. The film has been shot entirely in 5K resolution with the Epic Camera, it is learnt.
Another USP of the Billa franchise is the glam dolls — Bruna Abdulla and Parvathy Omanakuttan — who will be seen in ever before-seen attire.
Yuvan Shankar Raja’s music has six songs in addition to a theme number. It is already known that the film has been shot at some picturesque locales in several parts of the world, but the real icing on the cake will be the scenes shot in sub-zero temperature at the prestigious Likani Palace in Georgia.

Understandably, director Toleti, who has taken over the Billa franchise from Vishnuvardhan, is excited. “My team and I fashioned a new script and I had no idea regarding the Billa franchise till I started working on that. Only then did I come to realise the magnitude of project Billa – a cult figure in Indian cinema,” says Toleti.

“Working with Ajith was indeed a magnificent experience as he is as cool as a breeze on the sets and as violent as a storm in action while on the sets. My unit members had already apprised me of his culinary expertise and on several occasions during the shoot, I could flavour his courtesy as well as cuisine,” adds Toleti, who has made a mark with Unnai Pol Oruvan that had Kamal Haasan and Mohanlal in the lead.

Ajith, who dons the title role of a dreaded don,has already said that he will only be doing films that suit his stature and ageand will no more prance around trees with heroines half his age. But he plays a youthful character in this at least in some portions of this film.

Thala tells Mirror, “As this is a prequel, I had but to look young as the script travels back in time sketching my point of start and how I transformed into a don. Hence it was inevitable. But the film’s focus is on other things in the don’s life which you all will know when you watch the movie.”

Quiz him about his character and he is all smiles. “The film traces the life sketch of a man who is never satisfied with whatever he accomplishes, of course, outside the ambit of the law, obviously and in the process becomes his own opponent. He is the man who opposes himself. What if more of men come in the line of duty of opposing himself? This is what the film is all about!”

It was the late actor-turned-film producer K Balaji who kick-started the Billa franchise by opting to remake the Big B starrer Don. Interestingly, Suresh Balaji, his son, is a partner in IN Entertainment that has backed this mega-scale production.

Published in Bangalore Mirror daily English newspaper dated July 12, 2012.