How NTR and MGR inspired Pawan Kalyan’s role in Hari Hara Veera Mallu

Director Jyothi Krisna revealed that Pawan Kalyan’s role in Hari Hara Veera Mallu was inspired by iconic actors NTR and MGR. He drew from their mythological and socially conscious roles to design a character of strength, virtue and leadership

Hyderabad: As Pawan Kalyan’s upcoming film Hari Hara Veera Mallu gears up for its July 24 release, the hype surrounding the film has reached fever pitch.

In an interesting revelation, director Jyothi Krisna states that he drew inspiration from legendary actors NTR and MGR to design Pawan Kalyan’s character in Hari Hara Veera Mallu.

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The filmmaker adds that he was motivated to write Pawan’s role after observing his trailblazing qualities, which reminded him of iconic personalities like NTR and MGR.

According to Jyothi Krisna, Pawan’s onscreen persona in Hari Hara Veera Mallu was carefully crafted to project him as a virtuous, strong, and ‘people’s man.’ The director shares that even after becoming Chief Minister, MGR continued to act in films that were consistently message-oriented and rooted in honesty.

“I was inspired by this aspect and composed a powerful and thought-provoking song ‘Maata Vinali’ in Hari Hara Veera Mallu. The essence of the song encourages people to embrace positivity and righteousness in life, reflecting Pawan’s ideology and appeal. The song impacted and resonated deeply with the audiences,” says Jyothi Krisna.

Similarly, some of NTR’s most celebrated performances came from mythological and folklore films. His iconic portrayals as Lord Rama and Lord Krishna remain definitive representations of those characters.

“NTR was admirably depicted as Lord Rama, with a bow and arrow that symbolised his power and ability to uphold dharma. I drew inspiration from this element and designed a bow and arrow for Pawan in Hari Hara Veera Mallu (which is also a period film). These weapons symbolise Pawan’s strength and readiness to fight for justice and uphold dharma,” explains the director, adding that when he was writing the script, he realised that people are seeing Pawan Kalyan as a leader and not just as a hero. “I wanted to create every scene as a ‘special one’ that’ll elevate the narrative.”