Allu Sirish, the younger brother of Telugu actor Allu Arjun, is not new to cinema. At the age of four, Sirish first made a brief appearance in Pratibandh, his father’s (Allu Arvind) production. His next was as a child artist at the age of 10 in Telugu film Mayabazar.
Sirish’s first film as a leading hero was in the Tamil film, Gowravam, and then he went on to do two Telugu films.
Major Ravi directed 1971 — Beyond Borders, Sirish’s first step in Malayalam cinema.
Following are excerpts from an exclusive interview with SIrish for Gulf News tabloid!.
How did this film happen?
“I am not new to Malayalam cinema. My brother’s films have been dubbed into Malayalam. Besides, I have watched many Malayalam films. I met Major Ravi at a social gathering and he talked about a role for me in another film. Then he also mentioned about Beyond Borders and this role happened.”
Tell us about your role.
“This film is not only about the 1971 Bangladesh war but of the human drama that unfolds in the lives of the jawans [soldiers].
I play Lieutenant Chinmay, a Tamilian from the Madras Regiment. Having done my early schooling in Chennai, I am well versed in Tamil.
Chinmay is one of those young men, impulsive and brash and enthusiastic about proving himself as a soldier. He is the second commander in the tanker unit headed by Mr. Mohan Lal’s character, Major Madhavan.
Madhavan and Chinmay share the relationship of a mentor and protege.”
How did you prepare for this role?
“Like every youngster, I too have watched war films and had some faint idea.
But the learning lessons came only after reaching the sets on the Rajasthan border. I first got into my uniform and interacted with the soldiers there. We shot for 25 days and were completely shut off from the outside world, with no signals. Learning to drive the T-72 tank was one of the best experiences. It was like handling a beast.”
What about working with Mohan Lal?
“Lal ettan [brother] is a very giving actor. He is involved in his co actors characters and gives them great space on the screen. He helped me with my performance and never complained when I went for more retakes. Patient and understanding, Lal ettan is super chilled off the sets. It was comfortable working with him.”
And, director Major Ravi?
“Major Ravi is a taskmaster and enforces discipline. One scene was challenging for me and he demonstrated how it had to be done. I think I eventually got it right because everyone clapped after the shot.”
What’s next?
“I am doing a Telugu film, directed by V.I Anand. It is a thriller with a sci-fi element.”
