The Swayambhu teaser has dropped, and it’s clear that Nikhil Siddhartha has had no qualms about pushing the envelope this time around. Coming off the back of Karthikeya 2’s massive success, he’s spent nearly three years working on this new project – a good two years longer than he invested in his previous hits. But what you see in those slick cuts is the result of some seriously hard work behind the scenes.
1. The Vietnam Link and ‘Maruthi’ the Horse
What you might not spot among all the flashy cuts is the sheer amount of blood and sweat Nikhil put into those fight scenes. In fact, he was so keen on not using a body double that he actually spent a month in Vietnam training with top stunt masters in Saigon to master dual sword fighting.
And keep an eye out for a rather special horse called ‘Maruthi’ – probably a world first in a cinematic depiction of mounted combat since Nikhil rather unusually spent three months getting to know this horse (who’s actually called Diamond when he’s off set) so they could film actual mounted combat scenes. That gritty horse to horse fight sequence looks all the more convincing because of that time spent bonding with his four legged co-star.
2. The Sengol: From Myths to Modern Politics
The film puts the Sengol – that legendary golden sceptre – bang in the centre of its narrative. Instead of some fancy crown or throne, Swayambhu delves deep into the history of this mystical object of “Dharma.”
It’s a smart move given all the recent interest in the Sengol following its installation in the new Indian parliament. The film takes us back to where it all started: how the Sengol was gifted to Lord Rama by Lord Shiva and passed down through the Chola dynasty. By casting Nikhil as a sort of ‘Warrior Guardian’ of the sceptre, they’ve turned what could have been just a political symbol into something far more epic.
3. 985 AD: Getting Down and Dirty
The film looks like it’s going for all sorts of grit and realism – and it’s not just the visuals that are going for that aesthetic. The director, Bharat Krishnamachari, has opted for a palette of mud, iron and deep shadows, which is a long way from the typical bright and saturated colours you’d expect from your average Indian film. Nikhil actually decided not to wear a wig for the role either – he spent months growing his own hair to get that “warrior” look just right. When you see him looking all scarred and dusty in that teaser clip, that’s not just some fancy makeup job – it’s the real deal. This is an epic with a commitment to authenticity that feels a lot closer to something like Game of Thrones than your average Tollywood blockbuster.
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