Director Harish Shankar recently addressed the confusion surrounding his upcoming film Ustaad Bhagat Singh, starring Powerstar Pawan Kalyan. There has been a lot of buzz about whether the film is a remake of the Tamil hit Theri, which starred Vijay as a cop. Harish, however, clarified in a recent interview that Ustaad is a completely original, straight film.
The confusion around the film’s nature has been building ever since the movie was announced, especially after the claims surfaced that Ustaad Bhagat Singh could be a remake. While such speculations have been circulating for a while, it’s crucial for filmmakers to clear up such misunderstandings early on, particularly for big-star projects. Unfortunately, in this case, the delay in addressing these rumours has led to mixed buzz surrounding the film.
Harish Shankar, known for his earlier collaboration with Pawan Kalyan in Gabbar Singh, defended the originality of Ustaad in a strong statement. He even highlighted his personal touch in the movie’s title card, which reads "Kathaa.. Matalu and Darsakatwam" a clear indication that this is not a remake. He also drew comparisons to his own work in Gabbar Singh, saying that certain elements in Theri, like the Twinkle Twinkle Little Star fight scene, were inspired by his Antyakshari sequence from the earlier film.
Despite the director’s recent clarification, the damage may already be done. The delay in addressing the speculation early on has led to confusion, affecting both fan excitement and business deals. Fans are unsure whether Ustaad is a straight film or a dubbed version of Theri, which has dampened the buzz surrounding the project. Given that Ustaad follows OG (another anticipated Pawan Kalyan film), the expectation for heightened excitement and anticipation was high, but the current buzz does not seem to meet those expectations.
As the film nears its release, the hope is that Harish Shankar’s strong statement will shift the public perception of Ustaad Bhagat Singh. The movie, which has been in the works for a long time, still has the potential to captivate audiences once the confusion clears, but the team must ensure that the narrative surrounding the film remains clear and straightforward from now on.
