'Quick Gun' doesn't make fun of anyone

Aug 27, 2009 IANS

New Delhi, Aug 27 (IANS) The movie "Quick Gun Murugun - Misadventures of an Indian Cowboy" neither makes fun of Tamil thespian Rajnikant nor Hollywood movies, says Rajendra Prasad, who plays the lead in the comedy.

"'Quick Gun Murugun' doesn't make fun of anyone. The characterisation, behaviour, style and even the dialogues are highly individual. It has no resemblance to anyone in particular," Telugu comedystar Prasad told IANS in an interview.

"It is only a laugh-riot. The problem is, when it comes to South Indian movies people have heard only about Tamil cinema and Rajnikant and so they are drawing parallels out of nothing... 'Quick Gun?' is a full-fledged original film," he added.

Rumour mills were abuzz that certain sequences in the film spoofed Rajnikant and Hollywood films like "The Matrix" and "Terminator".

"'Quick Gun' is a cultural mix of characters, particularly from south India. We wanted to show the diversity of our cultures through the movie," said Prasad.

Produced and distributed by Phat Phish Motion Pictures and Fox Star Studios respectively, "Quick Gun Murugun" is releasing Friday in four languages - Hindi, English, Tamil and Telugu.

A "concept comedy" based on Channel V India's 1990s south Indian character - both produced and directed by Shashanka Ghosh, the movie shows Quick Gun as a strict vegetarian who considers it his duty to serve and protect "cows and women".

"My character is involved in an epic battle with arch villain Rice Plate Reddy who wants to convert the world into non-vegetarian," said the actor.

Initially Prasad took the movie offer as a hoax. "To be very honest, when I was approached for the movie, I knew nothing about Shashanka or the character and I thought it was some kind of a prank. I had not seen it ever on TV or anywhere and I did not think it was serious," he said.

"But when I was shown the old footages of 'Quick Gun' from Channel V and the executive producer of the movie explained the concept to me in Telugu? I was really thrilled and happy for the work they did at that time," he added.

Prasad, who started his career in 1977 with film "Sneham", has teamed up with Rambha in it.

"Doing this film has been a great experience for me? it's like graduating. I can say that after 32 years of my career in cinema, I have been blessed to play such a character," he said.

Unlike other actors down south, King of Comedy, as he is fondly called, Prasad doesn't harbour any political dreams. "I am very happy being an actor. I don't want to spoil my happiness by joining politics."

He just wants to be an actor.

With around five Telugu films in his kitty, the veteran is keeping his fingers crossed for Bollywood too.

"If I get an opportunity to work in Bollywood, I'll definitely take it. However I think it depends more on the reaction to 'Quick Gun Murugun' now than anything else. In Hyderabad by god's blessings there are always many films for me to do," he added. Click the Movie button below for more info:
Quick Gun Murugan