Prabhas’ Radhe Shyam made on a grand budget concluded its shoot across exotic locations around the world. The film’s final schedule was shot at a 15th Century temple at Gandikota in Jammalamadugu, Andhra Pradesh.
The heritage temple was built during the Krishnadevaraya era. Since the romantic entertainer period drama, the makers felt using this shrine as a shooting location would give the right feel to the scenes.
“I had been to this place long back. In June, when we went on a recce for suitable locations for our temple scenes, I thought this temple would be ideal, given its heritage setting,” explains the National Award-winning production designer Ravinder Reddy.
“We were specifically looking for a temple built entirely in stone and this fit the bill,” he says, adding, “The temple scenes are crucial and drive the narrative.”
“We had to build the navagraha, homam place, courtyard, and dance hall. Fibre and wood were used. All the material was transported from Hyderabad in 12 trucks,” says Ravinder. Accessories for the interior of the temple, like lamps and rudrakshas, were brought from Banaras.
Around 1,000 Veda Pandits were reportedly brought from various temples and Vedic universities for this schedule. “We have Aghoras too,” he says, adding that shooting schedule at the temple lasted a week. “We got all the spiritual vibes and it was truly an emotional moment. We spent around three years on the film, and I am glad that it ended on a spiritual note.