Mohanlal continued shooting enduring infection: Major Ravi

Mohanlal is currently shooting in Georgia for the final schedule of Major Ravi’s 1971: Beyond Borders. The actor is playing a dual role in the movie. He is reprising the role of Major Mahadevan for fourth time after Keerthichakra, Kurukshetra and Kandahar. Another character played by him is that of Mahadevan’s father, Major Sahadevan who fought in the 1971 war between India and Pakistan.

The shooting team had to endure tiring climatic conditions in Rajasthan to complete the first schedule. The director recently opened up on the hardships the team had to face while shooting. Major portions of the movie is set in Rajasthan where the battle tank fights were being filmed. Climatic conditions of the area during that period was very rough as the sun was scorching during the day time and it was freezing cold during the nights. Add to that, the location was inhabited by several poisonous snakes. Though the team had apprehensions to shoot at such tiring conditions, Mohanlal gave the much needed confidence and asked the director to take the shoot forward. All the crew members were advised to wear military boots and special snake repellant sprays were sprayed in the entire location.

To shoot the war sequences, the team had to burn 50 tyres. While rest of the crew members had the liberty to wear a mask to protect them from the poisonous gases released after burning, Mohanlal had no option as he was shooting as the character. As a result, after three days of continuous shooting, he got infected and had to take antibiotics. But being the thorough professional that he is, Mohanlal continued to shoot for the movie.
Finally, the team successfully completed their first schedule in the testing conditions of Rajasthan. After a brief gap, the second schedule was completed in Ottapalam.

Now the team is shooting in Georgia for Mahadevan’s parts, who is now a Colonel working in the UNO peace keeping battalion. Currently, they are shooting for some riveting action sequences choreographed by Mafia Sasi.

1971 : Beyond Borders is a big budget movie which also features Tollywood hero Allu Sirish and Bollywood actor Arunoday Singh in pivotal characters. The movie is being produced by Haneef Mohammed under the banner Red Rose Creations.