Pushpa-2 team chooses erstwhile Maoists’ bastion in Odisha for shooting

The excitement among the fans of Allu Arjun’s upcoming film Pushpa-2 has reached a new high with the release of its first-look poster

The excitement among the fans of Allu Arjun’s upcoming film Pushpa-2 has reached a new high with the release of its first-look poster. And now, fans in Odisha have an extra reason to celebrate, as the highly-anticipated sequel is set to be filmed in Swabhiman Anchal, once a bastion of red rebels, in Malkangiri district.

Mythri Movie Makers, a Hyderabad-based film producing company, has carried out recce of the terrain of Swabhiman Anchal, which was earlier an isolated land surrounded by water from three sides due to construction of two major reservoirs at Machhkund in 1960s and Balimela in 1980s.

This approximately 900 square km region, Swabhiman Area, was once a no-go zone for civil and police administration as left wing extremists under the Andhra-Odisha Border zone of the CPI (Maoist) were calling the shots.

“Our senior production team comprising fight master, associate director and art director is satisfied after seeing the terrain of Swabhiman Anchal. Hantalguda, Saptadhara and Jhulapola are the locations which have been tentatively finalised for shooting of Pushpa-2,” said P. Venketeswar Rao, Production Manager, Mythri Movie Makers.

Mr. Rao said the Pushpa-2 makers were looking for a location, where a lorry could be seen chasing a jeep, and the Swabhiman Anchal was found to be perfecting background for this.

“We have taken permission from the Malkangiri District Collector and the Superintendent of Police for shooting. We had discussion with the Border Security Force. Everyone was ready to cooperate in the shooting. If everything goes as per plan, the shooting could commence in May,” he said.

According to the production house, about 150 to 200 people could enter Swabhiman Anchal for shooting. It has not yet been ascertained, if Allu Arjun, the protagonist of Pushpa-2, would participate in the shooting which will be done during daytime under the close watch of security forces.