Is Jr NTR starrer ‘Devara 2’ in the making? Producer Lagadapati Sridhar says period dramas are losing appeal

Jr NTR is working on his upcoming, much-anticipated film, rumoured to be called ‘Dragon’, with ‘KGF’ and ‘Salaar’ fame Prashanth Neel. As his previous venture, ‘Devara’, which ended on a cliffhanger, is set for a second part. However, the latest reports suggest the sequel may have been shelved.Filmmaker Lagadapati Sridhar recently spoke about the reports and shared his opinion about films like ‘Devara’. According to Deccan Chronicle, he said that fictional dramas with a period theme are becoming outdated lately. At the same time, the “old-school narrative style” somewhat restricts the ‘RRR’ star’s larger-than-life image. He said, “Fictional dramas with period settings are slowly becoming outdated. The old-school narrative style of the original Devara also restricted Jr NTR’s larger-than-life image, though he tried his best to elevate it with an intense performance. The film did make money, but today’s audiences are far shrewder and are looking for realistic and relatable plots.”He also added, “NTR has to choose better stories and directors to raise the bar further. He should find subjects that match his charisma and also help expand his fan base across markets.”In other news, recently, director Koratala Siva’s next project with Nandamuri Balakrishna, tentatively called ‘NBK112’, was announced, which made people wonder if ‘Devara 2’ would happen at all. In addition to it, there are also reports that on Jr NTR’s birthday on May 20, his next project with Trikiram Srinivas is also expected to be announced.Speaking of ‘Devara’, it is set in a coastal village during the 1980s. The story followed a powerful sea warrior who fought against illegal sea smuggling after realizing innocent people were suffering because of it. This led to a deadly clash with his close friend Bhaira.The movie marked the Tollywood debut of Janhvi Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan, who played the leads. It also features Prakash Raj, Srikanth and Shine Tom Chacko in important roles.