| Billa II | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Chakri Toleti |
| Produced by | Suresh Balaje George Pius Sunir Khetrapal |
| Screenplay by | Sarath Mandava Jaffer Mohammed Ee. Raa. Murugan (dialogues) |
| Story by | Chakri Toleti Eric Felberg |
| Starring | Ajith Kumar Parvathy Omanakuttan Bruna Abdullah Vidyut Jamwal Sudhanshu Pandey |
| Music by | Yuvan Shankar Raja |
| Cinematography | R. D. Rajasekhar |
| Editing by | Suresh Urs |
| Studio | Wide Angle Creations IN Entertainment |
The film, which is being produced by Wide Angle Creations in association with the Hinduja Group company IN Entertainment, was officially announced in November 2010, with Vishnuvardhan as the director. Due to conflicting dates, he was replaced by Chakri Toleti, while a new script was penned by a team involving Toleti and Eric Felberg. Filming, which commenced in July 2011 and was completed by December 2011, took place primarily at Goa, Hyderabad and Georgia. Billa II is expected to release on 25 May 2012.
The film's production was delayed as Ajith Kumar's previous film, Mankatha, progressed beyond the anticipated completion dates. In March 2011, the producers released a press note that the film would begin in early May 2011, however this failed to happen. During that period, it was also suggested that Billa II may not be Ajith Kumar's successive project and commence only after the actor completed a film with M. Raja. Eventually, a photo shoot was held in June 2011 with Ajith sporting an appearance of a man in his mid-twenties. Principal photography eventually commenced on 14 July 2011 at the Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad.Filming during the first 30 day schedule throughout July and August 2011 was held in Hyderabad and Vizag.As part of the schedule, one song was shot in Pondicherry under the direction of choreographer Raju Sundaram. Both actresses Parvathy Omanakuttan and Bruna Abdullah joined the crew for the second schedule in Goa, that lasted for 39 days and ended in the first week of November.
In the third week of November, a unit of thirty-six members left for Georgia in Eastern Europe for the final 20 day schedule of the film. In Georgia, the crew filmed at the country's capital, Tbilisi, Borjomi and Rustavi. The climax portions were filmed there against a snowy backdrop, for which aerial shots were done from a helicopter. The stunt sequences were choreographed by an award-winning German-based company led by stuntman Stefan Richter. Approximately half a million dollars were spent for the whole schedule in Georgia, which was finished by mid-December In February 2012, the remaining scenes, including the film's title song, were canned at the Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, despite the ongoing strike in the film industry. An item number featuring Brazilian model Gabriela Bertante was shot in a studio in Goa. Although producer Kheterpal named Bangkok, Thailand as a potential location for filming, shooting was not held there. The entire filming was completed over a period of 90 days.
The overseas distribution rights were sold for
5.3 crores ($ 1 million) to the US-based company GK Media, the highest ever for a Ajith film. In March 2012, the local media corporation Sun TV Network bought the satellite rights for a record price,with sources estimating the price at 6.25 crores. Three prominent production houses were reportedly trying to purchase the domestical theatrical rights then.
