13 February 2008
Hyderabad

Sekhar Kammula won Nandi’s best director award for second time today. He shared his happiness with us. Here are the excerpts of chitchat-
What is your response for getting 3rd award for your third film?
I really feel proud that I got the best director awards for my first three films Dollar Dreams (Best debut director - Swarna Kamalam - National award), Anand (Best director - Nandi award) and Godavari (best director - Nandi award).
Did you try to figure out why your films are special?
I think there is a signature of me in all my films. I make sure that I get involved in all aspects of filmmaking starting from casting, acting, costumes, choreography, camera, music etc. I created my own genre. There is no negative things and cynicism in my films. All my films are positive. My thought process, my behavior and my observations are reflected in my films.
Godavari was not a satisfactory project for the producer though it was a well made film. Does this award make any difference to the film?
I consider the award for Godavari to more precious than that of Anand and Dollar Dreams because we worked so hard to make the film on live river. I thought that Godavari would increase my box office span as I made a film on Godavari, which could attract B and C center crowds. But unfortunately, it was not received well in Rajahmundry center itself where Godavari is located. We all worked very hard for 120 days in Rajahmundry to shoot the film.
I had a little bit of dissatisfaction about Godavari box office result and penned ‘Manchi Minority’ as a reply to an open letter in idlebrain.com.
Godavari became a past memory for many people because of Happy Days film's super success. I desperately wanted Vijay C Kumar to get an award for his cinematography and I am very glad that jury considered him. I am also happy for KM Radhakrishnan and Sunita. They are all part of our core team.
At the same time I was little disappointed that Veturi and SP Balu did not get an award for ‘Vuppongele Godavari’ song. Songs like these come very rarely.
Godavari film is very dear to me and I am really glad that we got so many awards for this film. I would like to wholeheartedly thank producer GVG Raju for his faith on us.
Are you expected another award for Happy Days?
I was little doubtful about award for Godavari as we had very good films like Bommarillu and Sri Ramadasu released in the same year. But Happy Days is not going to have much competition as there were very few well made films in year 2007.
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