25 September 2015
Hyderabad

Art Direction is a critical department in for any movie. With his contemporary styles and creative ideas, Sahi Suresh is becoming an asset that Tollywood can have for the next few generations. Idlebrain throws Focus Light on Sahi Suresh, the upcoming, yet very talented Art Director of Telugu Film industry.

My journey
I was born in Madanapalle. My father was employed in Irrigation department. After he passed away, my mother started fending for us filling his shoes. I did my schooling in Kurnool. After I reached college, I left my degree in the middle in the pursuit of movies. Finally, we settled in Hyderabad for the sake of my employment. I always had interest in movies. I watched Bhairavadweepam some 100 times. I was highly fascinated by the whole concept of the movie. The colors, the art, the direction, everything was stuck in my mind. It was a trigger for me to come into the film industry. I didn’t know anything about art department then. After I was in Hyderabad, all I knew was that film industry is in jubilee hills. I used to follow newspaper on daily basis and go to zoo park or other locations to see film shootings. I frequented Film Nagar.

My stint with various Art Directors
Through some contacts, I got in touch with Murali who was an associate art director then. I joined Murali as his assistant and got introduced to Peketi Ranga. I assisted Ranga in Nuvve Kaavali. That was my first step as assistant art director. I used to struggle a lot for Ranga’s attention as he was my Guru and mentor. The kind of art that he produced in movies blew my mind away. He was an inspiration for me to take up Art direction. While I was working for Ranga, I made friends with Narayana Reddy who was establishing then as an Art director. I worked with him for Chitram, Nuvvu nenu, in both Telugu and Hindi, Okariki okaru, Family Circus and some more movies. I am still friends with him and I am very thankful to him for giving me a good platform. Then one day, I received a call from Ashok who is a very famous art director. He asked me if I could work under him. Thus I worked with Ashok for Shankar dada Mbbs and Shankar dada Zindabad. I have also worked under Bhupesh R Bhupathi for Malleswari and Ananagana oka dheerudu movies. Then I wanted to get in touch with Anand sai. I myself contacted him and joined him. Under his guidance, I worked for movies like Shakti, Dammu. I worked under various Art Directors as their assistant as each Art director has a vision and their creativity is entirely different. My all-time favorite is Peketi Ranga. I can’t explain the work that I did under his guidance. He worked for very great movies such as Bhairavadweepam, Vichitra sodarulu, Pushpaka vimanam. Ashok has a talent in making low budget art direction. I learned that from him. He uses amazing color combinations. Anand Sai taught me how art direction can be highlighted in movies. Thus each director has something to teach me.

My journey as a solo Art Director
While working for Sakthi- Ashwini Dutt spotted me. He recognized my hard work and called me in person. He informed that they were starting a movie with Ravi Teja and asked me if I could work as independent art director. Thus I got an offer to work for Saarochchara movie which became my first ever independent movie as Art director.

Within short period, I made a niche for myself and worked very hard. There is lot of difference from outside and in here. People think that Art direction is very easy. But it is lot of hard work. I never thought I could be an art director. But I became one. Being an art director has its own problems- budget being the main constraint. I need to satisfy the director and the camera man with beautiful locales and impressive sets. Not only that, the art director struggles each day of the shooting because, the sets keep changing and the whole dynamics need to be addressed. One day, we could be inside an apartment, the other day, we are shooting in a burial ground. For both the sites, the art director has to make sure, the locales and the sets appeal to the scene. From Muhurat to the end scene, art directors play a vital role. Unfortunately, their work is recognised only in songs or major scenes where the art is clearly visible. But not many people realise that, the art director stays throughout the movie from start to end and makes sure, every scene is appealing.

Since it was first time as art director for Saarochchara, I couldn’t take full control. I took help of my other friends and made sure I stayed within budget and delivered beautiful sets for the movie. Ashwini Dutt and Priyanka Dutt were very happy with my work. They still treat me as their family member. I am very thankful to them for helping me in my career.

While the editing work of the movie was being done, Chandu saw my work and offered me Karthikeya movie even before Saarochchara was released. After the movie was released, I was offered to work for Malli Malli idi raane roju and Venkatadri express. After that Kanche happened. Now I am working for Boyapati Seenu’s movie.

Art direction- not a cake walk
I should thank Google and Youtube for shaping me into the art director that I am now. I use them a lot for ideas and to generate concepts. I use my references and use both live and computer graphics. Typically, the director tells the story of the song and the movie. The art director sketches the back ground and the sets. Most of the times, we can make live sketches and then also use Computer Graphics.

While I was an assistant art director, I had no time in my hands due to the extensive work. But, I started going to classes to learn the nuances of Art. I had no money to buy a computer also. Somehow I pooled in money and bought a computer. I struggled on my own and came up with my own new concepts. I never use old movies as references. I always stay contemporary. After discussing with the director, I make sure I show them multiple references. There is lot of communication gap between the computer graphic designers and art directors. If we all can sit together and work, the sets could be even more beautiful.

My movies
Karthikeya-The story of Karthikeya is very good and for an art director- it has lot of potential. I designed simple sets and tried to highlight the sets with beautiful locales. We used most of the original village locales. The arch, the snake and other props were created by me.

The art director should not disturb the audience with unnecessary colors and sets. We need to play low but yet highlight the movies. Most of the times, I am asked what we do as art directors. But not many people realise that we establish so many sets that are very subtle and look very natural. Audiences think they are original houses. But we recreate them and make them look real.

Kanche- Kanche movie is a big challenge for me. The story shocked me as it would require an experienced art director to establish sets. I worked really hard and hardly slept while making the movie. We researched about the villages during old times and tried to recreate the sets. We laid roads and sets that looked like old villages. We also recreated a whole train and rail road and other necessary props that can match the story line. I had a team of nearly 70 people. We also used Ramoji Film city and created many sets for the movie. The war was recreated in Georgia, Europe. We hired many people in Georgia and made use of the local resources and props. It’s a lot of homework if we need to work oversees. The trailer also got me lot of name. Kanche was hands full but it gave me a lot of satisfaction as Art Director. It brought the potential in me. Singeetham Srinivas Rao saw the sets and highly appreciated me for my hard work. It meant a lot to me as he was my inspiration from Bhairavadweepam times and his whole idea and concept brought me to this stage. His words were quite motivating and I truly cherish them.

I have also worked for Raju gari Gadi. If not for my assistants, I would not have been able to make this far. I owe my success to them too.

Family
My wife Jyothi is my support. She is a housewife but manages events outside as her own business. We have two sons Supradeep and Praneesh. I treat Gemini Kiran and Chota K Naidu as my family as they are very instrumental in shaping my career. I also want to thank my friends JK Murty, Swamy, Ramu and Nagendar who stood by me during thick and thin.

Apart from movies, I have designed the sets for Godavari Pushkaralu where the daily Aarati was given. I have also designed the backdrop for International Yoga Day sets used by AP government. Recently I have designed the tableau (float) for Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh in the recently organized Independence Day Parade.

I also encourage upcoming art directors. There is lot of potential in this field. New comers can contact me and I am ready to give them the chance that they deserve. Also, we need more women in art direction department in Tollywood. They are equally creative as men and if given a chance, they can prove to be much better than many of us. They can contact me through Facebook or email.

By
Swathi Sriram

Other articles in 'Focus Light:

• Satya Dev
• Rakesh Mahankali
• Prabhakar
• Naveen Polishetty
• Harish Koyalagundla
• Eshwar Reddy
• Saandip
• Snigdha
• Anil - Bhanu
• Vijaya Bhaskar
• Vinay Varma
• Dr. Josyabhatla Sarma
• Sasikiran Narayana