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How
did you get interested in films?
It's
not just an interest in films. I am interested in creating films.
Since my childhood I had an inclination towards creativity. I
used to paint, dance and participate in dramatics. I was very
active in college cultural activities. I used to take part in
stage plays. Hence it has been a natural walk for me into this
field. I entered television first, as its more affordable compared
to feature films. I have more freedom on Television, as the commercial
considerations are less.
What
are the television serials you directed?
I
have directed 585 episodes of Ruthu Raagalu (on DD) and
345 episodes of Kasturi (on E TV).
How
did you get the idea of entering into TV media?
My
husband (Mr. Sudhakar) was working for Door Darshan. He was trained
at Pune Film Institute. Hence it was natural for me to do something
like this. If I were not directing films and serials, I would
have become a painter.
But
the concept of mega serial, where the number of episodes runs
into hundreds, is a new concept for Telugu viewers. What prompted
you to make a mega serial?
I
was inspired to make a mega serial when my husband told me about
Shanti and Swabhimaan (Hindi TV serials). We also
watched 'The Bold and the Beautiful' and 'Santa Barbara'
on Star TV. By doing a TV serial, we can use our own finances,
instead of depending on somebody else for production. This again
was one of the reasons why I entered TV media first.
Could
you make good profits out of those serials?
Everybody
makes money. But we did not become millionaires overnight. We
could breakeven. We were more into satiating our creative hunger
than the greed for money.
What
prompted you to enter the field of making feature films?
After
having made four daily serials, I thought its time for me to do
something different as I did not want to become redundant. I wanted
to have some change.
How
do you differentiate between directing a TV serial and directing
a feature film?
I
could very comfortably get in to film line as I have enough experience
in TV media. But I feel, while making a TV serial one has to be
more analytical. Everything has to be comprehensive. You have
to get into the core of each and every matter and explain everything.
We basically have time to sit back and relax while making TV serials.
But in films it's not like that. You have a point to say and you
just say it. Whatever thinking has to be done would be done by
audience later on.
Bala
Chandar, one of the greatest film directors, entered the TV media
and made lot of serials. Again he attempted making a feature film
titled 'Paravasam'.
But Paravasam bombed at the box office, since the script
was bad and the narration of story was similar to that of TV serials.
Having the background of TV serials, did you make any conscious
efforts to change the style of narration in your film 'Kanulu
Moosina Neevaye'?
I
honestly don't know. I did it in a way I was convinced. I made
sure that the pace of narration of the story is very fast in film.
Now I leave the ball in the audience's court to judge if the film
is like a TV serial or not.
Apart
from Vijaya Nirmala, we don't have any female directors in Telugu
cinema industry. Did you face any difficulty in getting the work
done, as this is a male dominated industry?
No.
I did not face any difficulties in getting the work done. I don't
believe in gender thing. Gender is secondary as long as you are
competent. If I can really judge what I am doing and if I can
show that I am the boss, I don't see any problems.
What
do you think is the reason why we do not have many female film
directors in this field?
People
call film industry as male dominated because there are no or very
less women in this field. But it's actually up to the interest
of each individual. If they want to do it, they should come forward
and do it. No matter man or woman, as long as they have that urge
to prove themselves they should come out to do so.
Coming
to directing your first feature film, is it just your experience
that helped you or did you follow any books on direction?
I
don't follow any books. I don't see many films. I am being very
honest. I am very ignorant on that aspect. I can't even quote
a thing from any film. It's just the pure instinct. I have learnt
the basic technique of cutting the shots. The rest is just my
imagination and conviction.
When
is 'Kanulu Moosina Neevaye' going to be released?
It
is releasing on the 28th of June.
This
film has been getting postponed since the last four weeks. What's
the reason behind it?
The
producer told me that the buyers were apprehensive about releasing
my film along with those so-called big films. After selling the
product, we have to consider the requests of the customers (buyers).
Since it is our first film, we are taking their advice. We cannot
overrule their judgment.
What
is the reason behind casting Deepak as hero?
He
suited the character and our budget.
Telugu
dialogues have some kind of native punch in them. For a non-Telugu
guy, to get the timing right for a Telugu dialogue is very difficult.
Did you put any extra effort on that aspect?
I
did not face any problem on that front because I used to explain
each and every word and what it meant to Deepak. He delivered
the goods perfectly. You find assistants doing the task of explaining
dialogues to the cast. But I personally ensured that Deepak was
aware of the exact meaning of each and every word. It's just the
matter of right communication between the artist and the director.
We should be sure of what we want. Then we can extract the maximum
performance out of any artist.
How
many days did you take to shoot 'Kanulu Moosina Neeyaye'?
45
days.
Did
you shot the film within budget?
Budget
is elastic. If an artist takes more than two takes, it also affects
the budget. I might have calculated for three takes. What if an
actor takes five takes? Everything is not in our hands.
You
must have seen the final copy. What are the expectations on the
film?
This
film might not have great openings. But after a week or 10 days,
the film is going to settle down and become a hit. The story of
the film is novel. It's not the usual kind of faction war or puppy
love. The audience these days has become so predictable that they
can tell the entire story after watching the first half an hour
of the film. In my film, nobody is going predict what is going
to happen subsequently, till the climax.
Are
there any incidents, which let you down, after you entered the
TV serial making? Were there any failures?
There
was nothing like failure as such. There were times when I thought
I have become too redundant. There is one incident where we pulled
out a serial on E TV that is directed by some other director and
produced by us, because that content was not up to the expectations
and standards we have set for ourselves. And the theme was not
convincing enough. Though that serial was making good money, we
called it off as the audience expects more from us. We could not
take the right decision of selecting the right director and concept
for that serial.
When
we say something through our serials, crores of people watch it
on TV. And we have to show something responsible. I can't allow
any trash to go on Television just because it's coming from our
company. I lost money by pulling out that serial. I can earn money
again. But if I continued that serial, I would have lost the reputation,
which can never be earned again. I don't think it's a failure.
I take it as a success.
What
are your future plans?
I
am planning on making some more serials on satellite channels.
Let me see which channel would air them. And I am also planning
for my next feature film.
As
a television producer, what are the parameters you take into consideration
to select a particular channel to air your serials?
The
first thing we consider is the financial viability. The second
factor is the viewer ship of the channel. Sometimes, I am confident
that even if a channel does not have viewer ship, I can pull the
viewers to that channel with my serials.
One
thing I don't like about present day tele-serials is that all
Tamil serials are dubbed into Telugu and dumped onto our viewers.
That is really humiliating.
Why
cant TV channels air Telugu straight serials?
Because
it's easy money. The production cost is nil for a dubbed TV serial
as it was already made. The dubbing cost is hardly Rs 10,000 to
Rs. 15,000. Even if they spend lavishly for a dubbing serial,
it would cost a maximum amount of 1 lakh. And they can earn lot
of profits. For channels like Teja and Gemini, they don't even
have to pay for dubbing rights as they are networked through SUN.
It
should be a policy matter to the channel heads not to encourage
dubbed serials. If they like any serial from other language, let
them remake it with the local talent.
Do
you have target audience while making TV serials?
Yes!
We do have target audience for TV serials. It again depends on
the time slot we get in the channel. If it is telecasted on prime
time (something like 9 pm in night), the entire family is the
target. If it is telecasted in afternoon or evenings, housewives
and retired people are the target viewers. We have to prepare
the story, which caters to the tastes of target viewers. At the
same time, I can't air trash on my serials. I have to make them
think and debate on what I am saying. And I am glad that people
some how trace my numbers and call me in odd times by telling
what they did not like and how. If a character is killed in 'Ruthu
Ragalu', people used to call me in mid night and complain
that I should not have done it. It means that they are involving
themselves in the serial. It also implies that we are imbibing
some moral and ethical values in to the viewers.
But
some of the serials that are being aired now are preaching bad
ethics and spoiling family values. It's so disgusting. We are
given half an hour slot every day to communicate something to
so many people. Nobody else has that privilege. Hence we should
be very responsible. Instead of taking the society forward with
their serials, the makers are taking the society backwards. It's
a very dangerous trend.
Do
you have any words to say for the director wannabes?
Whoever
wants to enter the film industry should do it with conviction.
One should also realize the responsibility that he/she has in
influencing the society and the mankind. It's going to be history.
The film you made will go into the annals of Telugu cinema. Movie
direction is not a game. So, please take care about what you are
saying though your film.
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