Sentiments rule our Telugu cinema industry. One example is this. The Siva Parvathi 70mm theatre in Kukutpally thanks to the movie buffs have got a bad reputation. Owe it to the Vastu or for that matter any reason, people living in and around that area profess that any straight Telugu film that releases in the theatre comes out with a bad result. The only exception so far has been Nuvve Kavali and Desamuduru. Interestingly the theatre screens dubbed films (Sakhi, 7/G Brindavan Colony, etc.) too and all have been hits. So will SDZ survive the odds?

Nagababu is supposed to have put on weight on the insistence of Krishna Vamsi for his film Chandamama.

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Speaking to Cinema Prapancham, P. Vasu denied that Sridevi has been roped in to play the heroine’s role in his next project with Kamal Hassan. “The news that appeared in the Telugu daily is false. Sridevi has been invited by Rajnikant for the Chandramukhi function and her presence must have given rise to a speculation that she will be acting in my film.”

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It’s been two years since Chandramukhi released but people still watch it as if it were the first time. P. Vasu, the director talks about the sequel, his father and make-up artiste Pitambaram and all the stars who frequented his home when he was a child and reveals that his son Sakthi will be making his debut as an actor very soon.

“I remember NTR and his wife frequenting my house when I was very young. My sister and brother’s wedding took place in their presence. NTR eldest daughter and my sister got married on the same day….on 20th May 1972, despite the huge crowd NTR came to shower his blessings on my sister. They are like gods to us, we look at their pictures, pray before leaving the house. People in Chennai joke that if my father would apply make-up on anyone that person is bound to become a chief minister because both NTR and MGR were CMs.  SV Rangarao, Gemini Ganesan, Savithri, KR Vijaya everyone would come home for the make-up session. NTR would wake up at 2am and would be ready by 3am. My father would take around one and a half hours on him. We even had a separate and a permanent toilet for these artistes at home.”

The director says that all artistes had immense respect for his father and that a make-up man was like a guru. The artistes would pray before putting on make-up, close their eyes and touch Pitambaram’s hands when he would apply tilak on their forehead. When NTR would don the role of Krishna or Rama in some films, both Pitambaram and NTR would lie on the mat, eat vegetarian food and sometimes fast too.

Anyone with such an atmosphere at home is bound to be attracted and Vasu was no exception. He says, “As child I was inclined more on acting than direction. I would watch keenly on how the wigs were prepared at home, the entire process of mixing the colour. In the night my father’s assistant would apply oil to the hair, brush the wig, put the clips, heat it while taking it out the clips, to get the curls. I would watch all this from my bedroom window and sometimes stealthily go in, take the clips and put it on my hair and go to sleep. I would wake up next day feeling like a Sivaji Ganesan or an MGR. My father never knew I was interested in acting and he always believed that acting was not a reliable profession.

I seemed to have abandoned the idea of acting. Later I found myself watching films and narrating the stories to my friends in school. If the school would begin at nine I would reach there by eight and narrate the story for an hour. My first film as an assistant director was with Sridhar who made Vayasu Pilichindhi, a dubbed movie. I have been very influenced by Rajnikant’s simplicity and NTR’s.  I’ve know Balakrishna since he was 14 years old. He is a very disciplined man, values time and friendship. I feel bad about Maharadhi, the release was postponed so many times and was released the fourth time.”

Vasu terms Chandramukhi an epic. It has completed 804 days run recently, and it’s the first film in South India to create a record. He says, “Success is not made, it just comes.  Even after two years people watch the DVD regularly. People tell me they have watched the film atleast 20 times. My kids watch the film everyday. One man came upto me and said his toddler can’t pronounce Chandramukhi but utters the word ‘laka laka laka’, which was popularised through the film. No one has ever directed their own film twice and I’m going to do it. I’m working on the sequel of Chandramukhi again. It will release in 2010 and it will be called Paneer Pushpam.”

He adds, “My father is proud of me and he introduces himself as ‘Vasu’s father’. One day I would like to do the same, I’m introducing my son Sakthi to films. I will be directing Mohan Babu’s son Vishnu soon and my next project is with Kamal Hassan.”

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Cinema Prapancham had mentioned before that NTR will be working in a ‘Dil’ Raju film which will be directed by an associate of Rajamouli. He is Mahadeva. The story is by Vijayendra Prasad. This will start rolling after Ashwani Dutt’s and Meher Ramesh’s Kantri. There is also a rumour that NTR had reached the big league of actors like Pawan Kalyan and Mahesh Babu who get a pay cheque of a staggering 5 crores.

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If you are under the impression that only Chiranjeevi or Mahesh Babu have fans then you are wrong. Kurnool nundi moodu bussulu. Full of Kirantej fans. If you are wondering who he is, the very thought is a sacrilege. You should have known by now that he the ‘creative star’ in Telugu cinema whose very first film Brahma is heading towards 150 days and more. Very soon he might have fans launching websites and putting up hoardings, banners in the theatres, also he could have leading companies, websites, blogs, etc., conveying best wishes on the day of the release, paalabhishekams, etc. Never underestimate the power of a ’creative star’.

BTW the purpose of this item is to bring forth an issue that requires a thought and action. If we have learnt a lesson when the bomb blast took place during the Sri Ramulayya function at Ramanaidu Studios then we should really do something about the security. If a star or an artiste have people coming in large groups, why isn’t there enough security to control them. Once the muhurat shot is over, why do the studio people allow them to stay on for more hours. What if they misbehave with the starlet who is skimpily dressed like she was today.

What if they break into some anti-social activity? I have seen about sixty to seventy people surrounding the starlet while the photographers took Chahat to the other side for a photo session. The crowd followed the photographer and the heroine in droves.  The moment the pictures are taken these people surround the photographer to see the girl’s picture. Is all the hungama necessary? When the press conference follows, the media can’t get to hear what the unit is announcing, because this crowd occupies the place, the other half by the electronic media. It’s high time the studio authorities bring in some kind of a regulation.

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After reading my article on Purandareswari in The Hindu, a highly (read in capital letters) placed source came out with some details that not only throw light on how an association meant for the congregation of Telugus had faltered in PR but also utilised the opportunity to further personal interest.

My source says, “Some people who occupied the prime post in TANA and are going to for the next TANA invited Purandareswari and her husband Dr. Venkateswara Rao to the meet. After the invitation was accepted her picture was posted in the official website of TANA but later for unknown reasons removed. After reaching the US, the lady was kept in the dark about her programme. She was not given her itinerary. The people who hosted Purandareswari had to enquire when she could speak and for how many minutes and they voiced their dissent on the way things were moving. Only after that she was given a chance to speak as if they had done a big favour. All the organisers were too occupied in pleasing CBN (shortlisting the thirty names CBN reportedly asked them too for the future posts in the govt) and had little time for others, it was clear they didn’t want to displease him by allowing the lady to speak. It was a humiliation, we didn’t want to make it an issue there but if such meetings are going to be hosted in the future the organisors should be careful not to hurt their guests or they shouldn’t invite them at all. They should get their priorities right. I’m glad the political forum will not be a part of the meet next time and it will be held outside. That way they will make sure to treat people from all parties with dignity” .

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A senior actress from Karnataka who wanted to ‘come back’ to Telugu films sought a suggestion from a journalist on how to get in touch with the producers and directors all over again because it had been a long time. The journalist said simple, hold a press conference and announce that you are ready to work. “Aiyyo press conference pedithe journalists andhariki dabbu iyyali, inkedhaina maargam cheppandi. As it is ee personal panulaki na sontha dabbu pettalsosthundhi.” The journalist was puzzled. The actress made it simpler, “Adhe ippudu Bangalore nundi Hyderabad ki flight ticket nene pettukovali kadha!” 

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Sarvesh Murari. A bachelor of fine arts in photography from JNTU. Speaking to Cinema Prapancham the talented cinematographer says, “Since the time I was twelve or thirteen I was interested in learning cinematography. I faced opposition from my parents but I guess they are happy now. A native of Vijayawada Sarvesh first worked with Rasool in Nuvvu Nenu and Family Circus. Senthil is a good friend, I worked with him as an operative camera man. Chandrasekhar Yeleti called me when I was working on Sye and my first film as a cinematographer was in Anukokunda Oka Roju. After that I worked in Shock, Vikramarkudu and now I’m currently in Nava Vasantham and in Ontari.

Ask Sarvesh what is necessary to be a good cinematographer? He says, “One must learn still photography. One should have the capacity or talent to visualise.”

Ask him if it is a struggle for beginners who get in the film field? “Actually I struggled less, there are people who have worked for 15 years as an assistant and still haven’t got a break. Director ki producer ki mana meedha nammakam kalagali, cinema iyyali.”

What was the most memorable moment in his life? Sarvesh says, “When Chandrasekhar Yeelti called me after I got back home from the shoot. He said, ‘Ee roju teesina shots chaala beautiful ga unnayi. Nee work cinemani nilabettali.’ These small things in life boost your confidence. It’s one of the best compliments I have received so far. Cinema run avuthundha ledha kante a cinematographer helps in showing atleast fifty percent of the film looking aesthetic. Visual ga chiraaku undadhu.”

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Purandareswari is not the first Parliamentarian from Hyderabad and neither is she is the first Telugu-speaking woman representing Andhra Pradesh. So what makes her special and what makes her a role model to others? The recent Women’s Forum organized by the Telugu Association of North America at Washington revealed the many facets of the Minister’s personality.

A housewife first and a minister and social worker next, Purandareswari comes across as a confident person. She asserts, “I have never looked at politics as a male domain and have never considered my fight different because I am a woman. I have taken things as a challenge. As an MP, I feel that I am sensitive to certain issues because I am a woman.”

She was identified as NT Ramarao’s daughter only on the first day and that too until she began her maiden speech. Functioning from a traditionally conservative male-dominated family the lady has a lot to offer a role model for others. For her the path to politics was not predictable but when she found herself in it, she had turned her inexperience into a strength. She had worked hard and made things work for herself.

I never speak without my homework, she said once but she stumped the audience with an hour long impromptu and a heart warming speech aimed at women’s empowerment.

Women’s issues remain a focus area for Purandareswari. She said, “Empowerment is not all that rosy. We have women working for long hours and getting tired. They come home to find emotional unrest. She doesn’t have time for children and her husband. A lot of divorces happen and that is not the solution. You need to balance your life. I too work and most of the time I am away from Hyderabad but I put in my best to maintain my family. I talk to my husband  and children. Am I subservient? No I keep my family together and balance it very well.”

She added, “It is not that the government is not doing anything, we have been earnestly trying to improve the status of women in our lives but unless we have a change in the mindset of the people, it will be impossible to stop them from looking at women as an ornamental piece. She needs to be respected.” People who know her term Purandareswari as a simple person with deep values and those who have had just an acquaintance describe her as a warm and a dignified woman. Sources say she is always chosen, to represent the country when it came to highlighting core issues to people, over those who are senior to her in age and experience.

Says a source, “What works to her advantage is that she has a deep knowledge of important issues in her riding. She had debates with her opponents and it becomes clear to the people that she could not only understand their problems better but also come up with solutions from a fresh perspective.”

It is a special moment for women and men of course in our country because for the first time we have a woman being elected President Of India and also a right time to discuss the emergence of our lady in the international scene.

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Jayasudha is planning to relocate. This time near the Gymkhana stadium because her son, the youngest one is not finding time for his shooting lessons. He is in the first year of junior college and a national shooting champion in the junior level. Nihar the first one is yet to complete the final year in Mass Communications. Jayasudha has all her time for her sons and wants them to choose whatever career they are interested in.

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