K.Raghavendra Rao taught commercial lessons to Telugu cinema. Though people don’t know the film’s title, they can easily differentiate Raghavendra Rao’s films from his stamp. His mark is visible in showing heroines beautiful,filming songs in a mesmerising manner. Annamayya revealed another nature in him and it proved that no one can beat Raghavendra Rao in devotional entertainer. His latest Om Namo Venkatesaya is releasing on Feb 10.
-Generally you never showed interest in interacting with media. Why this sudden change?
-I learned interacting with Soundarya Lahari and now I am used to. I hate boasting that I have taken a great film please watch. People should see and certify that. So I never used to interact with media.
-On Namo..getting compared to Annamayya. What is your take?
-This is different from Annamayya. Film is about a devotee Hathiram Baba and how he became near to the Lord and what is his greatness? Why did Lord prefer to play game of dice with him when there are many devotees are all interesting. We showed all this in the film.
-Annammayya is a devotional entertainer and you named the film after the devotee. Why this film is not titled as Hatiram baba?
-Annamayya film is narrated frm Annamayya view point. Namo Venkatesaya is from the Lord’s view point as Lord himself chooses his devotee and so the film is titled in this manner.
-There is nothing about Hathiram Baba in the history. So how did you film it so easily?
-There is limited information in the history. The same was told in a elaborated manner. While Lord playing game of dice with Hathiram Baba was mentioned in one line, we should it in a interesting manner using our creativity in a dramatic manner.
Lord appearing before Annamayya was not there in history but in the climax we dramatised it and people didnot ask us the question because the scene came out very well. Similar scenes are there in this film.
-How did you convince Nagarjuna for Hathiram Baba?
-I found really difficult in convincing Nagarjuna. He used to say we couldn’t to Annamayya kind of film. He didnot show interest to listen to the story in the first place. I felt that he will change after he listen to the story and the same thing happened.
-Did you have alternative had Nagarjuna rejected?
-The film wouldn’t have turned a reality had Nagarjuna said no. It is not that other stars couldn’t do but certainly not to Nagarjuna’s level as people always connect with Nagarjuna for devotee roles. In this film too he performed brilliantly.
-There’s a talk that only Raghavendra Rao can do such films. What is your comment?
-I am honored. But all current directors can do these films and can do better than me. We have lot of mythological stories and one neednot go in search of stories. A little bit dramatisation is enough and our directors are capable of it.
-Youth play important role in the films success these days. Will such films connect with them?
-Current generation are even more spiritual. If you go to Chilukuru, you find many youngsters. They have the responsibility of protecting our culture and tradition. How we are presenting them is important.
-Many say this is Raghavendra Rao’s last film?
-By God’s Grade. I cannot predict what God planned for me. After Annamayya,which ever temple I go, they are asking me to take film on that Lord. So responsibility on me increasing. I may not do devotional films in future. So Om Namo may be my last.
-You are taking directorial lessons on you tube for youngsters?
-Many youngsters aspiring to become assistnat directors come to Film Nagar. They don’t get opportunity as only 6 star directors are in Tollywood. They may give opportunity to just 100 people.
New directors are coming with their troups and so newcomers donot get chance. So by sharing my experiences, though they donot get a chance to work under me as assistant directors, they may get some experience. I donot say this is the only way to know about filmmaking but this is also one of the way. If atleast one youngster become director from my classes, my aim is fulfilled.
