“From being born in a remote village in Nellore to making my way to the UK before entering into cinema, my journey has been nothing less than a rollercoaster ride. I always loved cinema and wanted to pursue it as a career, but there was hardly any exposure till I moved out of my village and started studying at the Central University in Hyderabad. Initially, my family didn’t take me seriously when I told them I wanted to make films.

Around the time when the DVD trend was catching up, a shop near my then apartment sold them. I started watching a lot of international cinema. My house had become a theatre with some film screening all the time. It was then that my writer friends suggested I try my hand at writing scripts too. Although I did take them seriously and write a couple of scripts, I wasn’t sure if it was the right time.

I was working with a corporate and soon, they sent me to the United Kingdom. That’s when things changed. I was introduced to films in so many other foreign languages, that my library of CDs only kept growing! I had also begun to make a feature film, but it came with a lot of difficulties – the locations, the actors, getting everything together and so much more. I knew I had to come back to India to make it in the industry. So I returned a decade ago and began to work with production houses like Rama Naidu studios. That’s where I met some of the present youth directors and filmmakers. I used to listen to a lot of stories and meet many technicians. Thanks to that exposure, I understood that my interest was in all parts of filmmaking. I began to understand how a director worked, what a cameraman did and the process of editing as well! My debut film didn’t happen the way it was supposed to. The story was ready but nobody wished to work on it. That’s how it came to me! In the following years, life brought me much closer to my dreams. I’ve done almost everything – acting, writing, directing and editing. Every film I choose – Case No. 666/ 2013, Dhrushyam, Minugurulu, Mental Madilo, ℅ Kancharapalem, Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi and the recent Dorasani and Mallesham – only makes me proud of the kind of work I put together. It was a dream I dreamt as a child, that has brought me so far; And I believe that I have a long way to go!”

#Cinema #Passion #Career #Films #Skill #RamanaiduStudios #Mallesham #Goals #Nonlinear #Direction #Editing #Acting #Writing #Executiveproducer #Criticism #Drushyam #Movielovers #Journey #Struggle #Life #Hyderabad #HumansofHyderabad

“It’s a proud feeling to say that I have many feathers in my cap – sales and marketing, entrepreneur, consultant and producer — and I have achieved all of them with hard work and talent. Ever since I was a child, I had big dreams. I used to go to school on my bicycle and look at movie posters. I would think, ‘One day, my name should be on the poster’. It took me time but I’m here. I never did anything that didn’t make me happy, which is probably why I have tried so many things. When I was a consultant, I got so many people jobs in the US and now they’re all settled there. Back then, working abroad was a big deal. It’s so good to see them settled and happy. The same in cinema field too… After Pelli Choopulu, many people got in touch with me for a role or an opportunity behind the camera. Sometimes, it gets too much, but I know where it’s coming from. At the same time, however, I can’t give everybody a chance. There’s only little I can do and I try and do my best. When Pelli Choopulu happened, I remember saying how I wish Vijay and Tharun the best and hope their remuneration increases so much that I think twice before paying them again. They’re doing so well today, and it’s great to see that. Even my team is full of youngsters and I say the same thing to them. Young energy and enthusiasm excites me! I was like them, when I started working. I was a sales executive, yet I wasn’t sad about life. It’s a job that tends to bore you after a period, and the same happened to me. I’ve always been taught to love what you do and be the best at it. My parents always said that to me. My mother was very strict but her love was endless. She used to catch me playing pranks red handed and later scold me for that. Once I also got an opportunity to be a child artiste for an NTR film, but my mom didn’t let me go. I was always angry with her for that. But she said, education is important. Back then, I never realized but today I know that she just wanted me to settle down and be happy in life. I miss her so much today, she couldn’t see me achieve all that I have today. Unfortunately, she passed away when I was in my graduation. I was very attached to her and it took me so long to digest that news. But I know she’s looking over me and blessing me from wherever she is – the doting mother that she was.”

#Masterofalltrades #Hyderabad #HumansOfHyderabad