Y.Sunita Chowdhary
Producers are backing off as they are being asked to insure staff, filming of films looks near impossible as of now. But someone has to bell the cat but how cautious you are is the criteria. If you get the virus, it is a loss for the producer and all of us will go to home quarantine. In such a scenario, director Mallik Ram has to take a decision to complete his ongoing projects. He is as of now committed to doing two series with ‘aha’ and is also on the verge of winding up Adbutham. Most work is post production. No one has a clue as to what to do and when to begin. Adbutham has a couple of days of shoot left and about the producer, he needs to get what he spends on. Mallik Ram is taking all that into consideration and as of now is waiting for the copy to get ready, after which he’ll take some important decisions.
Klapboardpost.com asks him if it is a feature film or a web series that gives him a high, he dumbs the whole thing down to management. Earlier he worked on Naruda Donaruda, and a series called Pelli Gola (it is on Viu platform). He says, “Being on the set is management, there will be small moments of joy. It is more about achieving what you have planned for the day. Creative part is done beforehand and when you see it fleshing out as good scenes it makes you happy. Adbhutam has a little science fiction and a fantasy angle and the story is written by Prashant Verma (Scriptsville is his company which sells stories). Naruda Donaruda was a remake and the screenplay was already written. Except for buying the rights and shooting it, there was little for me to do.”
He reveals Prashant Verma is his friend and they knew each other even before they got into films. Prashant had certain ideas and asked Mallik if he wanted to listen to them. The former bounced it to him and Mallik picked one. He further says, “I was one of the writers of Awe. At that time we discussed this plot and he sent me a summary which is now titled Adbhutam, it was pretty exciting. It is a working title, could be retained. He and Teja Sajja had to do a film earlier and it didn’t happen and Teja was also looking out for a new director. So all this fell in place. This is a romantic film and we thought Teja will be apt. From the beginning we started writing the screenplay, had a three page synopsis and the way we played around with the story, we thought it had a bigger impact and felt Adbhutam was right at that time. We have another title and we will decide soon. We released a poster, next month we shall release another one. It is a girl and a boy film with a touch of fantasy to it. Because of fantasy, a love story is formed. It is special in its own way. It is something that Telugu films haven’t seen. The entire film has a pace, it is a thriller and it is a romantic film.”
Something apparently happens to a couple that is so shocking it pulls the audience into the film. Mallik talks a little more about the characters, “We didn’t take it so far that it will look like a Hollywood film. Vennela is a happy vivacious girl, and the guy is totally depressed in his life. What if something happens between them is the story. If you look closely, you will find a few clues in the poster. It isn’t a massive film but it has its massiveness to it. We prepared a teaser too which will take you by shock. We planned all this before the lockdown but now after this, we got to think as to how we could present the content. I am excited to see the film with the BGM.” Radan provides the music, Vidyasagar of Falaknuma Das is the cinematographer and the film is edited by Garry (Kshanam, Gudachari). Lakshmi Bhupala who is a happening dialogue writer (Oh Baby!) has worked on this script too. Lyrics by Krishna Kanth. The story has a fantasy point and doesn’t have too much CG work and looks believable.
Shivani and Teja are fortunately very good actors and the director says his job became easy on the sets and he was pleasantly surprised by their work. They did test shoots and not too many script readings. This will be a debut film as hero and heroine for both Teja and Shivani.
