Twenty nine year old Sai Teja from Eluru is very grateful to Mallemala Productions for giving him a break and getting him the much needed notice in the world of choreography. He performed in a dance show titled D6 and there was no looking back. Talking to Y.Sunita Chowdhary of Klapbordpost.com, he recalls the events that led him to settling down in the film industry. The growth hasn’t been big and at the same time, it hasn’t been too bad. He recalls, “Auditions were held and I was selected. Vamsi master was the guest in that Dee show, he is a film choreographer, a union member and a well known personality. I was eliminated in the show but two people, Nitin and Bharat noticed my work and suggested I work as an assistant (to Seenu master) for 6 months. Post D6, choreography selections were held and I was selected for DJ1 i.e as the main choreographer. I was the finalist. I was the finalist in DJ2 too. In Dee Jodi I was the runner up. I agree that this platform helps you get recognition and people notice our talent. Opportunities follow. We also get to travel far and wide; I was there for the shows like Nata, Tana etc organised by friends. I would visit often to choreograph but now it has reduced drastically.”
Sai Teja rues that dance songs have reduced in mainstream cinema and there has been a rise in montages because of which many people have lost out on work. The same is the case with OTT platforms and the ones to get hit mainly are dancers and choreographers. He cites there is a reason and that is – young directors are coming up with concept oriented scripts that don’t pander to the front benchers. The script is written as per the character requirement and not for commercial reasons like the intro song, item song etc. He says, “Look at Arjun Reddy, it is realistic in nature and there is hardly any scope for a single break. From the success of Arjun Reddy began the downfall of songs actually. I sometimes wonder if we shall require choreography in the future as even choreographers turning directors. We have already seen Prabhudeva, Lawrence and I hear even Ganesh is directing a film.”
We ask why films on OTT don’t require songs and Sai Teja responds, “For OTT too, we can compose good songs. We can make small concept oriented films in fifty lakhs and one crore rupees. These days everyone has a chance to do good work. Earlier they would distinguish between OTT and theatre films but now even theatre films are streaming on OTT. The situation is different and we cannot make a distinction. A new batch of directors can either go for crowd funding or look for some cinema buff who can chip in some financial help. If it clicks, the directors are getting instant recognition and opportunity to direct a bigger film. On the other hand I can’t deny that many choreographers are scared and insecure. There is some sort of a fear as out of the many choreographers in the industry, only a handful are popular and visible.“ Sai Teja isn’t interested in setting up a dance school, his dream is to direct. Since the concept of a hero is fading, he believes that it is possible to woo audiences with a good script and all it needs is fresh ideas and new artists. The Telugu people are welcoming in their approach.”
So are you saying hero’s will vanish and we shall have only new artistes? “I don’t mean to say formula films and hero systems will vanish, it will only reduce. Big heroes means there will be an expectation of songs and fights. I repeat that small, good films are not depending on songs. They are engaging audiences with exciting scripts. Small and new directors can’t do publicity whereas big heroes get it automatically because of their fan following,” he says as a matter of fact. Ask Sai Teja as to how they get to know a film is about to go for pre production and how they bag chances to do choreography, he quips, “Choreographers have an incharge, they get the info that a film will go on floors soon with a particular hero and we go there trying for an opportunity. Ten years back only Tamil choreographers and fight masters would be all over the place but now we are somewhat better. By hiring locals, we save on flight tickets, hotels and a lot more things. Covid has brought about a change in people. It has made people realise and handle situations appropriately. Nowadays Telugu artistes and technicians are being encouraged by directors. Mallemala is giving life to a lot of people. Because of the show, at least a few people are getting to eat three square meals a day. Such banners are very important for people like us.”
Sai Teja has done a diploma polytechnic. Compared to his peers, he got the opportunity in the film industry quite fast, when he was 19 years old. His financial condition at home wasn’t good. Once he danced at a marriage when he was in the fifth class and also once on the road during Srirama Navami. His friends loved his work and encouraged him to dance for an orchestra and they gave him thirty rupees for three hours. He never felt he was working hard and enjoyed what he was doing. He was in the eighth standard. They would pay twenty bucks extra every time performed and in a year’s time he began getting 250 rs. Sai Teja was asked to choreograph a show for an event and they liked it. Pop singer Smitha organised auditions for a show and he participated. He recollects, “In ten days they said they would contact me. I gave my neighbour’s number as I didn’t have a phone. They called me eventually and I was summoned to Hyderabad. I am the only person in my house who knows how to dance. If we had enough money, my father would have never agreed to send me to Hyderabad. To pay bills we needed the money. I asked the orchestra team for money to travel to Hyderabad but none gave. I collected fifty rupees from my relatives and travelled by a train. I was selected in ‘dance with me’. After building contacts, I returned to Hyderabad to complete the diploma. Smitha gave me a phone. In Between I was in dire need of money and became a ‘side’ dancer in Aata and other dance shows. FYI, in the D6 auditions I was selected.”
He adds, “My best performance was Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum in D. Ramoji Rao noticed my work and I was told to perform at the ETV 20 years function. It was a memorable event as I performed amidst all the big names of the film industry. People who viewed this event in the USA liked my work and I was offered more assignments.” Sai Teja says he does a lot of research, practises 12 hours a day and gets a blissful sleep at dusk. He signs off, “It is indeed a blessing, to get good sleep. I know a lot of people who struggle to get forty winks. Physical activity is a must for everyone.”
