Y.Sunita Chowdhary
This is the best thing to have happened during this pandemic. What we saw this week was a burst of talent in the Telugu film industry and a film that truly sounded like a melody. After Kota Srinivasa Rao, Tanikella Bharani, Rao Ramesh, we haven’t come across any actor who would surprise us with their charisma, talent and make the audience feel that a character in the story is straight from our family. Goparaju Ramana is just that and there is a lot more to him. He had played Kondala Rao (Anand Devarakonda’s father) in Middle Class Melodies with panache, energised the story. He dominates the show but you will still feel his unmistakable presence even while other characters play out their roles in a well etched manner. This stems from a vast experience of staging 1500 plays and grooming himself as an artiste from the tenth standard onwards. It isn’t if Ramana has been spotted by a discerning audience at 69; he has already done around 18 films but like they say, all the good things happen at the right time.
He speaks to Klapboardpost.com, “I did a few films, the roles I performed wouldn’t have been visible or have had enough potential. Some might have seen and some might not. The producer of the film Anand Prasad has been very encouraging. It isn’t enough if you have good dialogues, there is a need for a producer who spends money on every millimetre and extracts work in a clam manner. Bhavya Arts did that and encouraged so many artists, giving them opportunity. Anand had acted well, I abused him in the film I would to my son. Only if people bless us, artistes like us survive. Your applause is like music to our ears, it is so filling. Vinod Anantoju will work with big stars soon.”
Director Vinod had apparently visited our Nataka Parishad and saw the work of our artistes and he then called me over to his office. I did and took an instant liking to his narration and description of the characters therein. He is a young man and the grasp he has on all matters is too good, he isn’t an ordinary man. I have done all kinds of dramas and 20 films, 25 serials and in this experience I can confidently say that he has occupied a special place in my heart. Our living is dependent on staging dramas. If television pays us seven thousand rupees per day, a film gives us one thousand. Obviously the priority wouldn’t be the latter but after listening to him, I decided to do it. He showed immense interest and passion. A writer takes 35 percent credit in giving shape to a character and the director fifty percent in infusing life to it. Vinod not only selected people, he even controlled us and knew how much to take and what to take and maintained a perfect balance. So, he came all the 3 days and saw the dramas. When I saw the film, I was pleasantly surprised to see a whole lot of familiar faces from my village. The film has been shot in Kolakalur, my village,” he further says.
About Kondala Rao’s character, he elaborates, “The shot in my arm was great. It is easy for me to pick up slangs, dialect in various places. I have explored so many villages and cities, if I stay with a person for two days I can easily pick up the style of speaking. The intro to Kondal Rao was beautiful, ‘aa oorlo evaru kodi koothaki nidra levaru, Kondal Rao arupuluki nidra lestharu.’ I would work on my serial and go to the movie shoot. If I falter at some place, Vinod would correct us and get his shot. On one occasion for a close up shot, he said people can mistake my anger for jealousy and told me to change the expression. His detailing was that good. I saw the subject being rolled out, and I observed the manner he was dealing with technicians, mind loki entha ekkinchukunnaro ardham chesukondi. I did this film out of love and respect for him. The executive producer Anne Ravi said I would get many films after this release and I should be careful with my choice of signing films. All I can say is I am ready to put your blessings into good use.”
On the affection for his son that he seldom displays, he says, “We expect our children to go on a good path but their views are different. Raghava in the story overtakes me and goes away and as a parent I can’t abandon him. My wife acts as a cooling agent when matters escalate and reminds me that as a couple when they came to Kolakalur to put up the tiffin centre, none helped. So the onus is on us to understand and encourage the son and after all we shan’t be carrying all that we earned and stored to the grave. ” On the abusive word ‘M%&*%’, he says it isn’t that profane as it made out to be. “The literal meaning is actually oka moolana padda kunda. The people use it for a Vidhawa (widow) and the same term is used for a Vedhava (idiot). It is a colloquial word used to address children too.
Kondala Rao is an endearing person, aspires for his sons future but he is shy, never exposes himself. Raghava feels he is sacrificing his life for worthless people and thinks his fate will change if he moves from Kolakulur to Guntur. He says there is a tiffin centre on every road and he will not be able to withstand the competition. He actually loves his son and wants him to stay with them. That is what any parent wants especially when they are aging. I like Sandhya’s (daughter in law) dialogue..yedho oka pani cheste tappa, ma nana tho matlade avakasam undadhu. These days guys fall in love, want to marry. Whether they are successful or not is different, they are impetuous. Sandhya speaks sense, why would any parent in the world give his daughter’s hand in marriage to a man who has no job. It is a beautiful dialogue and a message to the youth. Idhi madhya taragathi mandhahaasalu. Andhulo doubte ledhu, it will connect.”
He terms the film as an exam with experience and has never taken any shot lightly. The director’s approval is of utmost importance to him. “The director is like my son, we too should encourage him. My son Goparaju Vijay is a director and a presenter of our organisation Sai Arts at Kolakalur. We all live on staging plays and playlets,” he quips. The topic moves to the recent lockdown and the survival of the artistes. A few significant people have pooled six lakhs and distributed it to the needy in the districts by recognising such a requirement for two or three months. Beyond that, none can do much. Writer Sai Madhav from Tenali contributed ten lakh to Kalala Kaanakshi Samstha, Tenali. He distributed that for three months to Burra Katha, Hari Katha, make up artistes and to those who erect and tie sticks.”
