Southscope October 2013 issue

VOL 05 | ISSUE 01

October 2013

www.southscope.in

“When you find the right girl, you will feel the connect”

“I am a lone wolf” Mysskin

Rana

Daggubati

opens up on his life and craft

in a heart-to-heart

"After pack-up, I disconnect from my professional life"

Kajal gets candid

40

Aggarwal

Glam photo session with Sanchita Shetty and a brand new column!

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from the editor...

It’s our big month all month! With October we step into our fifth year of publication. This is truly a joyous moment for all of us at Team Southscope. We are thrilled about having brought you close to your favourite A-list stars and technicians of South Indian cinema over the last 4 years. And in this landmark moment, we rededicate ourselves to the cause of South Indian cinema and of course, to your reading pleasure. Expect heart-to-heart interviews, glamorous photo shoots and incredibly intimate insights into the best of South Indian cinema.

On the occasion of our fourth anniversary, I thank the entire South Indian film industry – actors, directors, producers, technicians, PROs and of course, you our dear readers who have helped us grow. In the years to come, we look forward to delighting all of you with entertainment, served up Southscope style.

Aruna R Krishnan Managing Editor

Managing Editor Aruna R Krishnan

Founder & Advisor Allu Sirish

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Sruthi Sudhakaran Rohit Panikker

Senior Correspondent Shankaran Malini

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Hair: Naaz Black top and printed trousers both by Zara Chain piece by Curio Cottage

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PUBLISHED FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2013 RNI NO.: APENG/2009/29389

Contents

r e v o c y r o t s 28

Kajal Aggarwal chats freely about her impressive

career graph

Contents 14 - Sample our selection of some

happening events from last month

22 - Our roving eye does not miss a thing! Get the

low-down on interesting things happening in south cinema

20 - Meet newbie Abhinay Vaddi

36 - Mysskin

The journey of a lone wolf

40 - Pranitha Subhash

Back with a bang and straight to the top!

42 - Sekhar Kammula

On experiments and taking risks in life

46 - Sanchita Shetty

Scaling new heights and being the leading lady of a hilarious franchise

52 - Rana Daggubati

Oozing confidence, charisma and character

Contents 26 - Director Vijay takes us on a tour of his interesting workplace

70 - Malayalam

Pattam Pole – Dulquer Salmaan flies light with his next, a romantic film

71 - Kannada 58 - tamil

We take a look at Tamil cinema’s gastronomic love affair

Paru w/o Devadas - A modern twist to a classic tale of love and loss.

72 - Telugu

Masala - Venkatesh gets caught in an interesting and hilarious case of confused identities

73 - tamil

Pandianadu - Vishal and Suseenthiran team up for an action-packed commercial entertainer

60 - Special Feature: Producers

We get talking cinema with Daggubati Suresh Babu, the producer of scores of hit Telugu films

FASHION

BRIGADE 64 - We decode the fashion sense of our favourite stars

74 - Malayalam

Angry Babies in Love – a regular love story told differently

74 - Kannada

Naiyyandi - Dhanush all the way

75 - Telugu

Ramayya Vasthavayya – Jr. NTR rides high on a light-hearted subject

75 - tamil

Raja Huli - a rural comedy-drama with a heart

The month gone by ushered in new beginnings. Take a look.

Veteran Akkineni Nageswara Rao’s 90th birthday was celebrated with pomp and splendour at Ravindra Bharathi in Hyderabad in the company of his family and friends from the film world.

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The success meet of the recently released Telugu hit comedy film Potugadu was held at Prasad Labs, Hyderabad with the cast and crew in tow, thanking the audience for the encouraging results.

The audio of the Telugu film Second Hand was held at a hotel in Hyderabad. Ram Gopal Varma, Manoj Manchu, Nikitha Narayan, Dhanya Balakrishna and Nishanthi, among others, were present at the event.

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Yesteryear actress Sripriya turns director with Malini 22 Palayamkottai, starring Nithya Menon and Krish J. Sathaar. Snapshots from the press conference regarding the film.

PVR Cinemas, Hyderabad, recently hosted a press meet for the promotion of the criticallyacclaimed film The Lunchbox. Registering their presence were the film’s lead actors, Irrfan Khan and Nimrat Kaur, along with superstar director Karan Johar.

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ADVERTORIAL

Celebrating with Goodness and Health Make your Diwali extra special with N2H’s special dry fruit boxes and chocolate hampers which combine goodness and taste to make the perfect festive gift. By Richa Tilokani.

It is the festive season and what better way to celebrate than with special dry fruits and chocolate boxes from N2H (Nutrition 2 Health), a fast growing retail chain from Apex Links Ltd. N2H offers a wide variety of healthy goodies including dry fruits and spices under their own brand name and other imported food products, premium Indian foods, organic foods, sugar free products, imported ice creams, juices and syrups. They also offer yummy chocolates, biscuits, jams, sauces, mayonnaise, mouth fresheners, cheese and much more.

Flavour of health What’s more, their delicious Diwali collection comes in attractive gift boxes with Rajwadi Mina designs, metal gift hampers, fancy trays, tins, bags and festive crates, making them ideal for special occasions. Filled with almonds, cashews, walnuts, kishmish, dry apricots and a host of other goodies, these healthy gift boxes will allow you to gift health and wellness to your loved ones.

You can even choose larger boxes with silver decoration filled with the goodness of exotic chocolates such as Twix, Bounty, Galaxy jewels, Mentos, Vochelle, Altoids, Almendro, and Nutella, which are not easily available in India. Enough to make you forget all your resolutions of eating light this Diwali! You can even mix goodies like Kraft cheese, olives, Keya Rosemary, andalini, jalapenos, prunes, Hersheys chocolates, Skippy, Nescafe coffee, Ragu sauce etc. for a delightful and healthy gift hamper. The price range of these unique, designer Diwali gift boxes of dry fruits and chocolates is between Rs 200 and Rs 3500 - truly flexible enough to suit different budgets.

Gifting your loved ones Says Kuldeep Surana, Managing Partner, N2H, Apex Links, “We are excited to offer a special Diwali collection for our customers.

Filled with nutrition and health, our dry fruits and chocolate boxes will make the perfect gift this festive season.”

Apex Links started as a proprietary concern in 2001 and in 2004 changed into a partnership company handled by Kuldeep Surana and family. The management possesses rich

experience working as distributors and super stockists for many leading importers. They also supply to many leading supermarkets, hypermarkets, hotels, wholesale markets and chains of stores in the country. They plan to open 21 stores all over Chennai within the next 3 years under the brand name N2H. With more than 7500 stock units of imported food stuff and premium Indian products, you are sure to get a healthy and yummy treat at N2H this Diwali.

N2H showrooms are located at Parrys, Gopalapuram, Anna Nagar, Express Avenue Mall and Chamiers Road. For product catalogue, sms your e-mail ID to 98406 81703. www.n2h.in

Name: Abhinay Vaddi Height: 6 ft Weight: 78 kg Grandson of the illustrious star couple ‘Kadhal Mannan’ Gemini Ganesan and ‘Nadigayar Thilagam’ Savithri and the nephew of Bollywood actress Rekha, Abhinay is also a sports professional and has won the National Championship in Table Tennis. About his entry into films, the young actor says, “I am currently filming a movie titled Ramanujan in which I play the legendary Srinivasa Ramanujan. This film is directed by Gnana Raajasekaran of Bharathi and Periyar fame. The film showcases Ramanujan’s personal and professional life, his failures and success and also his emotional bond with his family and his mentors.” Looks like Abhinay has his hopes pinned high on this one. So do we!

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powered by

SIIMA SEDUCES SHARJAH There’s no wonder why this year’s SIIMA at the Expo Centre Sharjah was the most anticipated event in the last few months! The Award ceremony had many, many tinsel town biggies in attendance, some as award-winners, some to perform and others to cheer the rest on and join in the celebration!

The event was hosted by Arya, Shriya Saran, Rana Daggubati, Sonu Sood, Parvathy Omanakuttan and Ash Chandler, and was choc-a-bloc with A-listers, from Shahid Kapoor, Sohail Khan, Dhanush, Sridevi and Boney Kapoor, who gave away the awards to the winners.

Packed with scintillating performances and breathtaking acts by some of the biggest stars from the four South Indian industries, including Shruti Haasan, Shriya Saran, Rima Kallingal, Hansika, Pranitha, Andrea and Remya Nambeesan as well as musical performances from Anirudh and Usha Uthup, the ceremony was an awe-inspiring global celebration of South Indian cinema.

Quashing rumors or adding to them?

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A different experience

Matching tunes

Wonder who is keeping pretty Amy so riveted to the stage?

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One, Two, Three, Four! Do you need another reason to start watching Malayalam movies?

An unremarkable choice of dress and hairstyle for such a pretty lady

Stare at my moosh once again and I’ll stab you with this! I dare you, I double dare you!�

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LUNCHBOX PRESS MEET Maybe Karan Johar’s wondering when they’re actually going to open that lunchbox?

Ready for Success

At the music launch of Jr NTR’s Ramayya Vasthavayya , the menfolk looked ‘ready’!

Check out their body language and you’ll see what we mean.

Ready for success, right?

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mentors muses&

Often, at the entrances of dwellings, you’d see signboards that tell you, ‘Beware of dogs’ or ‘Leave your footwear outside’. But the signboard on the entrance to director Vijay’s office in T Nagar makes you ponder, at least for a little while. It reads, ‘LEAVE YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR’. Shankaran Malini goes on a tour of this interesting workspace.

Immediately as you enter Vijay’s office, you cannot miss the framed photograph of Dada Saheb Phalke, with his camera, directing a scene. And alongside are some Raja Ravi Varma renderings. The colour scheme of the office is a combination of black, white and brown, creating a formal yet cozy and welcoming atmosphere. That the director owns a house on Khader Nawaz Khan road where his parents stay along with his brother and his family, is known to many. But, this office is where he actually spends most of his time, for over ten years now.

Vijay with actor Vikram

I have fixed up with Vijay to interview him for Southscope’s new feature – what prominent film personalities like about their personal/professional space. And as I am ushered in to meet him, my eyes pan the entire cabin. Two big framed photographs immediately catch my attention – one of Vijay’s parents, and another of his mentor, Priyadarshan. His table has a small idol of Hanuman and another of Ganesha, along with a couple of mementoes. “I am an ardent devotee of Lord Hanuman,” says the director as he adds, “And Ganesha, of course, is very important to me too.” His respect for his mentor is evident when he shares, “Without my Guru, I wouldn’t have been here today. It’s because of him (points out to Priyadarshan’s framed photograph) that I am here.” Talking about the picture of Dada Saheb Phalke in the reception, he says, “I found this picture in a dustbin at Film City.

I picked it up, wiped it clean, made a copy of it and put it up on the wall. Finding such a picture is rare, especially of Dada Saheb Phalke directing a film. I also have a picture of Satyajit Ray.”

The director’s cabin with framed wall photographs his parents and his mentor Priyadarshan

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A Box Of Trinkets and Memories As I am left stunned by this information, Vijay opens up his desk drawer and produces a metallic box. “This is the vethala dabba (betel nut box) of my paternal grandmother,

Kannaathaal Aachi,” he says remembering her affectionately as he proceeds to take things out of the box one by one. First comes a gold chain. “My grandma used to wear this chain,” he says. He handles the box with care, as if it were a veritable treasure chest.

Several passport photographs come out next.

“I have the habit of collecting and preserving photographs of my friends and relatives, especially those whom I am very close or attached to,” he remarks, pointing out some pictures, “Arun, my friend, Ganapathy, my cousin, my aunt, Deivaanai, my maternal grandmother. All their photographs are here. I was very close to both my grandmothers.” He pulls out another folder from his desk where he has more such memorabilia. There is a group photograph of his class when he was 13 years old and another of his entire class in 12th standard. “Can you point me out in these pictures?” he asks excitedly. To our collective surprise, I find that I am able to!

Home theatre setup, nearing completion

An Aggregation Of Nostalgia By now, I am quite surprised at how many memorabilia and nostalgic nuggets his office protects. Vijay shows me an audio CD of Kuselan and says, “At the audio launch of Kuselan, several people were asked to call out their best friends from the audience and give them a copy of the CD. And GV (Prakash) called out my name and gave this to me.” He shows me a slam book that reveals the extent to which the director values relationships and the people in his life. “I still have the first mobile I got, an ash coloured Nokia. I even have the first bike I drove and still do – a Suzuki Samurai that my dad gave me on July 4, 1997; I also have the first car I bought in 2003.“ I remark on the interesting signage about ego, at the entrance and he explains, “When ego enters, everything goes for a toss. One’s attitude towards people really matters.

Success is temporary, and that does not really matter. What matters most is how well you

“Leave your ego at the door” - the one request made to one and all in earnest

have functioned as a person.” An avid film watcher, director Vijay has a collection of over 2000 DVDs, all of them well-organised.

“I love Iranian and Korean movies as also Malayalam movies.”

A Home Away From Home We walk around his entire office and I notice that he has installed a good security system.

On the first floor, is a meeting/conference hall which in film parlance is a creative room. A discussion regarding his upcoming film Saivam is on as we walk in, and Vijay introduces me to his assistants. I am touched when he tells me, “I have never shown any media person my office in such detail,” and proceeds to open a door to a home theatre in construction where the seating-work alone is pending. “I am putting up proper, professional theatre seats, you know,” he beams.

Most beloved granny’s betel leaves box

Vijay’s first ever bike, gifted by his dad

As we walk back downstairs and finally leave, I realise that there is something about the office space of director Vijay that lingers on in the mind and his words seem to echo again, “I live here, not just work here.”

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On Record With

Kajal Kajal Aggarwal’s career trajectory at the marquee has been nothing short of spectacular.

Well, you could indeed say that this pretty star deserves all her success ... for she has not only worked hard, but has shown immense prudence in the kind of projects she has chosen, be it in Telugu ,Tamil or Hindi. Also, with her own personal brand of charm that always works wonders, Kajal shares an instant onscreen chemistry with her co-stars that is the envy of many. As Kajal gets ready for this uber glamorous photoshoot in Mumbai, exclusively for the 4th anniversary edition of Southscope, we get to ask her a few quick questions. Watch how the camera loves Kajal as she looks her endearing best, just for us‌

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Photography by Harpreet Baccher Styling: Nischay Niyogi Make up: Manoj Gupta Hair: Naaz Short Black dress: MapxencaRS by Riddhi Siddhi.

Shoes by Zara.

Accessories by Curio Cottage

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Blue printed jacket and skirt by Arti Vijay Gupta.

Shoes by Zara.

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Kajal’s got her hands full, indeed.

With the forthcoming All In All Azhagu Raja, her second film with Karthi in tow, as well as Jilla, again, her second film with Vijay, and other exciting projects in her kitty, the season’s all about the big films for this successful young actress who has turned into a lucky charm of sorts for actors and directors alike ... if you believe in luck, that is! Despite the schedules tightening up, Kajal is all energy and effervescence as she chats freely about her thoughts on cinema, and how she strikes a balance between the personal and professional, while divulging a few delicious tidbits about herself.

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Do you find yourself drawn to projects that boast of terrific star power or do you choose scripts based on your gut instinct?

I choose a script depending on my character in it and the scenes I will be required to do in the project. I definitely choose scripts based on my gut feel. When I am listening to a script and that little voice inside says ‘Do it, this is fine’, I go ahead and sign on, otherwise not.

Having reached the top of your game, there must also be a few things about the Indian film industry that you’re not particularly fond of?

(Ponders for a while) Competition is given too much weightage.

Healthy competition is always welcome. But I don’t like the fact that it’s hyped up to a cut-throat level, as though people are fighting with each other.

Having established yourself as a bankable actor in commercial films, has it ever crossed your mind to act in an independent film?

Why not? I enjoy independent cinema. And if something very exciting comes my way, then I will definitely pursue it.

Tell us about the status of your current projects, and about your look and role in these films.

All in All Azhagu Raja is ready for release. It is my second film with Karthi, after Naan Mahaan Alla. Next up is Jilla with Vijay which we are still filming. I can’t tell you how exciting it is to be working with Vijay once again, after Thuppakki... And I am all set to do a film with Udhayanidhi Stalin, commencing January 2014.

Try coaxing me as hard as you might, but I am not going to tell you anything about my role in Jilla! (laughs uproariously) Okay well, may be I could tell you just this one thing: You’ll spot me in a casual western look in the film. In All in All Azhaghu Raja I play a small town girl. My character is a happy-go-lucky girl who wears colourful clothes.

What’s your take on the fact that when you are a celebrity, people tend to focus more on things like your love life rather than your work? Can an actor ever draw a balance between their work and their private lives?

There are many actors who strike a very good balance between personal and professional lives. When you are a star and in the limelight constantly, people will talk about you. But then again it’s up to you and how you choose to deal with it. Madhuri Dixit is perhaps the biggest example of how a star can strike a balance between her personal and professional life. She was such a huge superstar and she decided to quit and get married when she was right at the peak of her career. And look at her now, she is back with a bang! Bravo, I say.

What’s your view on relationships? Many actors say that their work often ends up being their first love. Is it because the nature of an actor’s work makes it tough for them to pursue a romantic relationship?

Lack of time is a point to consider. Even I don’t have the time, considering I am so busy with my current projects. After pack-up, I disconnect from my work and go ahead and enjoy life. It is exactly how a normal person who works from 9-5 in an office disconnects from his professional life and enjoys time for himself post 5pm.

So what should we tell the ones wondering about your relationship status?

Single... as of now.

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Animal print dress by Zara.

Neckpiece by Curio Cottage.

Shoes by Zara O c t o b e r 2013 | S o u t h s c o p e

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Looking back, one film of yours that you feel could have been better …

Brindavanam

That moment of epiphany when you realised you were born to be a performer…

After the release of Chandamama

The moment you knew you wanted to be a performer After the release of Chandamama

An attire you wouldn’t be caught dead in?

Harem Pants

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What kind of music do you listen to? Favourite artistes.

The kind of music I listen to depends a lot on my mood. I love classics and Frank and Nancy Sinatra are my favorite artists in that genre. When it comes to contemporary I like Adele.

Your favourite fictional character?

Superman

Three tracks that have been on loop in your music player recently?

Something Stupid, Rolling in the Deep and Gulabi from Shuddh Desi Romance

Are you a foodie? What’s your biggest foodie indulgence?

Sweets. Rich chocolates and warm brownies top my list.

Your favourite accessory brand?

Chanel

If anyone made your favourite book into a film, what would it be?

The Shiva Trilogy. Luckily for me, Karan Johar is already making a film of it, so I’m looking forward to watching it.

3 brands you’ve always liked?

Tory Burch, Kate Spade, Michael Kors

Blue printed jacket and skirt by Arti Vijay Gupta.

Shoes by Zara.

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The Lone

Wolf Director, actor and now producer, Mysskin, is back with Onaayum Aattukuttiyum, his first ever production venture, under his own banner Lonewolf Productions. Scripted by him, the thriller, which had neither a heroine, nor songs, but only soulful BGM by maestro Ilayaraja opened to positive reviews from film critics. Shankaran Malini engages him in a chat about the film and his experiences of acting in and directing it.

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Trust Mysskin to always experiment without hesitation, especially at a time when experiments are carefully calibrated risks. The director has surprised many by giving the background score of his film more prominence than the usual song-anddance routines that form the conventional fare in a Tamil film. Mysskin says that he just wanted to make a feel good movie and not another commercial product. “At the planning stages, a few producers liked our ideas and approached us for disucssions but finally nothing gelled. So I thought, ‘Why not produce a film myself?’ and that’s what got me started. Next, a question arose about the kind of films I would produce. I was clear that it wouldn’t be something that banks on just the norms of commercial cinema; it had to have quality and must be a no-compromise, feel-good, decent movie. That decision has now become the motto of my production company – that when you walk out of the theatre after watching my film, you should have the contentment of having watched good cinema.”

What prompted him to choose such a brooding name for his production house? “I have had a fascination for wolves ever since childhood. I have read and still have tomes of very good literature on wolves. Somewhere, I feel I relate to the animal. Basically, I am a lone wolf too. I don’t belong to packs. I don’t belong to anybody. I encourage, I discourage, I express freely, and have vehemently insulted… and all of this made me realise that I chose absolutely the right title for my production company. I can’t belong to a pack.”

Regarding the concept of the film he says, “We started off with a simple idea: one fine day when an innocent boy and a killer meet, and the boy has to spend time with the killer, how would that be? What would the experience of two people who are poles apart in their belief systems, but are forced to come together, be like? That was the seed thought.

You see all my characters change, learn, they even give up some of their inhibitions, let go of some of their goodness or badness… that’s just how my characters are. I always keep them composed. And I keep repeating my shots. I don’t know how many people will believe this, but I composed the theme of this movie in the course of one afternoon.

It was morning when this idea struck me and I composed it in the second half of the day.

It’s not an aspect of any novel. Running to 2 hours and 20 minutes, my film has two major characters, that of the wolf and the lamb.”

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Song and Dance On choosing not have to have songs or a heroine for the film, he says, “After writing the script I came to understand that it doesn’t require a song. The movie is about two men; there is no scope that this killer and this boy have romantic scenes and the story happens in one night. Even in Yuddham Sei, I had just one song, which was an item number and that too from a commercial point of view. I am getting bored of making song sequences.

When there is a narrative, why should I break the flow with a song? Moreover it’s my own movie. So I said no to songs. I was confident people would love it and if they love it they will talk about it. I did exactly what this story required. I shot this film very close to my office.”

So, what about more productions from his banner? “My associate is writing a script and I want to produce a film for him. But I would love to take a short break before I start off with the next because I have worked a lot on this movie. I want to rest now. This film took 3 months of pre-production, some 70 days for shoot and another 40 days for production. I also had to exert myself physically do a lot of things for this movie. I had to fall down, get up, and run. I took the risk. I didn’t use a body double for my stunts. I wanted to present something genuine to the audiences.”

On The Beat Regarding his acting stint, he says, “When I play a role, I literally immerse myself in the character. We were shooting for 7 days in a graveyard scene. I literally felt I was dying.

I put my heart and soul into the character. I have come to understand that I would love to act once in a while, even if it’s just a small role. For every actor there is a fear of approaching the character. It can get you very emotionally charged. In fact, this is true of every actor and every character. Every time I approach a character, it’s always fresh, always new, with lots of challenges, no matter how common a character that is. But then if you ask me how it works when I’m directing an actor, I can be very clear about the role I have for him. I don’t know what right acting is, but I do know about wrong acting. And I can point that out – identify the mistakes. I work on beats. For example, as an actor, if you have to enter the scene, take a glass of water and drink, then do just that, don’t do anything extra. This is my specific rule. I don’t do anything extra and that is the concept of my acting. Do what the beat says.”

In the past, Mysskin has rendered his voice for songs too. No sooner do I ask him about the same and he says, “I stopped singing.

I don’t want to sing anymore. I am not a professional singer. I stopped listening to songs. I only listen to classical, say Bach 38

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or Mozart. That teaches me a lot. I stopped listening to movie songs a long time back. In fact now I restrict myself to western classical, occasionally Carnatic, old songs of Ilayaraja.

I just play it and am transported on a magic carpet to my childhood days. Somehow I have lost interest in listening to the music of today. It lacks depth.”

the film. Let them be happy in their territory, I am happy in mine. 99 per cent of all my actors are amateurs. They don’t have prior experience in acting. I just ask them to follow my beats and do nothing extra. They don’t go beyond three takes in my films and they get the hang of their roles and characters in less than 30-40 days of their preparation and filming.”

Turning the Pages

Says Mysskin, “Watching movies is not merely 2 hours of entertainment for me. It’s like visiting a temple, or visiting a bar, feeling intoxicated, spiritually or being on a high.

When people watch my film, I want them to feel the experience of it slowly coursing through their veins. When you watch Roberto Benigni’s Life is Beautiful, you begin to think of how beautiful life actually is.”

Mysskin continues to talk about his passion for reading. His cabin has a mountain range of books. “Yes, books are my most cherished companions. They are my great guide, my beloved lovers. In fact they are my everything. If I am marooned on an island with a boatload of books, I won’t feel stranded at all. It’s a beautiful thing to read books. I don’t much care for e-reading, I love to hold a book, feel it and read it. Right now I am reading the Bible and the Quran simultaneously. I have a flat in Adyar, which I visit once in six months. And you find will twice as many books there.”

The director is clear that he wants to work with newcomers only. “I want to work with amateurs, I don’t want to work with established actors. In fact, for all my films, I have literally picked up amateurs from the roads, got them to sit in my car, and have told them ‘I want you to act in my film.’ I don’t want to cast commercial actors in my film. I don’t think I can make them happy. I make very simple movies, my sense of acting and direction tend to be very different from theirs and I don’t want to have a clash while making

Spiritual Muses “I was born into a Hindu family and was brought up by a Muslim family. Now I don’t belong to any religion. I don’t pray at all. I have read up about Buddhism quite extensively. I feel that our whole life is a journey and we need to seek the purpose of our existence through it all. I love reading Haiku poems and, Basho in particular.

Whenever I feel low and sad, I open the book randomly and read. The solace I get is immediate. Basho has been my lab all my life,” he explains his take on spirituality, continuing, “I never ever push myself; I don’t have very big ambitions in my life.

Ambitions make people violent. I don’t want to be in any competition. In fact, I am totally

against any competition. People have the wrong perception that I am rude. I am very blunt in expressing my views that people often mistake me to be rude. I hope they will understand me some day.�

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rollercoaster ride?

Pranitha Subhash does not believe that she has returned with a bang, or that she has not had a lull to make a return in the first place.

But nevertheless, she is certainly making waves in Kannada and Telugu simultaneously. Her biggest release of the year is Attarintiki Daaredhi, opposite the incomparable Pawan Kalyan. The actress has stayed away from controversy and firmly believes that there is no shortcut to success, as she speaks to Aravind G Shivkamal.

After a brief lull, you seem to have returned with a bang to Sandalwood. How was this possible?

and an absolute honour to star opposite him.

Like I said, I can’t stop smiling about the box office results of the film.

(Laughs) There was never a lull in my career; I had been doing Kannada movies irrespective of my Telugu and Tamil assignments. But yes, I am working in some amazing movies now. That’s why people get to hear more about me in Kannada movies.

The Kannada film industry in particular seems to have found the ‘home grown’ talent in you.

Attarintiki Daaredhi is a blockbuster. You have one more film in Telugu. Is 2013 the high point of your career?

Of course, you could say that this year marks a career landmark for me, as I have had the opportunity of working with two of my most favourite actors. I am a huge fan of Pawan sir and working with Upendra sir was truly amazing as I admire him tremendously. I feel blessed and truly happy. I am thrilled that my Telugu film has received such acclaim.

Tollywood had almost written off you after Bava; it must feel good to return with such a stupendous success…

Yes, absolutely. The film has been directed by Trivikram sir and it was wonderful working with him. Pawan sir has a cult following in Tollywood, his fan following is like nothing you have ever seen. It is such a great feeling

I have always prioritised Kannada on top of my list, as it is my mother tongue. So it feels very nice to be appreciated in the Kannada industry. You will see me in plenty of movies very soon, opposite A-list actors. The scripts are interesting, providing me ample scope to showcase my talent.

You have steered clear of controversy, despite acting in all 3 languages; how have you managed this?

I have always been professional. As soon as my work is over, I head back to the hotel.

I do not believe in hanging out in places where stars should not be seen. Probably, that is one of the reasons why I have remained controversy-free.

mandatory to be in a relationship if you are an actor, right?

How often have you regretted entering showbiz? Why? Never. And why should I? This place is so full of opportunities and every day is so new and refreshing that such a thought hasn’t crossed my mind at all, at any point. However I do feel my education has taken a back seat. And that could be the only disadvantage about being in films.

Are your parents now convinced about your career option?

Yes, in the beginning they were very apprehensive about my choice of career, considering that they are doctors and wanted me to follow suit, too. But now they are very encouraging and watch every film and read every interview of mine without fail!

“I do not believe in hanging out in places where stars should not be seen”

We’ve also not heard anything about relationship rumours concerning you.

What’s going on?

See, having a boyfriend or not is a matter of personal choice. I mean, it is not as if it is O c t o b e r 2013 | S o u t h s c o p e

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Of experimentation and staying true “It was 2004 when the film Anand showcased a new genre of storytelling, making waves and stunning audiences, with its fresh dimension to romantic films. A lot of people fell in love with the film and its characters. I remember being in college when the film released, and being completely awestruck by the simplicity of it. And in the same vein, when I talk to Sekhar Kammula, the director of the film, I see that the filmmaker is very much like his celluloid work – simple yet impactful,� says Pothapragada Swarnalatha.

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Memorable Characters

The Beginning After a Masters degree, Sekar Kammula was working as a software engineer in the US. Back then, it was the peak of the software boom and not many would have dreamt of chucking a well-paid job in the Land of Dreams to return to India and make films.

What prompted his decision? “Introspection.

That’s all. I asked myself what I liked, where I fit in and what made me different from the others. It made me realise that I was a little different from others in terms what I felt, the angle and intensity of my experiences and reactions, and of course, the way I perceive and react to the world. I felt it would be nice to show the world what I felt and saw. I joined a film school and in the 3 years of learning, I discovered myself even more. Education till then was necessity driven but the experience in film school was exhilarating. See, I have never been this ardent moviegoer or someone who ‘always wanted to be a filmmaker.’ It was in film school that I experienced great joy in putting my thoughts together, writing them out and shooting them. At that time, the big trend was for people to go to the US, especially Telugu people. I decided to make a film revolving around this plot and that’s how Dollar Dreams happened,” says the director.

The film went on to get a National Award.

“Dollar Dreams was the first issue-based film. Hyderabad Blues had released by then but it was a romantic film, whereas Dollar Dreams was a serious take on the situation of people migrating to the US. I felt nice when it bagged a National Award.”

Though Dollar Dreams was Sekhar’s first film, it was Anand that was his grand calling card. With Dollar Dreams it was clear that he was different from many, but Anand helped him carve his own niche. Anand was not the typical romance. It was a risk that a majority of debuting directors would not have liked to take. “Anand was a new thought but was almost in the commercial space. Making a story like Anand, in a commercial space, with the star cast and money it required, was what many people perceived as a risk. Also, Anand actually had nothing to narrate or excite at the script level. Still, I was confident about my concept and knew that was I going to tell a story that the audience hadn’t experienced.

However, it was tough making ends meet to film Anand and we did everything that we could do to make the film,” reminisces Sekhar Kammula.

If his stories are close to reality, his characters travel with you. Be it Roopa of Anand or Arjun Prasad of Leader, these faces keep flashing in your mind. I still remember when we saw Godavari, every girl had something she could relate to Sita (the lead heroine).

With his films, it is the characters that you take your breath away and not the actors. “I strive to make films that attract you, involve you and travel with you. Therefore, I believe in perfect characterisation. And for that, the script is key. I don’t have references to write out my story. So my characters are purely out of imagination and not influenced by any actor. That’s why, when actors read the story, they travel with the character and instead of the actor influencing the character, the character absorbs the actor. That’s the reason that the actors come across as so real while playing the characters.”

His films are neat, clean and loved by all age groups. A Sekhar Kammula film means the story is that much closer to reality. “I don’t know how to put it. It’s not intentional but it’s the only way I can make films. What runs in my mind and why I choose a certain script is something I can’t explain. I do like the idea of making a film with a standard hit formula and make money, but the thing is I don’t know how to make such films. So, it is credibility and reality that excite me in a story and ignite my thought process. I don’t write a story keeping in mind that families will see the film or anything of that sort. It’s not intentional; it is natural. You can call it my upbringing or my style of thinking” the director shares.

With such different and unique perceptions about cinema, I wonder if filmmaking often feels like flowing against the current, for Sekhar Kammula. Naturally I am curious to know how he manages to handle the pressure and swim against the tide and whether all of it impacts his creativity. Kammula says, “Maybe during my first and second film, I could have thought of it as a risk but now after over 10 years I don’t find sticking to my guns risky. With each film of mine being accepted and loved, my confidence grew and I understood that when you give the audience good cinema they will definitely accept and cherish it. And I don’t think I am flowing against the current. Filmmaking is a creative field and everyone has their unique style and perception. So, I see myself as swimming parallel to the current. As for whether my creativity is being affected – no, not at all.”

An Eternal Love Story I quiz the filmmaker about how he would define success. “For me, success has never been about the numbers. Success is when every film of mine has a take-away value to it.

People cherish my films and the concepts stay with them. That’s what gives me immense happiness. Being able to stay connected to the changing times is my challenge. Audiences are being bombarded with bad cinema and so much vulgarity. I do understand that bad cinema is a passing cloud, but in changing times how many good stories can you write without being redundant? As you grow, the numbers at stake increase and more money is invested on you, which means more responsibility. So my constant effort is to keep giving good, sensible cinema and live up to the expectations of the audience,” says Kammula.

The director is now all set to surprise the audience yet again with his upcoming film Anamika, which many are calling a remake of the Bollywood blockbuster Kahaani, starring Vidya Balan. “It is not a remake,” he declares emphatically. “It’s an adaptation of Kahaani. I have made changes to it. The Nirbhaya incident has been one of the major factors that prompted me to make this film. I have been very active in supporting women empowerment. Being a filmmaker, I thought I should convey the message through cinema as well. So, all these thoughts inspired me and I chose this woman-centric story as my salute to the power and resilience of women.”

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Photography by A.V.Abhay Kumar Hair and Makeup by Vasantha Vasu of Bounce salon Styling by T.N.09.9696 Location: Accord Metropoiltan Clothes : T.N. 09.9696 Accessories and Shoes: Aldo

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“They asked me if I was related to Asin!”

Not many who follow Tamil cinema will now ask who Sanchita Shetty is. For, that’s what a racy low budget comedy called Soodhu Kavvum had done for this pretty young actress from Karnataka. Earlier seen in Kollaikaran and Thillalangadi before she cemented her presence in Soodhu Kavvum, Sanchita is now waiting for the release of Pizza 2 – The Villa. In her first ever shoot for Southscope, Sanchita is visibly excited as she shares her experiences in tinselville and her dreams for the future…

Pizza 2 – The Villa, which was slated for an October release has been pushed to November. The film, under Deepan Chakravarthy’s direction, is set for release simultaneously in Tamil and Telugu. Of course, the actress is thrilled to bits about being part of the film and in fact admits that it is what is always on her mind! “We have worked really hard on this film. The character I play has given me a good platform to perform. My character is called Aarthi and she is the typical girl-next-door. The film is theme-centric, in the sense that rather than the five-six characters that the story revolves around, the prime factor in the film is the villa. It is a love story and a thriller fused together.”

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Clothes and Shoes by T.N.09.9696 Accessories by Aldo

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Clothes: T.N.09.9696 Accessories and Shoes: Aldo

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Clothes: T.N.09.9696 Accessories : Aldo

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A slice of this Pizza Sanchita says that she loved working with her co-star Ashok Selvam and explains that both of them had to work really hard for their role, and the training for their parts included everything from toning the physique to fine-tuning their performances. “Towards the end of the filming of Soodhu Kavvum, on the last day to be specific, were the auditions for this film. That’s where I met Ashok Selvam.

He’s worked really hard for the film. He had to look like a 34-year-old guy and had to bulk up. For me, the difference was in terms of how I look and the tone of my character, both of which are decidedly different from Soodhu Kavvum, where I played a character that actually didn’t exist.”

Movie Junkie “I absolutely love watching movies,” Sanchita says, letting us in on her biggest addiction. “ I watch at least five movies a day. I have stocked over 3000 DVDs at home,” she shares excitedly. So we use the chance to ask her about her favourites in the industry, and a few people that she considers her role models. “I admire Anushka. I have watched Arundhathi and would love to do a role and film like that some day! I loved her performance. I also admire Divya Spandana. I am in awe of Sridevi and Jyothika and Simran too. On the same note, as a person, I really admire the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. I like her kindness, and the way she is helping people.”

Sanchita moves on to share tidbits about her encounters with some of the stars in K-Town. “I met Kamal Haasan sir at the special screening of Soodhu Kavvum.

I have met Suriya. I enjoyed watching Ghajini and am up-to-date, as far as his movies are concerned. I love the way Vijay dances, I also loved Ajith’s Mankatha and can’t wait for his next film to release.”

Having heard similar but equally sincere lines from many, many starlets before, we steer the conversation towards what actresses love to hear – glowing compliments about their own good looks! Sanchita made a striking, arresting impression in her latest Tamil film and we broach the topic with her. “Some people have said that I look like Juhi Chawla, other have compared me to Ramya Krishnan, and even Samantha. Recently, at an audio launch function some press people asked me whether I was related to Asin!” she gushes.

Home and the Heart Sanchita has a younger brother and sister and says her mom and dad are very supportive of her career. She adds that although she doesn’t have a background in films or theatre, her grandmother was a theatre actor and that could perhaps be the connection. “My grandma was also a classical Bharathnatyam dancer. I have never got the chance to work in plays like my grandma but I love watching plays and looking forward to working in a Prakash Balwadi production.”

As we wrap up the conversation, Sanchita reveals that as far as future projects are concerned, she is currently busy with the Kannada, Malayalam and Telugu remakes of Soodhu Kavvum, truly making her... the Soodhu Kavvum girl!

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“I chose films that no standard Telugu actor would do” “As I drive to meet Rana Dagubbati, the actor and individual I’ve always admired, I remember the nervousness I went through when I first met him for an interview. Despite this being my second interaction, I still experience the same nervousness, now made more pronounced by a child-like excitement. This is what happens when your personal admiration encroaches into your professional commitment. I walk into his palatial house to meet him. Dressed in casual wear, Rana walks in and asks, “Coffee or Tea?” We are both in a mood to travel back in time, a little bit, and the piping hot coffee sent in by his cook, certainly helps walk us down that route. As we talk there is a question I can’t help but keep asking myself, ‘How can a guy this sinfully handsome talk so much sense and logic, with no airs at all?”’

Pothapragada Swarnalatha, recounts her meeting with Rana Daggubati

He hails from a family that could very well serve as an encyclopedia of cinema.

With movie mogul Dr. Ramanaidu as grandfather, ace producer Suresh Babu as father and superstar Victory Venkatesh as an uncle, cinema flows in his veins, and is in his DNA. No wonder he has handled everything from VFX, to DTS sound mixing, film distribution, cinematography, production and of course acting with such ease. After all, you don’t need to teach a fish to swim, do you?

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The Daggubati name is widely respected. In an industry rife with constant comparisons, how difficult has it been to prove yourself as an actor especially under the weight of such a well-known surname? How far have you learnt to handle audience expectations, comparisons and pressure?

(Thoughtfully) It’s like standing on a doubleedged sword. Coming into cinema from a family like mine, you get that brand to stand on but then you don’t have the flexibility of making mistakes. If I were a newcomer who did one film that did not work and eventually did one that worked, I could have had the choice of a test and figure out what I am better at and would like to do. But, now I don’t have that luxury. Being mediocre is not an option. Coming to comparisons, it is something that I ruled out right in the beginning. Right from my first film Leader

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to the last, Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum and the Hindi films I have done, I chose films that nobody does or for that matter, films that no standard Telugu actor would do. But then I am the sort of guy who cannot be rattled by pressure. Take for example, the way I started off in this industry. I chose to become an actor... eventually. I started as a cinematographer and used to do steady camera work, then did visual effects for about 5 years. I produced films. Only then did I become an actor. Well, let me put it like this; I grew up with films. So, it’s like you want to do everything. Now I am acting. I would like to write, direct, produce and do all of them again.

Obviously, you would give every script you hear the third-degree before giving it a nod?

a lot of people told me not to do that film for the simple reason that nobody would pick such a film as their debut vehicle. Any ambitious hero would like to launch himself, with a splendid showcase of his skill-set. But when Leader released, everyone felt it was a right decision. My point is, unless you have tried something, you really don’t know how it’ll pan out. Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum is an action adventure film but in a different style, loaded with shades of theatre, mime and a typical mafioso theme, which not many would have liked to do. Now I am doing Bahubali wherein I play a negative role. For me, each film is a body of work by itself.

By choosing diverse films and different characters, it’s not that I am doing some image building activity. It’s just that I want to be a part of some great films.

I come from a very standard, classic film family or film mould. When I did Leader,

But there must have been a plethora of conventional roles offered to you. Surely,

“When I did Naa Ishtam, it opened huge but fell flat. The first review said, “Rana tried to be Ravi Teja…”

there must have been some temptation to take that route?

See, you hear a lot of things, but at the end of day it is your take on what you listen to.

Basically, friends, family and well-wishers in the film fraternity will give you a lot of advice, but I would like to quote on record, that the film business is a space where you think you know all of it but none of us knows anything. There is this film called Dreams made by Akira Kurosawa, Steven Spielberg, and Allan H Liebert, who are by far the greatest filmmakers of world cinema. The film was a disaster. I realised that fact much later, after I saw the film, because I came to know about the film 2 years after its release.

When I saw the film, I was not bothered nor did I know that it was a disaster. So, basically what I want to say is, even greats like that can’t predict what happens to their movie.

So, how would I know either? I just know that whatever it is I’m trying out, I will find out the results for myself. Now, when I look back, I feel my film Naa Ishtam was one such attempt where I tried to be the typical hero material as people around me were constantly saying, “Look... Bunny’s (Allu Arjun) films are working so well at the box office, look at Ravi Teja. I like to watch their films, but I don’t SEE myself doing that. So, when I did Naa Ishtam, it opened huge but fell flat.

The first review said, “Rana tried to be Ravi Teja…”

when Leader released it was a reasonably good grosser at the box office, and went onto become a huge hit on television and was also the film that had the maximum sale of DVDs in that year. So, when I look back at the 100 years of cinema, I have made a contribution of 7 films. You have to set your standard and work hard.

That brings me to my next question. How do you handle criticism?

It’s not that I wanted to take a gap; it’s just that Rajamouli gave me that gap. One week after Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum, I got a call from Rajamouli for Bahubali. It was to start months ahead, but because it’s an epic and a mammoth project, there was a lot of pre-shoot work like getting trained in martial arts, growing the beard and hair that the role

(With a shrug) I don’t take it seriously. The moment you start taking criticism seriously you have problems. I may be an actor, for 20 years or 25 years or whatever, but films are ever-lasting and permanent. For example,

It’s been approximately a year and half since Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum released.

Isn’t it risky to allow such long gaps between projects?

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“The film business is a space where you think you know all of it but none of us knows anything”

demanded, coordinating the huge cast and the like.

So tell us honestly, is it the numbers that matter or critical acclaim?

I am a big believer in numbers from the producer’s point of view. Coming from a house that is all about numbers and emphasizes on high production values, I have ensured that even my bad film loses very less money. I ensure that my film never goes above the budget; it is always completed within the schedule. At the same time, just for the sake of numbers I will not do a film that I am not happy with. Basically, I try to strike a balance between numbers and critical acclaim.

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them. Also, it does not bother my friends or my family. I have strictly stopped answering questions on my private life because I figured that people are anyway writing what they want to, so why should I take the pains to clarify? I remember, sometime back there was this rumour, obviously a link-up and they had called me to clarify and I said “NO.” The next day the article was published carrying the rumours and towards the end there was this one line that said, “When we contacted him, he denied it.” I was like, are you kidding me? I spoke to you for half an hour on this.

So, from then, on I have stopped clarifying and decided to let my personal life be a matter of speculation and let people keep trying to figure it out.

Your private life has been under the scanner for a long time now. How does it all feel?

How does it feel to receive so much adulation from women? How do you handle all the attention?

I have not changed my lifestyle after I became an actor. I am still the same person; I even have the same set of friends. Now I may be an actor, but it is still just my job. It’s sad that people don’t see it like that. I just ignore

When I was doing visual effects and working as a typical corporate guy, I was extremely fat and weighed 120 kg. When I got into films is when I got into this fitness mode because I had to. Now suddenly when people

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compliment and appreciate me, I feel like asking myself, “REALLY?” Recently when I was on the list of India’s Most Desirable, I was like, who would have ever imagined this? It is very humbling and nice when I hear such compliments. Because I have never done films that girls would like, I mean the typical romances. Instead I have always been part of serious drama. So, despite this fact, when girls admire me, it gives me a great sense of acceptance. It makes me feel happy.

So, how would you describe your ideal woman?

I have no set description or expectation, because the moment you have one, it leads to problems. That is what I have realised over the years. I feel that when you find that right person, you will feel the connect. That’s all.

It is simpler that way. It is impossible to find what is ideal because the guy is changing everyday as an individual and so is the girl.

Everyone has had their piece of life before they met you. So, it’s unfair to say this is the kind of girl I want.

“Everyone has had their piece of life before they met you.

So, it’s unfair to say this is the kind of girl I want”

Tell us about your upcoming projects Bahubali and Rani Rudramma Devi.

Bahubali is an epic war film. I grew up reading Mahabharata and about epic battles like the Trojan war. Bahubali is on similar lines. Naturally, it is great to be part of such a film. I own a big negative space in Bahubali.

I am a bad guy and it takes 2 parts to kill this bad guy. As for Rani Rudramma Devi, it is a true story. I play the role of King Chalukya Veerabhadra who played a very crucial role in the rise of Rani Rudramma Devi and eventually married her. Be it Bahubali or Rani Rudramma Devi, it was like recreating something you were not a part of. You grow up reading about such characters or seeing their sculptures. Also, such roles have great impact and recall. So, I was thrilled when I got the chance to bring such amazing roles to life on screen.

You will soon be seen on the silver screen sharing space with Tamil superstar Ajith.

What can you tell us about your muchtalked about appearance in Aarrambam?

Vishnuvardhan has been a great friend of mine, even before he got into direction. I’ve known him since the days he was assisting Santosh Sivan. One day Vishnu called me and told that he was making a film with Ajith and Arya in which he wanted me to play a cop.

He said he did not want an actor from Tamil for this role. I feel I am the only Hindi, Telugu and Tamil-speaking cop that he would have got! Technically, this is my first film in Tamil.

I must admit, Vishnu is a tough taskmaster.

Ajith sir is terrific to work with. For someone with such stardom and stature, he is very humble and simple.

What about other projects?

I have a film with Hanu, which is my first film under our home banner, Suresh Productions. I also have a film with Selvaraghavan. I have been working a lot, but you will have to wait a little while before you see the results. Trust me, very soon you will have a season of a lot of my films. So, it’s like either you will have nothing of me or an overload of me!

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Pavithra Srinivasan peruses the menu and finds that Tamil cinema does indeed believe that the best way to winning the heart of their audience... is through their stomach.

Cuisine A la Kodambakkam

“Rice, piping hot, every single day, Brinjals fried with ghee, all the way, Yesterday’s fish-stew draws me on Ah, my tongue waters; my heart’s far gone!” ~ Mullum Malarum (Thorns and Flowers), 1978

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And that’s just the first verse.

It goes on, as Phataphat Jayalakshmi turns in an impressive performance, rattling off to her husband about Pavakkai koottu (bitter gourd stew), blended with pulses, not to mention delicious tiny mushrooms roasted well and eaten with porridge which will satisfy even the most exacting gourmand; then there’s sour buttermilk mixed well with old rice, and that’s not all; what about the extraordinary merits of onion sambhar? It’s not surprising that Superstar Rajinikanth groans in frustration – likely because it’s midnight and there’s no way of tasting these delights right now.

Few movies, however, are this forthright about their protagonists’ gastronomical obsessions. Because Tamil cinema has always had a sort of love-hate relationship with food.

A part of the reason has to do with the fact that we have a distinct tendency for melodrama – and when you’re making movies about weeping wives, abusive husbands, tragic love affairs or couples running away to escape an angry mob of villagers with aruvaals in their hands, food is often the last thing on the agenda. And yet – people do need to eat, sometimes, and not even the most made-up 70s heroine, from that glorious era of huge hairstyles and terrifying eye-shadow, could resist the odd idli.

Full Meals On The Menu!

There were also, of course, pleasant interludes where Tamil cinema suddenly seemed to wake up to the possibility of meals, and actually did provide for them, perfectly in context. Case in point: one of Tamil cinema’s biggest blockbusters and a cult classic: Enga Veetu Pillai. MGR played a dual role in the movie and one of them, Ilango, happened to a solid young man always ready for a brawl, who was witty, enthusiastic, and eager to take on the whole world. Wonder of wonders – he also happened to be a food fiend. From working steadily through his mother’s meals, he also stuffs his face at every opportunity: at a restaurant, where he orders every type of tiffin imaginable (and lets his twin pay); at the heroine Saroja Devi’s home where he feasts liberally on chicken and mutton, and gobbles down idlis right in front of nemesis Nambiar – but the piece de resistance is undoubtedly when he uses several large plates of steaming dosas at breakfast to prove his superiority to the family. This was one movie that made no bones about the hero being a foodie – and even used the self-same food in an important plot-twist.

And then there’s the eternal favourite, the Kalyana Samayal Saadham song from Maya Bazaar, though technically a Telugu offering: it has a gleeful Ghatotkachan, played by the

legendary S V Rangarao, wolfing down a whole feast meant for the Kauravas. It was so popular that feasts these days, whether in movies or not, are still serenaded by this number.

Other movies weren’t willing to be quite so magnanimous: food, during the 60s and 70s, was likely to be a hurried affair: used to illustrate the family’s wealth, if anything.

Witness the dining habits of the obnoxiously wealthy Kamalanathan family in Adhe Kangal, a dramatic whodunit. A meal, in the movie, is served on a humongous diningtable right in the middle of the large hall at the very foot of the grand staircase (how they ever managed to drag it there for each meal is an unsolved mystery), where everyone seats themselves armed with knives and forks – but the dinner itself, seems to consist only of toast. Just toast, liberally smothered with globs of freaky ketchup, which one of the diners practically mutilates, making the dish look like bloody bits of flesh.

Family Seating (AC) Most meals in movies consisted of the family members seated around the table, dressed to the nines, with viewers barely seeing what they ate; utensils weren’t even proper kitchenware, but different components of a tiffin-carrier. Others were slightly more explanatory – like the gunpowder episode in Netrikkann, used to push forward a plotpoint. Largely, though, meal-times were ruled by sweets – large laddus and jalebis, and not sustaining rice and sambhar varieties. Movie characters always seemed to be obsessed with diabetes-inducing rich foods. It might sound outrageous, but not entirely silly: movies were essentially escapist fare, and the more it removed you from reality, the better.

When you went to watch Ravichandran or Jai Shankar strut around in blazers and colourful pants in palatial homes, you didn’t really want to see them scarfing down something as lowly as rasam saadham.

And yet – there were the odd, extremely realistic episodes here too: there’s Sowcar Janaki of Uyarndha Manidhan, a healthconscious lady forcing her husband to a tasteless diet – while Sivaji Ganesan, her spouse, gobbles spicy, rich sambhar and meats, eyes watering with both happiness and heat. A scene in Motor Sundaram Pillai had the film’s comedienne Sachu try to make savoury bajjis, but with disastrous results. It does serve its purpose, though: showing the true extent of a pair of lovers who couldn’t care less that said bajjis are loaded with salt!

But these were isolated instances; food, by and large, tended to be out of sight, or beset with dining tables and toast. And then, Tamil cinema began to undergo a sort of revival: along came directors like Bharathiraja, who

chose realistic villages in place of idyllic fields and with them came real food as well: down-to-earth gruel, perfectly mediocre sambhar, shorn of extraneous fried trimmings, and rice. The staple. Just as it was eaten by vast swathes of ordinary people. Food began to come into its own, as more and more filmmakers threw off the stigma of committing a solecism: food was fine; food was great. Food was perfectly acceptable.

And so you had Rajnikanth and Radhika play off a superb comedic piece where she tries to stuff him full of idlis at an unearthly hour of the night (Oorkavalan); Ramarajan practically eats almost everything at lunch, banana leaf and all, as his aghast relatives gape at the empty vessels – and his meal consists, in his own words, of colour-colour appalams, steaming hot vadai and a Payasam brimming with cashew-nuts! (Paatukku Naan Adimai); wedding feasts are shown, while cooks sweated it out in the kitchens (Michael Madhana Kamarajan); the crowning glory, however, must go to one of the best feasts in Tamil cinema: Prabhu finishes off a huge leaf full of 12 eggs, mutton soup and assorted meats and fish and spicy stews, not to mention a platter full of mangoes, while, his brother-in-law, the legendary Goundamani, watches with mingled consternation and contempt (Kanni Raasi).

Fast Food These days, food embodies modern culture in every way: pizzas and burgers dot tables occupied by denim-clad heroines while colas and cold coffees rest on elegant tables, and are sipped on occasionally. Meals are once again relegated to shiny dining tables, while the action has moved on to TASMAC bars and spicy side dishes.

But sometimes, there comes along a random scene with gongura and noodles (Pancha Thanthiram), or even the much-lauded comic interlude from Vennila Kabaddi Kuzhu, involving parottas, not to mention the eggladen feast from Virumandi and Vivek’s anctics with crow biriyani (Run).

These are the little gems of Tamil cinema, often submerged under a deluge of inanities, that tantalise the foodie – much like the luscious platter hidden under a plantain leaf (Budget Padmanabhan) as Vivek laments, “You have the entire Discovery Channel here – dead!”

But it’s up to us, the dedicated gastronomes, to route out the perfect biriyani and enjoy every morsel. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a wedding feast to attend – and this one, hopefully, won’t have been prepared by the dreaded, arm-pit scratching Varadhukkutti.

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“We make more films but lack quality” The otherwise busy roads of Hyderabad are very quiet as I drive in the early hours of a weekend to meet Daggubati Suresh Babu, the mastermind behind numerous hits like Bobbili Raja, Preminchukundam Ra, Nuvvu Leka Nenu Lenu, Eega, and many more. I walk into the prestigious Ramanaidu studios and enter his cabin, for this very special interview.

He flashes his trademark smile and says in his baritone, ‘Ok, let’s get started.’”

Pothapragada Swarnalatha recounts her meeting with the dynamic producer.

As the son of veteran producer and director, D Ramanaidu, Daggubati Suresh Babu’s childhood was inextricably entwined with the world of gltiz and glamour. Cinema is in his genes and naturally, a career predestined.

But the producer feels otherwise. “First of all, I wasn’t planning on getting into films.

I have been watching my father produce films for so long. Back in the day, my father, being an independent producer was also partners with Vauhini studios. I used to go to his office in Vauhini studios quite often and watch previews with Chakrapani garu.

I have grown up watching these people and interacting with them, although I was told not to be associated with films. I remember, from my 9th or 10th standard I used to be actively involved in activities related to film production. Still, I took my father’s words quite seriously and pursued an engineering degree. When I returned I did try to set up some business venture but nothing worked out. At the same time, I was also involved in the production activities of our banner.

One day, while we were making Devatha, Raghavendra Rao garu was unwell and called me and asked me to handle the shoot as my father was out of town. It was a 5-day out and out action sequence that I handled. Thanks to my engineering background, my analytical skills came in handy, backed by the solid knowledge I’d gained observing my father

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and others in the industry. That experience was an eye-opener for me. It helped me make up my mind to be in films and by god’s grace I have been hugely successful.”

Blessed with good looks and a fabulous baritone voice, Suresh Babu was definitely hero material and with his father as an established producer, things could have been quite easy if he had chosen that route. But he opted to become a producer instead of an actor. “I had acting offers from Bharati Vasu and various others when I used to hang out at the dubbing studios as a youngster. But like I said, acting was not something I planned to get into. Also, you see, I am a very low-key person. I don’t like to attract a lot of attention to myself. Even as a producer I didn’t like putting my name in my films. That’s how I have always been.”

It all started in 1982 and over the years, Suresh Babu has been the man behind many successful and memorable films.

The transformation of an imaginative plot to a visual treat happens only because of a producer’s conviction. So, I quiz him on what prompts him to choose a script. “The story is the heart of any film, but it is tough to pinpoint how I finalise a script and give it the go-head. Each story was okayed with a different idea in mind. I even have a book in which over the years, I have written

down why a particular story was approved and under what circumstances I chose the script. I like to keep going back to that book.

Choosing a story to produce into a film is a complex process. A lot depends on the frame of mind you are in at that point too,” he explains.

Daggubati Suresh Babu has worked with an array of actors including his brother Venkatesh. I am reminded of the Telugu proverb that says, ‘It is different to treat your own kid,’ so I ask him how it has been working with his brother in contrast to the other actors. “For me Venky has never been this ‘hero.’ Actually, working without Venky became a problem for me, because he is a very easy actor. He is like a part of the production. So, you expect the same from other actors too. If that does not happen you get disappointed. I must say that working with Venky continuously has made me lazy because he is such a good hero.”

“Producing films is not an easy task...” Suresh Babu shares. “That is the reason why if you look at the 150 films made today, the top producers associated with the top 10-15 films are just proposal-makers and not producers.

They just hire the actors, director, technicians and the crew and say, “You make the film and I will invest.” They are like financial investors involved in heavy-duty organising. The other

Special Feature: Producers

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Special Feature: Producers

section of producers includes people like us who are actively involved in the filmmaking process, the old-fashioned way. We get an idea or story, work on it, hire a director apt for the story, then artistes...and technicians.”

In an industry where star families usually leave no stone unturned to launch their heirs, his son was launched under AVM productions and to everyone’s surprise has not done any films under home production so far. “Rana’s was an unexpected turn of events. He was involved in business and then suddenly decided to get into films. I was thinking of getting a story ready for him when this opportunity from Sekhar Kammula came.

Before this offer, I felt that Rana was not yet ready to act and that he needed a few more months of training; I was in fact, thinking of making a film for him after that. But when Sekhar came and narrated the story, I was happy and I could see that Rana was very happy that this opportunity had come to him. Many asked him why he chose this film, but I feel it was probably because Rana knew his strengths and weaknesses. When Puri approached Rana, he was thrilled that Puri was making a film with him. There were some story issues, but Puri was larger than the story so the benefit of doubt was given to him. But the film failed. Naa Ishtam was again a film I did not want Rana to do.

Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum was an idea that I liked and thought of producing myself

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but Krish wanted to produce it. However, they made a good film and Rana’s capabilities were shown in a new avatar.”

Suresh Productions is known for successful films. The production house has a track record of making blockbusters back-to-back.

Now with a film in the pipeline for Rana, he shoulders the dual pressure of keeping the production house’s track record in mind and also as a father making a great film for his son. “True. There will be a lot of pressure on me now. See, when I used to make films for my brother, I had my father to share my pressure and tension; but now I have to handle it all solo. Also, Venky and I are almost of the same age, so it was kind of easy.

But with Rana, things would be different as we are both years apart. He and I have different ways of thinking.”

With so many years of experience and being the son of a legend, I ask him how similar and different he is to his father in terms of a producer. “A majority of what I have learnt as a producer is from my father. I have also learnt a lot from observing other producers. There has also been some learning from books…”

Considering the decades of experience in filmmaking and the knowledge bank Suresh Babu possesses, I ask him what he thinks are the things that Telugu cinema lacks. “The industry has to become more structured.

Writers should start learning how to write the synopsis fully. They are given 5-10 minutes to pitch for an opportunity. In that span of time, you should be able to create that connect because the audience also gives you the same time. Like for example, when you go to a bookshop, as a novice your criterion to pick a book is the brief about the book on the rear cover. Similarly, the writer should have a one-pager or a one-liner that gets you hooked on to the story. I find that the writers of today don’t have that. It is not a skill you can master in schools; a course can only teach you the basics of writing but the creativity with which you express has to be your own. It has to come from within. Also my observation is, if you compare an Indian IT professional with his counterpart abroad, they may be at par in terms of technical skills. But if you make a comparison in terms of a producer from here and one from abroad, they would be way off.

Even director to director, they are way off.

We make more films, but lack quality. That is something that the industry has to work on. It is not about money, it is about the effort, the attention to detail and the focus on sticking to the best standards...” shares the passionate producer as he signs off.

“Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum was an idea that I liked and thought of producing myself but Krish wanted to produce it. However, they made a good film and Rana’s capabilities were shown in a new avatar”

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FASHION

BRIGADE

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Allu Sirish: Handsome and stylish

Amala Paul: Very chic

Amy Jackson: Carrying off desi with ĂŠlan

Asin Thottumkal: Eye candy

October 2013 | Southscope

We decode the fashion sense of our favourite stars

Ileana D’Souza: Phata Poster Nikali Heroine

Kajal Aggarwal: Charming

Kavya Madhavan : A little less eye makeup, perhaps?

Lakshmi Manchu: Princess Diaries Part 3?

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FASHION

BRIGADE

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Lakshmi Mennon: A little more thought into making an impression would help greatly

Lissy Priyadarshan: Chic in black

Nayanthara: Rocking the Neeta Lulla number

Nitya Menon: Malini of Palayamkottai is all geared up, we say

October 2013 | Southscope

Parvati Omanakuttan: Bling queen?

Pranitha Subhash: Looking svelte

Priyamani: A refreshing change

Reema Sen: This gorgeous gal is not much of a yummy mummy, right?

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FASHION

BRIGADE

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Shruti Haasan: Edgy and experimental

Sridevi Boney Kapoor: Are we getting catapulted back to the 80’s? Simply stunning!

Rima Kallingal: Making an effort

Trisha Krishnan: What a let-down! A more sophisticated style would suit her charm

October 2013 | Southscope

Malaika Arora: Insuring those legs seemed like a good idea now!

Vishaka: Got dressed in a hurry?

Dulquer and Amaal Sufiya: Looking great together

Lakshmi Rai: Looks like we are in for stormy weather

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Pattam Pole Malayalam

Cast Dulquer Salmaan, Malavika Mohanan, Archana Kavi, Jayaprakash, Lalu Alex, Shraddha Gokul and Anoop Menon Direction Azhagappan Production Karunakaran Music M. Jayachandran Story Girish Kumar

Pattam Pole is a love story, tracing the romance as it unfolds between Dulquer Salmaan and Malavika Mohan. The latter debuts with this film, while Archana Kavi and Manasi play supporting roles, with Anoop Menon taking on a guest role. The film has been canned in parts of Kumbakonam and Kerala.

- Kirthi Jayakumar

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Paru W/O Devadasa kannada

Cast Srinagara Kitty, Soundarya Jayamala Direction Kiran Govi Production Mukhtar, Hanumanthappa and Krishna Deve Gowda Music Arjun Janya

Paru w/o Devadasa is inspired by the legendary character of Devadas, but is not a repetition of the same story.

This is the third venture of director Kiran Govi after directing Payana in 2007 and Sanchari in 2010. Both movies made a mark in Sandalwood and he has selected a unique subject for his next project. A huge set was erected in Chikmagalur where scenes relating to an ashram were shot for two weeks. Two songs were also shot in Chikmagalur and the nearby scenic location of Sakleshpura. The movie was also shot extensively in North Karnataka.

- Aravind G Shivkamal

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Masala telugu

Cast Venkatesh, Ram, Anjali, Shazahn Padamsee, Ali Direction K Vijaya Bhaskar Production D Suresh Babu and S Ravi Kishore Music S Thaman

Masala is the remake of the Hindi hit Bol Bachchan, although the plot of has been tweaked to suit Telugu audiences. Masala has lavish sets and considering the reputation of the production house and the hero, is one of the most awaited projects of 2013. Venkatesh and his co-actor Ram have very high expectations from the movie and the music by S Thaman is said to be one of the strengths of the film. Shazahn Padamsee is staging a comeback to Tollywood after a break.

- Arvind G Shivkamal

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Pandianadu

tamil

Cast Vishal, Lakshmi Menen, Bharathirajaa, Vikranth Direction Suseenthiran Production Vishal Film Factory Music D Imman

After Aadhalal Kadhal Seiveer, which received positive reviews, director Suseenthiran’s next is Pandianadu with Vishal, Lakshmi Menen, and Bharathirajaa in significant roles. The movie marks the first full-fledged production venture of Vishal Film Factory, the production banner floated by Vishal. D Imman has scored the music for the film. Recently, in what could be called a first-ofits-kind event, a single track from the film was released in the premises of the Loyola College in Chennai. The movie is in the race for Diwali.

- Shankaran Malini

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Director: Saji Surendran Cast: Arun, Nishanth Sagar, P Balachandran, Shaju, Noby, Parvathy Nair, and Reshma Producer: Darshan Ravi under the banner of Demac Creations Music: Bijibal Story: Krishna Poojappura A simple story, the film traces the life and times of Jeevan, played by Anoop Menon, who runs a studio at Kanjirappally. His aim is to become a renowned photographer, but instead he falls in love. His ladylove, Sara, played by Bhuvana, belongs to a very rich family that owns a chain of five-star hotels. The duo gets married, much against the wishes of their families, and set off to Mumbai in the hope of enjoying a dream life. But before the rosy bed takes over, they begin to understand that life is not as sweet as it appeared to be.

Misunderstandings and angry exchanges come forth, and how the two of them deal with it all, forms the rest of the story.

-Kirthi Jayakumar

Director: Guru Deshpande Cast: Yash, Meghana Sundar Raj, Charan Raj, Harsha Producer: K Manju Music: Hamsalekhaa

Raja Huli is the Kannada remake of the Tamil hit Sundarapandiyan. This happens to be the 32nd project of well-known producer K Manju while Guru Desphande has directed it. The movie was shot extensively in various parts of Karnataka. Veteran actor Charan Raj is staging a comeback to Kannada through this film. Meghana Sundar Raj, daughter of well-known character actors Sundar Raj and Pramila Joshai, is the female lead of the movie. The film’s hero Yash has had a good outing in 2012 and was part of director Yogaraj Bhat’s blockbuster Drama, based on the theme of comedy. His latest movie Googly has been declared a blockbuster. If Raja Huli too is successful at the BO, then Yash’s star value could soar higher.

-Aravind G Shivkamal

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Director: Sarkunam Cast: Dhanush, Nazriya Nazim Producer: S Kathiresan (Five Star Films) Music: M Ghibran

In his third film, a comedy entertainer, Sarkunam directs Dhanush and Nazriya Nazim. Dhanush is sailing very high, on a national scale, and considering his superb histrionic abilities, this film should be a walk in the park for him. Nazriya Nazim is exuberant after the success of her recent release, Raja Rani. A single from the film – the Teddy Bear song – was released last month, sung by Dhanush himself.

Naiyaandi is slated for an October release.

-Shankaran Malini

Director: Harish Shankar Cast: Junior NTR, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Shruti Haasan, Kota Srinivasa Rao Producer: Dil Raju Music: S Thaman

This movie was supposed to materialise even before Harish Shankar directed the blockbuster Gabbar Singh. Post the success of Gabbar Singh, Ramayya Vasthavayya was fast-tracked and Dil Raju, who held the title rights, agreed to produce the movie. Apparently, Jr. NTR had approved the script two years ago. The expectations from this movie are high because Harish Shankar has directed the highest grosser in the history of Telugu cinema – Gabbar Singh. Incidentally, Jr. NTR has admitted that Ramayya Vasthavayya will be a landmark project in his career. He is portrayed as a college student in a movie, which is touted to be a commercial entertainer. This is the second movie for Shruti Hassan with Harish Shankar.

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Fortune Teller What do the cards predict for our dear stars this month? Tarot analyst Inseeya Nazir who consults out of Mumbai and Hyderabad, decodes the future.

Aries

Taurus

Allu Arjun, typical to his sun sign, is lighthearted and fun-loving. And that is exactly why people adore him. The Tarot of the star indicates that he and all Arians are going to shine in October. Increasing responsibilities would be challenging.

Keep away from dangerous adventures.

If you were born on the 1st,10th,19th and 28th there’s a superb opportunity coming your way. With regard to your love life, the heavens intend to shower you with lots of romance.

For Samantha Ruth Prabhu and other Taureans, there is a King of Pentacles present, which tells us that a godfather will assist you. He will be very caring and intelligent. Relationships have a huge effect on you this month, and you need to be aware of how you respond to them. Where romance is concerned, you might not feel like smiling sometimes, but life is going to soon bring plenty to uplift your heart.

Taureans should learn to deal with their obsessive nature and they will be left with an abundance of pure love.

Lucky Colour: Ruby Red Lucky Number: 10

Cancer

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For witty Geminis like Kajal Aggarwal, love awaits you around the corner in October. As for work, it’s time you stood up and demanded what is rightfully yours.

There are golden opportunities coming your way in your career. You know the hardships of life and you are no stranger to pain as well as joy. You have to learn to handle emotional pressure too.

Lucky Colour: Bright Yellow Lucky Number: 10

Lucky Colour: Ocean Blue Lucky Number: 12

LEO

Karthika Nair and the band of Cancerians shall bear witness to the Three of Cups, which brings in celebrations and a lot of happiness. Your creative imagination will flourish under these conditions, as will your emotional satisfaction in your work. This will bring you a greater feeling of security.

You will experience a lot of happiness with your family and close ones. Probably a trip overseas awaits you.

Bold and beautiful Leos like Taapsee can await a lot of wealth coming their way in October. The Four of Pentacles also suggests that this is coming from overseas or perhaps an inheritance. Expect your career to take you on a trip this month.

In short, October is going to bring more prosperity, contentment and professional satisfaction. In love, your need is for a romantic and caring individual.

Lucky Colour: Amber Brown Lucky Number: 5

Lucky Colour: Brick Red Lucky Number: 3

October 2013 | Southscope

Gemini

Virgo: For the fastidious Virgo like Shriya Saran, October is a magical month to look forward to. Your work would be noticed and your social status will rise. The Page of Pentacles indicates that issues will arise for you in a relationship that are all about money and will end up just about who’s contributing what. Channel that pressure and avoid conflicts. Energise your southwest corner with a Reiki Pyramid for fame and fortune to come through.

Lucky Colour: Orange Lucky Number: 8

LIBRA

Scorpio:

Prithviraj and other Librans will find that this month is going to be a harbinger of peace and harmony. Six of Swords indicates that you will move on from the anxieties and losses of the past and will be forging a whole new path in your career. Love is a mixed bag for you this month, where at some point, there will be a relationship that will blow your mind and exceed your expectations. A parent’s health might be of concern.

For Scorpios like Nayantara, the Tarot tells you to wait patiently. This month, you will have to let go of a relationship or friendship that no longer feels good and consciously work on cutting emotional ties.

This is a good month to win in any venture you undertake. Four of Wands indicates abundance in your financial sector. You are on a path to secure a prosperous and contented future.

Lucky Colour: Black Lucky Number: 7

Saggitarius

Lucky Colour: Sapphire Blue Lucky Number: 8

For the loving and happy-go-lucky Venkatesh and other Sagittarians, Six of Wands indicates victory this month. You shall embark on new and better paths.

Usually, you are cautious, but this month you might feel compelled to take a risk with your investments. You may suddenly change your career plans or your home.

You may be drawn into love triangles and mysterious encounters. Keep your balance in this area as the Tarot suggests.

Lucky Color: Baby Pink Lucky Number: 2

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

For Tamannaah and all Capricorns, when you have an idea, you do it to make it happen to the maximum. Others may find your attitude challenging, but they will admire your power. There’s a celebration coming that confirms the bond you share with your sweetheart. Re-evaluate your financial stability. Taking a chance later in the month will give you reason for celebration.

Nine of Cups for Shruti Haasan and other Aquarians indicates that your wishes are soon to come true. Career-wise, someone has been playing mischief with your reputation. But being your lucky self, the assistance of a business-savvy person sets things right. Don’t be hasty and make moves you might regret. Waiting and staying positive, you enter into a muchdeserved period of joy and contentment with your sweetheart. This is long overdue and you deserve all the happiness.

Charming and appealing Puneeth Rajkumar and all Pisceans have no shortage of admirers. The Chariot card indicates that you hate making mistakes in your career. This month will see you travelling. This trip could be very fruitful and will bring your career into the limelight. Relationship-wise there’s sorrow in your heart. A relationship has ceased to be as enchanting as it once was, so you’ve chosen to walk away from it.

Lucky Colour: Sea Green Lucky Number: 9

Lucky Colour: Pista Green.

Lucky Number: 11

Lucky Colour: Reddish Brown Lucky Number: 9

You can contact Inseeya K Nazir , Celebrity Tarot analyst, Reiki healer, Gemologist at www.inseeya.com Ph: +918019553132.

O c t o b e r 2013 | S o u t h s c o p e

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