Over the last two years, the 21-year-old Naani Krissh’s (or Sai Krishna) grandparents have been wondering what’s transpiring in the youngster’s room, as he spends hours on his computer. Now they know. The son of late musician Mandolin Srinivas has been making his socio-fantasy short film Opperah . This soon-to-be B.Com graduate whose film garnered 8 million views recently; is gratified by the response across social media platforms (Youtube, Vimeo, Facebook). For this fan of larger-than-life actioners, repeated viewing of Spiderman, Hobbit and Enthiran nurtured the visual grammar of this aspiring filmmaker. His mother was surprised that he wanted to turn a director, even before he touched 10. “I didn’t let many know about the short film. I wanted to prove myself rather than speak what I was capable of,” states Krissh.
Opperah is a product of a dream that he wanted to re-create onto the screen. “When I wanted to make a novel out of the dream, people laughed at me. This short film is an answer to them. Many kept telling me quality visuals are tough to attain for a feature-film, how would do you do it for a short? There are only four characters in the film.”
The shoot for Opperah was wrapped up in a week. However a single shot of a robot entering a building took two month’s time, Krrish shares. Given the film’s graphic-driven backdrop, he had to visualise the same during the shoot. “Many advised me to draw particular frames, but I filter them better in my mind,” he adds. Spearheading the project for sound design and editing was his way of fulfilling his passion.
Before all this, music was his first love and he learnt playing the guitar before academic needs and his love for animation got the better of him.
Grand plans
He has set his eyes on sending Opperah to several film festivals. “I may need more guidance on how to take it to the right destination. I am happy with those saying that I’ve upped the scale of short films with my attempt.”
He’s already begun work on his next short film and plans to release it in a few months from now. “No matter what I make, I wouldn’t want to repeat myself; I’d experiment with many ideas. I want to be in the Tamil film industry.”
Balancing academics and filmmaking hasn’t been easy, but his college management supported his passion. What next for Krissh? “ Kabali producer Kalaipuli S Thanu has advised me to keep pursuing my goal and that it would lead me to my destination,” the youngster signs off.
