A private house in Film Nagar, near Ramanaidu Studios houses the unit of Usha Charan Creations to film major portions for their untitled maiden venture. The tastefully done up interiors welcome you as you step in to watch the shoot in progress with ace cinematographer-turned-filmmaker Dinesh Babu at the helm. Lead pair Rajendra Prasad and Suhasini face the camera handled by the director.
Charged with emotion Suhasini corners Rajendra Prasad who plays her husband. She suspects him of infidelity. Rajendra Prasad tries to convince her. Though it looks like a serious scene, the dialogue (by ‘Gangothri' Viswanath) and Rajendra Prasad's reactions make it lighter.
“The story is nearer to life, and to my life,” guffaws the ace actor, the first comedy hero to receive a doctorate from Andhra University. “The character I play in this movie is akin to my mentality. So in front of the camera, I did not act, I just behaved.”
He plays an income tax officer while Suhasini is cast as a bank employee. Happily married, the couple have three teenaged daughters. But then problems crop up taking the story forward. “It deals with life's problems from different angles especially when you have a possessive wife. The film is nearer to reality. Humour emanates from the happenings in the couple's life. It is an enjoyable film and will remind my fans and the audience of my earlier hits during the 1990's,” says Rajendra Prasad.
It is interesting to note that though the two veteran actors have been in the field for close to three decades, this is the first time they are paired together. “As everybody knows she is highly talented and a natural actress. She insists on rehearsals before the take since Dinesh Babu's style of filming is totally different. He is using three cameras and shoots the entire scene in one take, however lengthy the scene may be. It is a new experience for me as generally scenes are shot bit by bit. You can find a smooth flow while you watch the movie,” says Rajendra Prasad during the break.
When he is on the sets there is bonhomie all around. “Most of the cast are veterans at the game and it is an easy ride for all of us. We all enjoy our work and try to give our best. And during the break it is ‘sandhade sandhadi',” he says and the next minute when some one cracks a joke, he laughs heartily and then giving his own improvisation that creates cackles among the actors and unit members.
Dinesh Babu is known to complete his films at a fast pace, has cinematographed around hundred films in all the South Indian languages but mostly in Malayalam and Kannada. He had directed about 32 films.
“It is a complete entertainer,” says the director while he instructs his unit to shift the shooting zone to another room in the house.
“Gangothri Viswanath's dialogue, E.S. Murthy's lyrics and musical score and Dinesh Babu's deft direction are major assets,” opines producer Jonnada Ramana Murthy. He is ably supported by script coordinator and production designer Vemuri Sathyanarayana.
Kaveri Jha plays the other heroine. Naresh, Raghu Babu, Harshvardhan, Surya Tej, Jhansi, Rajitha, Silpa, Sandeeptha, Ushasri, Ramyasri and Kalyani are in the cast.
The film is slated for a July-August release.
