There was something intense and unadulterated in the way Rama Raju went about his first film Mallela Theeramlo Sirimalle Puvvu , in 2013. The result was a poetic atmosphere, with many references from literature and the epics. After winning a lot of critical acclaim for the project, he’s now back with Oka Manasu , with Naga Shaurya and Niharika Konidela playing leads.
“Creativity is an outlet to show my approach to life. My films are the way I want to see the world,” he starts. He’s sure that he doesn’t want to impose this on the audience, all the ideas and ideologies in his work come from inside. Ramana Maharshi has had a significant influence on his life and writing.
He says when his debut film didn’t fare well at the box office, he decided to take the ‘commercial appeal’ factor more seriously for his second film. Did that factor weigh upon him as he wrote Oka Manasu ? “I realised that the cinematic experience of Mallela Theeram… was low. People expect some chemistry between the leads in a romance. The lead pair didn’t even touch each other in the film until the final scene. With Oka Manasu , I ensured an intimacy between Shaurya and Niharika, an intimacy that’s beautiful, romantic and yet not lustful.”
The women in his films consistently sport cotton saris, which he says adds a lot of grace to their personality. This has also successfully orchestrated the on-screen transformation of Niharika from her otherwise ‘bubbly’ image she sports on TV and her web series. She wasn’t his first choice; he’d auditioned a number of new faces earlier. “I knew about Niharika earlier but never saw her on TV. Her girl-next-door appearance and eyes told me she could be the Sandhya of my script.”
A major part of Oka Manasu was shot in Vizag, Vizianagaram and Araku. “Geography is a high point in love stories. That’s one reason I chose picturesque locations that are vibrant and natural. In fact all the spots, even the beachside house that figures in the climax have a lot of purpose behind them. Elements of nature are wonderful backdrops to portray human emotions. Look at how Ooty was crucial to the way Mani Ratnam built the mood in Geethanjali. ” Explaining the importance of getting the mood right, he mentions that he explains the importance of natural lighting to the cinematographer before the shoot.
There’s also a certain soothing quality in the soundtrack in both his first and Oka Manasu . How has the director ensured that Sunil Kashyap sounds different in comparison to his earlier films?
“I narrate the story to them (composers) and give a particular raga that elevates the mood of the script. The basis for a raga itself is to represent human moods. Words like ‘six different songs’ and ‘variation’ don’t form a part of my vocabulary,” an assured Rama Raju says. Oka Manasu is scheduled to release Oka Manasu on June 24.
