When entrepreneur-cum-director Akella Peri Srinivas started pitching Premaku Raincheck to his friends, many didn’t know the meaning of ‘raincheck’ (loosely translates to ‘not now, sometime later’). “The concept originated in the US, where spectators were given rainchecks in baseball matches interrupted by rain, it meant the ticket could be taken at a later date. It gradually became a polite way of saying ‘no’ ,” the filmmaker elaborates for the ignorant. In this film, the heroine takes a raincheck for many aspects in her life, the guy doesn’t want romance at work.
“The hero believes that an office romance affects his love life and his career. This is not a mere love versus career story, it’s about the conflicts that arise due to the principle,” Srinivas says. He’s making his directorial debut at 51, at an age when many filmmakers quit the industry.
How did this the Osmania University graduate who was an investment banker and the director of a company that helped firms with their corporate strategies, catch the film-bug? “I always wanted to make one film, but always had self-doubt. Then one fine day, I just decided it was time. Starting late comes with advantages, you have a wealth of life experiences that enhance stories.”
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Aiming to make a film for millennials, Srinivas took a couple of years on pre-production and research to understand their mindsets and the complexities in their life. “Contrary to popular perception, this is actually a generation of multi-taskers, not a distracted lot. I explored this pysche, empowered each characters with unique personality and respect. The characters in the film aren’t extreme about their relationships, they move on easily, if things don’t work out.”
Adventure sports
He adds, “I have produced the film with friends, so there was no pressure, I took time to understand the craft, story experts gave me feedback.” The team shot the film across various parts of Uttarakhand, Kolkata and Mumbai. “The film is set amid a adventure sports backdrop. The actors enjoyed the sports part well, though I was concerned about their safety.”
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Abhilash Vadada, Priya Vadlamani, Monica Tavanam debut as actors with the film. The team took eight months to audition the cast and chose actors who could speak both English and Telugu fluently. “Everyone knew the language and all dubbed for themselves. Cinematographer Sarath Guruvugari was the guiding light on sets. I didn’t know anything about this craft, his presence ensured confidence.”
Deepak Kiran, well acclaimed in Carnatic and western music circles created tunes. A playlist comprising an EDM number, a melody, a Zumba song, the lyrics come with unique philosophies.
How did he get Sharath Marrar on board? “Long before this film, we have been good entreprenuer friends, but even I was surprised when he agreed to present the film almost instantly.” Finally he says, “As a director, my only focus is to entertain. If I’m successful, a 51 year old would have made a film as young as ever possible.”