‘Experimenting is the norm’

Even as positive reviews pour in for his first feature film Minugurulu, director Ayodhya Kumar Krishnamsetty says his second venture will be more interesting

Director and producer of 'Minugurulu' Ayodhya Kumar Krishnamsetty talking to The Hindu in Visakhapatnam. - Photo: C.V. SUBRAHMANYAM

His quest for making meaningful cinema has led him to become a filmmaker.

With enormous positive reviews that continue to pour in after his first feature film Minugurulu , director Ayodhya Kumar Krishnamsetty is close to realising his long-cherished dream.

Born and brought-up in the City of Destiny, and having completed his master’s degree in marine science at Andhra University, the director, during his recent visit, said that he had a special fondness for Vizag.

“Almost 60 per cent of

Minugurulu was shot in the city. This apart, most of the visually-impaired artistes, who performed extremely well in the movie, are from the Port City,” he explained.

On the experience of making Minugurulu (fireflies), Ayodhya Kumar said:

“It took three-and-a-half years for me to do my research and contribute to 70 per cent of the film’s script simultaneously. From doing research on education to visiting several homes of visually-impaired people and interacting with them, I have done a lot of homework to add life to the story. And when you give 100 per cent to your job, the output is always remarkable. That’s what happened with my first feature film.”

Ayodhya Kumar believes that narrating a simple story in a realistic fashion makes a lot of difference.

“All you need is planning. When your script and casting for the movie is ready, half of your work is done,” he explained.

At present, the director has already completed writing 10 scripts.

“The shooting for my next film will begin in another three months. Like my first movie, the second film is also going to be an emotion-packed one with many interesting ingredients,” Ayodhya Kumar, who is open to doing meaty roles in some of his films, said.

Experimenting with different genres, he says, is the norm.

“Presentation plays a key role. And a filmmaker should never restrict himself to pouring life to one particular genre. After all, it’s only good cinema that draws the audience to the theatres,” he added.