VV Vinayak is one of the successful directors in Tollywood who has delivered commercial entertainers with the top league actors.
V V Vinayak's upcoming film 'Alludu Sreenu' starring Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas and Samantha is ready to hit the screens on July 25, 2014 and the director is confident that Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas will entertain the Telugu audience.
Here are the excerpts of Greatandhra's exclusive interview with VV Vinayak.
Tell us about Alludu Sreenu?
Alludu Sreenu is a full length commercial entertainer. For the first 15 minutes, audience will feel that they are watching a new actor. After that, my hero will entertain everyone with his performance, fights and dance moves. Throughout my career, I've always believed that the content should be interesting. We have a good script and it is well supported by the technical departments. I can promise you that audience won't be disappointed and they will feel that they are watching a big star.
Was it difficult to work with a debutante?
There is nothing like easy and difficult over here. Every film is challenging and I try to provide maximum entertainment for the audience. I have worked with young heroes, but working with a debutante is new to me. By the time Bellamkonda Suresh approached me to direct his son, Sreenivas was already trained in acting, fights and dances. Frankly speaking, Sreenivas never troubled me while shooting and after watching the film, you can understand that he has all the qualities to become a big star. The overall experience was great and i would give the credit to my technical team who have handled everything in a great manner.
You are one of the top league directors in Tollywood. Didn't you feel that you were risking your reputation by directing a debutant?
Launching Bellamkonda Srinivas was obvious. As I have said earlier, I'm here because of Bellamkonda Suresh. Before getting a chance to direct 'Aadi', none of the producers had belief in my abilities to direct a film. It was Suresh, who gave me a chance that day and I'm always thankful to him for that opportunity. Sreenivas was a kid when we were shooting for 'Aadi' and I remember asking Suresh if he was interested to bring his son into films. Suresh didn't take that seriously, but after years, when I got an offer to direct Sreenivas, I was more than happy to accept it.
People complain that you come up with the same kinds of stories. So far you have made either action or comedy movies. Are you comfortable only with these genres?
When I plan to make a film, my only aim will be, to entertain the audience. Be it with comedy or action, I always try to make sure that the end product is interesting. I'm not that kind of a director who loves to experiment and yes I'm comfortable with action and comedy genres. Just like a choreographer visualizes dance movements, I visualize fight sequences for my movies.
After directing high voltage films like Aadi, Chennakesava Reddy, Tagore and Yogi, etc. you have shifted from action to comedy. Any specific reason?
(Smiles) I was bored. Personally, I love comedy films and people are expecting more entertainment these days. As I told earlier, content should be interesting and I'm doing the same.
Bellamkonda Suresh has roped in top most technicians for Alludu Sreenu. Don't you think that this kind of a budget is too much for a new hero? Can the producer recover the investment?
We are confident that the investment will be recovered. Producer didn't waste any money and he has spent only on technicians and actors who played major role in this film. This is the debut movie of his son and Bellamkonda Suresh made sure that everything is perfect.
What sort of feedback have you obtained after the trailer and the songs were out?
Mostly positive. Everyone appreciated Sreenivas's dance movements and Devi Sri Prasad has provided energetic album for our film. Suresh is very happy about the feedback and we are waiting for July 25.
Tell us about Samantha and Tamanna
I'm happy to work with Samantha and I should say that she is a brilliant performer. You just tell her about a scene, she will understand quickly, which is an advantage for a director. I have already worked with Tamanna in 'Badrinath' and our team is thankful to her for accepting to appear in a special song.
You were very much attached to your father. Did anything change after he left you?
Everything has changed. My father used to take care of everything in our family. My focus was only on the films at that time and he used to plan other things related to the family. After his death, i had to fill in his place. Some time back, i was hospitalized for a week because of severe back pain. Suddenly i started to think on the hospital bed that I’m the elder person in my family now and i should be more careful.
Speculations were strong that you will enter politics and quit films. Are you interested in politics?
My father was into politics and i campaigned a lot for him. Our family got a good reputation at my place and after my father's death, people started to ask me if I’m interested in politics. I don't have any bad opinion on politics. I have been sincere in my work till date and i want people around me to be happy. Maybe this is not the right time to think about politics as I’m busy with my films.
Are you directing Megastar Chiranjeevi's 150th film?
Nothing has been finalized and it is too early to comment on it.
Ram Charan said that he would produce Chiranjeevi's 150th film and the hunt is on for a good story.
Charan wants to gift his dad and he is excited about Chiranjeevi's 150th film. But let me tell you, as far as i know, nobody can understand cinema better than Megastar Chiranjeevi garu. I have known him for years and he is a brilliant judge of the script. I have been getting calls and people are asking if I'm directing this film. I'm happy to know that majority of Chiranjeevi's fans are expecting me to direct his 150th film. Different options are being considered and I'm one of them. It's up to Megastar to decide the director for that prestigious film and you all will know when that name is confirmed.
Any plans on making 'Adurs 2' with Jr.NTR
Tarak is more like a younger brother to me. When we met some time back at a party, we casually spoke about making 'Adurs 2'. NTR is currently busy with a lot of commitments and once he is done with them, we will work together. It won't be 'Adurs 2', but a new film.
You haven't worked with Mahesh Babu and Pawan Kalyan so far. Any plans to direct them?
Who doesn't want to work with actors like Mahesh and Pawan. Everything needs to fall into place and I will let you know when I have a perfect script for them.
Chennakesava Reddy is not one of the successful films in your career, but your efforts were appreciated. Is it true that you were offered to direct Balakrishna's 100th film?
Balakrishna is a director's actor. I was very young at the time of Chennakesava Reddy and I was surprised by the kind of respect given to me by a senior actor like Balakrishna. As you said, it might not be one of the successful films in my career, but Chennakesava Reddy is really a special film for me. We were supposed to work together sometime back, but we didn't like that script. I'm waiting for a powerful and perfect script for Balakrishna garu.
Have you seen the final version of Alludu Sreenu?
Our team has watched the final version and everyone is happy about the final output. Bellamkonda Suresh has worked harder than any one of us and I'm sure that the film is going to become a big hit. Devi Sri Prasad's songs and Chota K Naidu's cinematography are going to be major highlights in Alludu Sreenu along with the terrific performance of our Sai Sreenivas. Except for Yogi, none of my producers or distributors have lost money for my film. I take calculated risks and make sure that the producers and distributors are happy after a film is released. I make films for the audience and I promise that this film is going to entertain everyone.
Interview by Vamsi Kaka (http://twitter.com/vamsikaka)
