Deva Katta is a mechanical engineer and his passion towards cinema brought him back to India from USA.
He made an impressive debut with ‘Vennela’ and his ‘Prasthanam’ was showcased in the Indian Panorama section at the International Film Festival.
Deva’s upcoming movie ‘Autonagar Surya’ is all set to hit the theaters on June 27, 2014. Here are the excerpts of an exclusive interview with Deva Katta.
Autonagar Surya is finally releasing across the globe. Tell us about your journey and the idea behind the film
After finishing Prasthanam, it took lot of time for us to release the film. Producers worked hard to make sure that the film was released on time but it didn't happen. During that time, a news item in a reputed daily grabbed my attention. The story was about a young IT employee who was migrating from Chennai to Calcutta with his wife and 18 month old baby. Around midnight, 2 policemen were drunk and boarded the compartment. They have started to bother the IT guy and were asking for bribe. This 26-year old IT person said that he already paid a bribe at Chennai and that is the reason why the Ticket Collector/Policemen didn't raise any objection for their extra luggage. These drunk policemen asked the IT guy to show the proof that he paid bribe to Chennai police. With no option left, IT guy asked the them “Does any policemen issue a receipt for bribe?”. This has irritated the policemen and they have ended up throwing IT employee’s wife and baby out of the running train.
This story has disturbed me a lot. Look at the entire scenario. Policemen were drunk, demanding bribe and asked to show a receipt for the bribe. I don’t want to blame the system but when I tried to understand the system from inside, it was shocking.
My ‘Autonagar Surya’ doesn't have any connection with this story. I took a story of an ambitious underdog and his goal to fight and achieve in what he believes. Conditions surrounding him brings out the heroism and the rest you should watch on the big screen.
Tell us about the Motor Caste that has been mentioned in the trailer
If you have noticed, we have explained about 4 types of people in this society. People who earn more than what they need, People who earn just enough for their need, People who beg as they don’t have the capacity to earn and the fourth one is a loafer type (People who loot the above three types). We human beings are social beings and are inter connected. This dialogue doesn't have any reference towards any caste. I wanted Surya also to have a caste. Motor caste indicates my hero’s passion to excel. Surya respects all the 3 types of people that I have mentioned in the beginning, but he hates loafer type. I feel that Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and Ambanis etc belongs to motor caste. Not only the rich, but every person who has got fire within them and passion to excel comes under this Motor caste.
How did you choose Naga Chaitanya for this film?
I have discussed this film with many actors. When I narrate the script to an actor, I visualize that person in my scenes. Initially there were many proposals about the actors. Even a big star like Pawan Kalyan also heard about this script. But there is a key episode in this film about the hero and he will appear as a 16-year old boy in some scenes. I cannot imagine the story without those episodes. After a while, I felt that my story will not have any value if it has a hero who got demi-god status. I needed a star to carry off the intense role in the film but casting a super star was not my idea. Then I came across Naga Chaitanya’s photos in which he sported light beard. Chaitanya has got soft and lover boy image. But I was able to see the intense side of him and I wanted to exploit that in Autonagar Surya. Young heroes (Less than 30 years) like NTR, Allu Arjun and Ram Charan etc are also suitable for this role. But I wanted to present a surprise element to the audience. Something, that they won’t expect and still like it. Chaitanya has given his 100 percent effort for the film. I have travelled with him for some time and all I can say is that Chaitanya is very dedicated and committed towards cinema. I should mention about a scene that comes before interval. Chaitanya and other fighters has done an action sequence in water mixed with kerosene. It was not an easy sequence but Chaitanya has done his job without complaining and I’m confident that this will be one of the major highlights in the film.
Vennela, Prasthanam and Autonagar Surya. You have gone through lot of problems and so did all these three films. Weren't you disappointed? Didn't you feel like leaving the cinema field and go back to USA?
When you don’t know what happens next and when you come to know that your film is getting delayed, it hurts a lot. But I should tell you that I have left India and worked in USA for many years. I have experienced both the systems. After coming back to India, it took me a lot of time to adjust with the people and system over here. Major problem for any person like me is to get adjusted with the system. Whom can you blame when the fundamentals aren't right? I have a very understanding wife who supported me throughout this journey. I was in a condition where I would have easily broken down, go back to USA and lead a luxurious life over there. But if I leave this field, then I consider myself as dead. Whatever the hell it is, I want to stand up and face the problems. Because I’m passionate about cinema and I love cinema. People showered me with love and respect for ‘Prasthanam’ and yes that has kept me going on. As I said, there is a Surya in everyone one of us. Surya fights against the evil in film and we do fight daily for our survival and to achieve in what we believe.
Tell us about the role of Samantha
Samantha is one of the most beautiful heroines in Tollywood. I loved her performance in ‘Ye Maya Chesave’. When I met Samantha for the first time, I told her that I would love to direct a beautiful love story with her but again, I was not able to visualize any other heroine apart from Samantha in my film. This is a hero centric movie where most of the story revolves around Surya. Samantha has got an important role and her chemistry with Naga Chaitanya is the best. Samantha appears as a relative of Naga Chaitanya in this film and I’m sure that the audiences will love their pair once again.
Did anyone tell you that there shouldn't be any songs in your films?
(Smiles) Well many people gave me this feedback after Prasthanam. Lot of people loved the film but most of them felt that the songs were boring. I agree with them. Maybe I wasn't matured enough then and those songs weren't situational too. That feedback has helped me a lot and I took lot of care for the songs in ‘Autonagar Surya’. You won’t find any forced songs in this film. Each and every song is a situational one and I’m expecting positive feedback this time.
Are you directing Akhil?
Nagarjuna garu is happy with my work in Autonagar Surya. I have travelled for a long time with Naga Chaitanya and yes I know Akhil too. The hunt is on for the director of Akhil’s debut movie and I’m one among the many directors, who are in consideration for that project. If I get a chance to direct Akhil, I’m happy and I will deliver my best.
Can you tell us about other actors in this film?
Sai Kumar has got a brief role and he lived up to the the expectation. Ajay and Jayaprakash Reddy will appear in major roles. Biggest surprise will be Madhu, who played the role of Baasha in Prasthanam. Initially, some people have suggested that I should cast a Bollywood or any other language villain. To be frank, i prefer to work with the actors who can speak Telugu (Apart from heroines). My films will have heavy dialogues and I don’t want the artists to kill the nativity. I should say that Madhu has delivered brilliant performance. He has been in the industry for many years and I didn't find any reason to go with other artist. Srikanth Naroj has handled the cinematography and you will compliment his work after watching the film. Srikanth has the fire and passion to deliver the best and we got a understanding.
Prasthanam and Autonagar Surya looks like same genre. Have you become genre specific?
Prasthanam is a drama that is surrounded by the characters. If you look at that film, there aren't any unwanted characters in the film. When I write a story, I don’t ignore the characters. In fact, I write an individual story about each and every character. For example, if you take the role of Sai Kumar, I wrote full description about him and presented his role in parts. Same case with other characters too. Autonagar Surya is a drama and the story revolves around Surya, about his struggle, failures and his success. All I can say is, I want to write stories that are hero centric and I want to adapt real life incidents. Because, each and every one of us struggle in our day to day lives. At the end of the day, everyone is a hero. I want the people to connect with my hero and seem themselves within Surya. I want the audience to feel heroic when them come out of the theaters.
Can we expect any surprises in Autonagar Surya?
Naga Chaitanya will surprise everyone with his brilliant performance in this film. Apart from that, there aren't any surprises. I think you have asked this question keeping Prasthanam in your mind. Climax was a big surprise in that film and most of the producers and actors rejected that script as they didn't like that surprise element. Autonagar Surya will have an intense climax. You don’t need to expect any surprise but Naga Chaitanya’s performance in the climax is fantastic.
Do you feel that the writer in you is dominating the director?
No. I have become a director today as I’m a story teller. As a writer I have freedom, but I need to take harsh choices as a director. For example, there is a dialogue in Prasthanam, where Jeeva tell to Sai Kumar “Agnaanam Anedhi Guudu Kattina Chote, Mosam Gudlu Pedthundi” (Cheating is born in the womb of ignorance). Everyone including Sai Kumar and Jeeva loved this dialogue. But I had to edit this dialogue to lag.
Talking about the freedom, did your producers give you a free hand in terms of story or did you compromise for the sake of budget?
Thanks to all the producers with whom I have worked till date. None of my producers have interfered with my story or dialogues part. I should say that I’m lucky and I sincerely thank all of them from the bottom of my heart.
Finally, what can the audience expect from Autonagar Surya?
Audience will connect with Surya and they can watch themselves on the big screen. My Surya goes through all the trouble and he will emerge as a hero. I’m confident that the film will entertain all sections of audiences.
Interview by Vamsi Kaka (http://twitter.com/vamsikaka)
