‘Ameer Log’ is a Complete Family Entertainer: Director Ramana Reddy Soma

‘Ameer Log’ marks the debut production venture of Madhavi Reddy Soma under the banner of Awwal Number Productions. Directed by Ramana Reddy Soma, the film has Manohar Reddy Manchuri as co-producer. MC Hari, Manoj and Sasidhar play the lead roles, while Vedha Jalandhar, Ravan Nittooru, Vishwender Reddy and Saiyogi appear in important roles.

Presented by Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media, the film is set for a grand Telugu release on August 21. As part of the promotional campaign, director Ramana Reddy Soma interacted with the media and opened up about his journey into filmmaking, the making of ‘Ameer Log’, its unique approach and what audiences can expect from the film.

From Architecture to Cinema

Speaking about his background, Ramana Reddy Soma revealed that he hails from Raghavapuram in Nalgonda district and moved to Hyderabad in 1997 for higher studies. He pursued Architecture at JNTU and developed a strong interest in cinema during his college days.

After starting his own architecture firm in 2007, he spent nearly two decades working in the architecture industry. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he returned to his hometown and found himself spending more time watching films on OTT platforms. This eventually strengthened his desire to enter filmmaking.

How the Filmmaking Journey Began

Ramana said he has always been passionate about reading and writing stories. Around six or seven years ago, he began writing stories inspired by his own experiences and observations.

With the help of a friend, he later learned the fundamentals of writing stories specifically for cinema. He also picked up filmmaking insights through YouTube and eventually got an opportunity to visit a film set with the support of his friends. That experience gradually paved the way for his entry into the film industry.

From a Short Film to ‘Ameer Log’

The director revealed that he made a short film around three years ago. He wrote the story at night and shot it the following morning, resulting in around 33 minutes of footage filmed across a village and the city.

However, after watching the output, he felt he could do much better. This made him realise the importance of preparing a proper bound script before attempting a feature film.

Interestingly, the title ‘Ameer Log’ came from something he heard actor Manoj Bajpayee say during a podcast. The phrase stayed with him and eventually became the starting point for his feature film journey.

Why ‘Ameer Log’?

Ramana said he first locked the title and then began exploring who the real ‘Ameer Log’ were. From there, he developed multiple ideas before arriving at a story set in a basti and centred around three youngsters.

His primary intention was to portray a Hyderabad basti in an authentic and striking manner. The script was completed around two years ago, after which he discussed it with several people, incorporated their suggestions and prepared the final version. The team also conducted a demo shoot and screened it for several people before moving ahead.

Why Was Sync Sound Used?

One of the film’s key technical decisions was to use sync sound. According to Ramana, the artistes performed with a great deal of naturalness on the sets.

Although the team initially experimented with dubbing, he felt the emotional impact and spontaneity of the performances were missing after dubbing. That convinced him that sync sound was the right choice for the film.

Since the story demanded a completely natural environment, the team also avoided relying heavily on sets and instead shot in an actual basti. Ramana believes sync sound helped preserve the authenticity of those locations and performances.

43 Days of Shooting in the Basti

The majority of the film was shot inside the basti itself. Including the demo shoot, the entire process took around 43 days, with nearly 38 days of shooting conducted exclusively in the basti.

The team also had to shoot several sequences at night, which caused some inconvenience to the local residents. Despite the challenges, the director felt that shooting in the actual location was essential to maintaining the film’s realistic tone.

Rana Daggubati and Spirit Media’s Support

Ramana revealed that the team showed ‘Ameer Log’ to Rana Daggubati’s Spirit Media. The team reportedly liked the first half immediately, while the response to the second half made them even more enthusiastic about the film.

He expressed gratitude for the support extended by Rana Daggubati and his team, stating that their encouragement cannot be described in just a few words. Rana also shared a post about the film and is expected to watch it himself soon.

Will the Hindi and Urdu Influence Be a Problem?

The film features the kind of language commonly heard in Hyderabad, with Telugu spoken in a local accent and Urdu words naturally incorporated into the conversations.

Ramana believes the language will not become a barrier for audiences. According to him, the emotions and situations in every scene are conveyed clearly, allowing viewers to connect with the story irrespective of the language mix.

Positive Response from Directors and Actors

The director revealed that he has screened ‘Ameer Log’ for several people during its making. Recently, the film was also shown to a group of directors and actors.

Among them, filmmaker V. N. Aditya particularly appreciated the film and praised its writing. Ramana said the appreciation he received from him would always remain memorable.

Interestingly, V. N. Aditya compared ‘Ameer Log’ with films such as Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘Jhund’ and Ranveer Singh’s ‘Gully Boy’, which further boosted the team’s confidence.

Ten Songs in the Film

Speaking about the music, Ramana revealed that he initially approached composer Smaran specifically for a Dawath song. However, after watching the film, Smaran suggested various points where songs could enhance the narrative.

This eventually resulted in 10 songs being created for the movie. Lyricists Manoj and Nikhilesh have penned the lyrics, while a song sung by Keeravani is expected to be one of the memorable musical highlights of the film.

Censor Board Gives a Positive Report

Ramana also shared details about the censor process. According to him, the censor board asked the team to mute dialogues at only four or five places.

He explained that every character in ‘Ameer Log’ has an important role and that the story unfolds through the perspectives of different characters. The director also gave the artistes considerable freedom on set, allowing them to improvise certain dialogues and bring additional spontaneity to their performances.

Despite its realistic setting and local flavour, Ramana emphasised that ‘Ameer Log’ is ultimately a complete family entertainer.

With its authentic Hyderabad setting, natural performances, sync-sound approach and a story revolving around three youngsters, ‘Ameer Log’ is aiming to offer audiences a grounded yet entertaining cinematic experience when it arrives in theatres on August 21.