‘Fidaa’ will make girls proud: Sekhar Kammula

Sekhar Kammula is pretty happy that 'Fidaa' (July 21st release) has not only come out very well, but it's also going to be found refreshing.  In this interview, the fine filmmaker talks about the film's backdrop, how it tries to break stereotypes, working with the lead pair, so on and so forth.  

What is the subject of 'Fidaa' and why did you choose the backdrops of Telangana and the US?

My style of writing is that I can't tell what is the story.  For long, I wanted to do a love story.  'Fidaa' is partly set in the US because of my own connection with America.  I know the lifestyle there and how people live. 

Don't read much into the girl hailing from Telangana.  Just as a 'Shatamanam Bhavati' was set in Kona Seema, the heroine in my film lives in a Telangana village for a difference.  It's a kind of breaking of cliches.  

We heard that shooting the movie for you and your team was a taxing process.  Tell us about that.

Not just for this movie, I and my team work very hard every time.  I shed 5-6 kilos during the making of my movie, so much so, my family members start worrying about my health.  

To make it look authentic, we had to work with scores of villagers.  We wrote down their names and ensured that they were present when needed.  The props too took so much time and energy.  

Before choosing the Telangana backdrop, I made a recee of some of the villages here.  

What is it about 'Fidaa' that you are counting on?

'Fidaa' will definitely haunt the audience for 2-3 days.  I can say it with happiness.  'Dummu duluputundi', in the sense that it's way too refreshing.  

In terms of characterizations, the interactions, the conversations, etc – 'Fidaa' will cater to youngsters and family audiences alike.  Girls in particular will be proud of the movie.

Girls may well feel proud of your movie.  They are always clean.  

I am talking about Sai Pallavi's character.  She is rebellious and progressive.  The audience will definitely go 'fidaa' over her performance, as Dil Raju garu said.  Her dubbing is flawless.  Her dances, her expressions are all at another level.  I feel there is so much left to be explored about her acting talent.  

At the audio launch, you spoke high of Varun Tej and how he some times resembles his 'babai'.  Sai Chand also has a key role.  

Varun Tej has got traces of Pawan Kalyan, Naga Babu garu and Chiranjeevi garu.  He has a lively face and that's the best part.  

As for Sai Chand garu, he belongs to an old school where the artistes were so dedicated.  It was great working with him.  

Is it true that more than one version of the climax was shot?

The kind of films I make, they can only have one version of it.  Different versions are possible only with films like, say, 'Race Gurram', where you can have two ways of looking at, say, Brahmanandam's role.  

Coming to your last film, 'Anamika', it didn't live up to expectations.  How do you see it after all these years?

'Anamika' was always supposed to have a narrow audience base.  I made it at a time when I strongly felt about the rampant sexual abuse in the country.  Whether my call to tweak 'Kahani' was wise or not is not the question.  I don't have any regrets.

The one film I very strongly feel should have done better is 'Leader'.  

Why don't you make love stories more often?

The point is you have to feel very strongly to write a love story.  You have to put yourself in the shoes of the lovers, imagine you are in their situation, etc.  One can only write three or so such blockbuster love stories.  

Why do you make only small-time movies?  

How are 'Happy Days', 'Godavari' and 'Leader' small-time movies?  'Happy Days' was big with respect to the virbrancy/colours and so were others in other respects.  It's not like a film is big only when it has a superstar cast.